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Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

242

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Tim Yeo

 

Barry Gardiner

 

Caroline Lucas

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

Mr Mike Weir

 

John McDonnell

 

Sir Gerald Kaufman

 

Mr Dai Havard

 

Katy Clark

 

John Cryer

 

John Robertson

 

Dr Julian Huppert

 

Mike Wood

 

John Hemming

 

Kelvin Hopkins

 

Martin Caton

 

Dame Joan Ruddock

 

Andrew George

 

Mr Frank Field

 

Mike Gapes

 

Mr Mike Hancock

 

Greg Mulholland

 

Dr Hywel Francis

 

Mark Durkan

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

Caroline Nokes

 

Nia Griffith

 

Mr David Anderson

 

Paul Blomfield

 

Sir Peter Bottomley

 

Paul Goggins

 

Mr David Amess

 

Mr John Leech

 

Mr Andrew Smith

 

Mr Brian H. Donohoe

 

Zac Goldsmith

 

Lucy Powell

 

Graeme Morrice

 

Jim Dobbin

 

Yasmin Qureshi

 

Caroline Flint

 

Tom Greatrex

 

Luciana Berger

 

17

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  30,  leave out from ‘The following matters’ to ‘target range’

 

and insert ‘Before exercising the power to make a decarbonisation order the Secretary of

 

State must obtain and take into account the advice of the Committee on Climate Change.’.

 

Mr Tim Yeo

 

Barry Gardiner

 

Caroline Lucas

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

Mr Mike Weir

 

John McDonnell

 

Sir Gerald Kaufman

 

Mr Dai Havard

 

Katy Clark

 

John Cryer

 

John Robertson

 

Dr Julian Huppert

 

Mike Wood

 

John Hemming

 

Kelvin Hopkins

 

Martin Caton

 

Dame Joan Ruddock

 

Andrew George

 

Mr Frank Field

 

Mike Gapes

 

Mr Mike Hancock

 

Greg Mulholland

 

Dr Hywel Francis

 

Mark Durkan

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

Caroline Nokes

 

Nia Griffith

 

Mr David Anderson

 

Paul Blomfield

 

Sir Peter Bottomley

 

Paul Goggins

 

Mr David Amess

 

Mr John Leech

 

Mr Andrew Smith

 

Mr Brian H. Donohoe

 

Zac Goldsmith

 

Lucy Powell

 

Graeme Morrice

 

Jim Dobbin

 

Yasmin Qureshi

 

Caroline Flint

 

Tom Greatrex

 

Luciana Berger

 

18

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  32,  leave out ‘The matters are’ and insert ‘In providing its

 

advice to the Secretary of State the Committee on Climate Change must take into account

 

the following matters’.

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

243

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Tim Yeo

 

Barry Gardiner

 

Caroline Lucas

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

Mr Mike Weir

 

John McDonnell

 

Sir Gerald Kaufman

 

Mr Dai Havard

 

Katy Clark

 

John Cryer

 

John Robertson

 

Dr Julian Huppert

 

Mike Wood

 

John Hemming

 

Kelvin Hopkins

 

Martin Caton

 

Dame Joan Ruddock

 

Andrew George

 

Mr Frank Field

 

Mike Gapes

 

Mr Mike Hancock

 

Greg Mulholland

 

Dr Hywel Francis

 

Mark Durkan

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

Caroline Nokes

 

Nia Griffith

 

Mr David Anderson

 

Paul Blomfield

 

Sir Peter Bottomley

 

Paul Goggins

 

Mr David Amess

 

Mr John Leech

 

Mr Andrew Smith

 

Mr Brian H. Donohoe

 

Zac Goldsmith

 

Lucy Powell

 

Graeme Morrice

 

Jim Dobbin

 

Yasmin Qureshi

 

Caroline Flint

 

Tom Greatrex

 

Luciana Berger

 

19

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  46,  at end insert—

 

‘(3)    

As soon as is reasonably practicable after giving its advice to the Secretary of

 

State, the Committee must publish that advice in such manner as it considers

 

appropriate.

 

(4)    

If in making a decarbonisation order the Secretary of State makes provision

 

different from that recommended by the Commitee, the Secretary of State must,

 

on making the order, publish a statement setting out the reasons for that

 

decision.’.

 

 

Mr Tim Yeo

 

Barry Gardiner

 

Caroline Lucas

 

Dr Alan Whitehead

 

Mr Mike Weir

 

John McDonnell

 

Sir Gerald Kaufman

 

Mr Dai Havard

 

Katy Clark

 

John Robertson

 

Dr Julian Huppert

 

Mike Wood

 

John Hemming

 

Kelvin Hopkins

 

Martin Caton

 

Dame Joan Ruddock

 

Andrew George

 

Mr Frank Field

 

Mike Gapes

 

Mr Mike Hancock

 

Greg Mulholland

 

Dr Hywel Francis

 

Mark Durkan

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

Caroline Nokes

 

Nia Griffith

 

Mr David Anderson

 

Paul Blomfield

 

Sir Peter Bottomley

 

Paul Goggins

 

Mr David Amess

 

Mr John Leech

 

Mr Andrew Smith

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

244

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Brian H. Donohoe

 

Zac Goldsmith

 

Lucy Powell

 

Graeme Morrice

 

Jim Dobbin

 

Yasmin Qureshi

 

Caroline Flint

 

Tom Greatrex

 

Luciana Berger

 

20

 

Clause  3,  page  3,  line  2,  leave out from ‘a report setting out’ to the end of

 

subsection and insert ‘and publish a delivery plan setting out proposals to achieve the duty

 

in section 1 to ensure that the decarbonisation target range is not exceeded.’.

 

 

Secretary Edward Davey

 

51

 

Clause  5,  page  5,  line  3,  at end insert—

 

‘(aa)    

the duty of the Secretary of State under section 1(1) of this Act

 

(decarbonisation target range);’.

 

 

Secretary Edward Davey

 

70

 

Clause  135,  page  104,  line  6,  at end insert—

 

‘(za)    

Part 1 (decarbonisation);’.

 

 

NEW CLAUSES AND NEW SCHEDULES RELATING TO ELECTRICITY DEMAND

 

REDUCTION AND REMAINING PROCEEDINGS ON CONSIDERATION

 

Provision about electricity demand reduction

 

Secretary Edward Davey

 

NC11

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

This section applies where provision made by electricity capacity regulations

 

relates to the provision of capacity by reducing demand for electricity.

 

(2)    

Where this section applies, the Secretary of State may, instead of conferring

 

functions on the national system operator, confer functions on such other person

 

or body as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

 

(3)    

For the purposes of provision made by virtue of subsection (2), the references to

 

the national system operator in—

 

(a)    

section 22(5)(a) and (d);

 

(b)    

section 23(2)(a) and 23(3)(a);

 

(c)    

section 25;

 

(d)    

section 27(2)(a) and (b);

 

(e)    

section 29,

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

245

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

are to be read as if they included a reference to a person or body on whom a

 

function is conferred by virtue of this section.’.

 

 

Pilot scheme for electricity demand reduction

 

Secretary Edward Davey

 

NC12

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘There may be paid out of money provided by Parliament expenditure incurred

 

by the Secretary of State in connection with arrangements made—

 

(a)    

for the purpose of reducing demand for electricity, and

 

(b)    

wholly or partly for the purpose of determining provision to be included

 

in electricity capacity regulations.’.

 

 

“Fuel poverty tax”

 

John Robertson

 

Jim Sheridan

 

Graeme Morrice

 

Kate Hoey

 

Mr David Anderson

 

John McDonnell

 

Martin Caton

 

Steve McCabe

 

Katy Clark

 

Mr Michael McCann

 

Mike Gapes

 

Mrs Mary Glindon

 

Mark Durkan

 

Mr George Howarth

 

Mark Lazarowicz

 

Mr Mark Williams

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC1

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The energy regulator, Ofgem, may—

 

(a)    

monitor the accounts of all vertical subsidiaries of energy companies;

 

(b)    

require energy companies to provide full, detailed and separate accounts

 

of all activities in its group both in the supply and provision sides, where

 

“group” includes all undertakings controlled by, controlling or under

 

common control with such energy companies and “control” is defined by

 

Ofgem but includes ownership to the extent of 50 per cent. or more;

 

(c)    

impose a fine up to a maximum of 5 per cent. of turnover, a “Fuel Poverty

 

Tax” on any energy company that is deemed by Ofgem to have made

 

“excessive profit”, a term to be determined under statutory instruments

 

approved by resolution of both Houses of Parliament and revised each

 

year.

 

(2)    

The power under subsection (1) may be exercised for the purpose only of—

 

(a)    

promoting competition in domestic supplies of gas and electricity; or

 

(b)    

mitigating the effects for domestic customers of rising gas and electricity

 

prices.

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

246

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

(3)    

The revenues raised from any “fuel poverty tax” shall be used to tackle the worst

 

cases of fuel poverty.’.

 

 

Strategy for electricity demand reduction

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC2

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must within 12 months of the passing of this Act publish

 

a strategy setting out policies to achieve a reduction in demand for electricity of

 

at least 103 TWh by 2020 and 154 TWh by 2030.

 

(2)    

The strategy must include an assessment of the cost effectiveness of the policies

5

included in it.

 

(3)    

Before publishing the strategy the Secretary of State must consult such persons

 

as in his opinion may have information that will assist him in drawing up the

 

strategy.

 

(4)    

The Secretary of State must—

10

(a)    

implement the strategy; and

 

(b)    

report to Parliament every year on progress.’.

 

As an Amendment to Caroline Lucas’s proposed New Clause (Strategy for electricity

 

demand reduction) (NC2):—

 

Mr Christopher Chope

 

Mr Edward Leigh

 

(a)

 

Line  11,  at end add—

 

‘(5)    

Nothing in the strategy shall rely upon the use of the price mechanism to reduce

 

demand.’.

 

 

Community rights to priority access to local power generation and local grid ownership

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC3

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must within one year of the passing of this Act consult on

 

and bring forward mechanisms to give local communities the rights to—

 

(a)    

priority access to electricity generation where an energy scheme is owned

 

wholly or partly by a local community;

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

247

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

access to electricity generated at wholesale market prices where an

 

energy scheme is owned wholly or partly by a local community; and

 

(c)    

ownership of local distribution networks.’.

 

 

Energy contract rollovers for small businesses

 

Caroline Lucas

 

NC4

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must make regulations to require Ofgem to amend

 

Standard License Condition 7A (SLC7A) to limit energy contract rollovers for

 

small businesses to 30 days.

 

(2)    

The power to make regulations is exercisable by statutory instrument.

 

(3)    

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made

 

unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution

 

of each House of Parliament.

 

(4)    

The regulations under subsection (1) shall provide for the 30-day limit to come

 

into force after the publishing of a report by Ofgem on the practice of out of

 

contract rates and the related altering of supplier license conditions, following the

 

passing of this Act.

 

(5)    

In this section, “small business” means a business—

 

(a)    

which has—

 

(i)    

fewer than 10 employees (or full-time equivalent), and

 

(ii)    

an annual turnover or annual balance sheet not exceeding 2

 

million euros; or

 

(b)    

which uses less than 293,000 kWh of gas per year and 100,000 kWh of

 

electricity per year.

 

“energy contract roll-over” means the transfer by an energy supplier of a

 

consumer nearing the end of a fixed term, fixed rate tariff, to another

 

fixed rate for a further fixed period without the customer actively

 

indicating his or her desire to do so.’.

 

 

Early payment of winter fuel allowance in certain circumstances

 

Mr Mike Weir

 

Hywel Williams

 

Katy Clark

 

Ms Margaret Ritchie

 

NC6

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/729

 

S.I.2000/729) are amended as follows.

 

(1)    

In regulation 1(2) leave out ““qualifying week” means in respect of any year the

 

week beginning on the third Monday in the September of that year” and insert—

 
 

Consideration of Bill: 3 June 2013                     

248

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

““qualifying week” means—

 

(c)    

in respect of any year for an applicant whose home is connected

 

to the mains gas grid the week beginning on the third Monday in

 

the September of that year; or

 

(d)    

in respect of any year for an applicant whose home is not

 

connected to the mains gas grid the week beginning on the third

 

Monday in the July of that year.”.

 

(2)    

The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/729S.I. 2000/

 

729) are amended as follows.

 

(3)    

In regulation 4, leave out paragraph (1) and insert—

 

“(1)    

Subject to paragraph (2) the Secretary of State may make a winter fuel

 

payment under regulation 2 to a person who (disregarding regulation

 

3(b)) appears from official records held by the Secretary of State to be

 

entitled to a payment under that regulation—

 

(a)    

in respect of an applicant whose home is not connected to the

 

mains gas grid, before 30 September of the year in which the

 

qualifying week falls, or

 

(b)    

in respect of an applicant whose home is connected to the mains

 

gas grid, before 31 March of the year following the year in which

 

the qualifying week falls.

25

(1A)    

Payments made under paragraph (1)(a) are made in respect of the

 

forthcoming winter.

 

(1B)    

Payments made under paragraph (1)(b) are made in respect of the

 

preceding winter.”.’.

 

 

Environmental impact of transmission

 

Dr Liam Fox

 

Glyn Davies

 

Mr Adam Holloway

 

Miss Anne McIntosh

 

David T.C. Davies

 

Mrs Eleanor Laing

 

Mr James Gray

 

Zac Goldsmith

 

NC7

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Electricity Act 1989 is amended as follows.

 

(2)    

In section 9 (general duties of licence holders), after subsection (1)(b) insert—

 

“(c)    

to have regard for the protection of the environment and, in

 

particular, to conserve the natural beauty and amenity of the

5

countryside.”

 

(3)    

In section 9 (general duties of licence holders), after subsection (2)(b) insert—

 

“(c)    

to have regard for the protection of the environment and, in

 

particular, to conserve the natural beauty and amenity of the

10

countryside.”

 
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Revised 3 June 2013