Public Bill Committee: 21st February 2008

52

Energy Bill, continued

Annual report on gas storage

Charles Hendry

Mr John Baron

NC5

To move the following Clause:—

‘The Secretary of State shall, in each calendar year following that in which this

Act is passed, lay before Parliament a report on—

(a)	his assessment of the appropriate volume of onshore gas storage to ensure

long-term energy security, and

(b)	the progress that has been made towards reaching that target.’.

Feed-in tariffs

Charles Hendry

Mr John Baron

NC6

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision to introduce feed-in

tariffs for renewable micro-generation and decentralised energy.

(2)	In this section—

“feed-in tariffs” means a requirement on utilities to buy electricity from

renewable sources at a feed-in rate to be set by the Secretary of State,

dependent on available renewable technology;

“micro-generation” means any generation under 250kW;

“renewable energy” means any form of energy produced in the generation

stage without using fossil fuels or emitting carbon;

“a feed-in rate” means a guaranteed payment by the energy suppliers for

each kilowatt of electricity generated.’.

Carbon capture competitions

Steve Webb

Martin Horwood

NC7

To move the following Clause:—

‘In any competitive process relating to carbon capture initiated by the Secretary

of State, equal status shall be given to all carbon capture technologies.’.

Public Bill Committee: 21st February 2008

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Energy Bill, continued

Feed-in tariffs (No. 2)

Steve Webb

Martin Horwood

NC8

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	The Secretary of State may make regulations for the purposes of requiring

designated electricity suppliers to purchase the electricity generated from

renewable sources by small-scale generators (“feed-in tariffs”).

(2)	For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a)	“small-scale generators” are persons generating electricity below a level

to be determined by the Secretary of State following consultation,

(b)	“renewable sources” are such energy sources as may be determined by

the Secretary of State following consultation,

(c)	“designated electricity suppliers” are those persons licensed by the

Secretary of State to supply electricity as set out in section 6 of the

Electricity Act 1989.

(3)	The Secretary of State must consult for the purposes of determining the

appropriate form of regulations as set out in subsection (5) below and must—

(a)	commence such consultation within a period of six months of the day on

which this Act is passed,

(b)	determine a reasonable period of consultation,

(c)	consult with—

(i)	designated electricity suppliers,

(ii)	the National Consumer Council (incorporating energywatch),

(iii)

the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (“GEMA”),

(iv)	the National Grid,

(v)	such generators of electricity from renewable sources as he

considers appropriate,

(vi)	such environmental organisations as he considers appropriate,

and

(vii)

such other persons as he considers appropriate.

(4)	The Secretary of State shall, within six months after the end of such consultation,

make regulations for the purpose of bringing into effect feed-in tariffs pursuant to

subsection (1), in such manner as the Secretary of State shall consider

appropriate.

(5)	The regulations mentioned in subsection (4) above must—

(a)	define the renewable sources in respect of which feed-in tariffs shall

apply,

(b)	define the maximum level of electricity generation in respect of which

feed-in tariffs shall be available, as referred to in subsection (2)(a) above,

(c)	define which persons generating electricity from renewable sources shall

be eligible for feed-in tariffs,

(d)	prescribe the means by which tariffs applicable under feed-in tariffs are

to be calculated and, where necessary, amended,

(e)	prescribe, where appropriate, the terms and duration of the feed-in tariff

arrangements,

(f)	make provision for the payment and incidence of the costs of connection

of relevant small-scale generators to the National Grid,

(g)	make provision for the regulation of feed-in tariff arrangements by a

designated body,

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Energy Bill, continued

(h)	make provision for the Secretary of State to report periodically on the

effectiveness of the regulations made under subsection (1) in achieving

their objectives,

(i)	provide for the making of any necessary amendments to distribution

licences or supply licences held by any person, and

(j)	make such changes as may be necessary to existing legislation, including

that providing for the Renewables Obligation Order.’.

Report on payment of energy bills

Charles Hendry

Mr John Baron

NC9

To move the following Clause:—

‘The Secretary of State shall, in each calendar year following that in which this

Act is passed, lay before Parliament a report on—

(a)	his assessment of the number of households able to pay their energy bills

in full and on time in order to illustrate the number facing difficulty in

paying, and

(b)	the progress that has been made towards lowering this number.’.

Renewable heat obligation

Charles Hendry

Mr John Baron

NC10

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	The Secretary of State shall make regulations which introduce a renewable heat

obligation on suppliers of fossil heating fuels.

(2)	In this section a “renewable heat obligation” means a market-based regulation

which requires suppliers of fossil fuels for the purpose of heating, to replace, over

a specified period, a rising proportion of their supply with metered units of

renewable heat energy.

(3)	The regulations must provide that renewable heat energy units—

(a)	are not eligible for support under the Renewable Obligation on suppliers

of electricity, and

(b)	may be generated using—

(i)

biofuel;

(ii)	blended and co-fired biofuel;

(iii)

any solid, liquid, gaseous or electrical source of energy (other

than fossil fuel or nuclear) which is produced—

(a)	wholly by energy from a renewable source, or

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Energy Bill, continued

(b)	wholly by a process powered wholly by such

energy;

(iv)	electricity, where there is a net surplus of useable heat energy

relative to the electrical input.

(4)	Regulations made under this section must be made within a period of 12 months

beginning on the date on which this Act is passed.’.

Duty to encourage a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases

Charles Hendry

Mr John Baron

NC11

To move the following Clause:—

‘In section 3A of the Electricity Act (c. 29) (the principal objective and general

duties of the Secretary of State and the Authority), at end of subsection (1), insert

“while reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases in accordance with

Government targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.’.

Order of the House [22nd January 2008]

That the following provisions shall apply to the Energy Bill:

Committal

1.	The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

2.	Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously

concluded) be brought to a conclusion on 11th March 2008.

3.	The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on

which it meets.

Consideration and Third Reading

4.	Proceedings on consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the

day on which those proceedings are commenced.

5.	Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

6.	Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to

proceedings on consideration and Third Reading.

Other proceedings

7.	Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on

consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further messages from the

Lords) may be programmed.

Public Bill Committee: 21st February 2008

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Energy Bill, continued

Order of the Committee [5th February 2008]

That—

(1)	the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday

5th February) meet—

(a)	at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 5th February;

(b)	at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 19th February;

(c)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 21st February;

(d)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 26th February;

(e)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 28th February;

(f)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 4th March;

(g)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 6th March;

(h)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 11th March;

(2)	the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following

Table:

TABLE

	Date	Time	Witness
	Tuesday 5th February	Until no later than 12 noon	The Confederation of British
			Industry (CBI); Trades Union
			Congress; EEF
	Tuesday 5th February	Until no later than 1.00 p.m.	Scottish and Southern Energy plc;
			E.On UK plc; EDF Energy plc;
			Centrica plc; Scottish Power plc;
			RWE npower plc
	Tuesday 5th February	Until no later than 5.00 p.m.	National Grid plc; Energy
			Networks Assocation; The Gas
			and Electricity Markets Authority;
			energywatch
	Tuesday 5th February	Until no later than 6.00 p.m.	British Energy; Nuclear Industry
			Association; Nuclear Installations
			Inspectorate; Nuclear
			Decommissioning Authority
	Tuesday 5th February	Until no later than 7.00 p.m.	Mr Tom Burke; Greenpeace Ltd;
			Friends of the Earth; Green
			Alliance
	Tuesday 19th February	Until no later than 11.20 a.m.	Renewable Energy Association;
			British Wind Energy Association;
			Sustainable Development
			Commission
	Tuesday 19th February	Until no later than 12.00 noon	Carbon Capture & Storage
			Association; The United Kingdom
			Offshore oil and Gas Industry
			Association Ltd; SGBI Gas
			Storage Operators Group
	Tuesday 19th February	Until no later than 1.00 p.m.	Department of Business,
			Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

(3)	the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 35;

Schedule 1; Clauses 36 to 40; Schedule 2; Clauses 41 to 72; Schedule 3;

Clauses 73 to 91; Schedule 4; Clause 92; Schedule 5; Clauses 93 to 97; new

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Energy Bill, continued

Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(4)	the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a

conclusion at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 11th March.

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Revised 21 February 2008