Wholesale energy markets, decarbonisation policy and consumers: An IPPR debate on two new reports by Which?

Article

This briefing summarises the main themes of a high-level roundtable, hosted by IPPR in July 2013, to debate the findings of two new reports on energy policy published by consumer advocate Which?, focusing on wholesale market reforms and decarbonisation policy.

Roundtable participants included senior representatives from key industry players and the energy markets regulator Ofgem, as well as MPs or senior advisers from each of the three largest political parties.

In the discussion, there was considerable disagreement in relation to one of Which?'s core recommendations for wholesale market reform: to ringfence the supply and generation businesses of vertically integrated energy companies. There were strong arguments put both for and against this controversial policy.

On decarbonisation, the discussion focused on how to improve public confidence in government policies, given the significant addition these make to consumer energy bills.

Related items

  1. The inside of a bus. Lots of people sit or stand on a bus during daylight

    A people-focussed future for transport in England

    Our findings from three roundtables on the impact of transport in people’s lives and the priorities for change.
  2. Many national flags against blue sky

    Progressive renewal: The Global Progress Action Summit

    A quarter of the way through this century, change is in the air. Everyone, everywhere, seemingly all at once, wants out of the status quo.

  3. Insurgent government: How mainstream parties can fight off populism and rebuild trust in politics

    Across the western world it feels like a sea change is occurring in our politics. At the heart of this is a simple fact: large numbers of people increasingly feel that mainstream politics is failing to deliver for them.