But what will"better incentivising energy efficiency" actually mean in the chaos of this political moment?
The chancellor might simply mean that exposing people to price rises will by default encourage a reduction in demand.Certainly, with the public purse in such poor shape, it seems very unlikely there will be a new spending programme to incentivise home heating and insulation measures. Perhaps the government will back the National Grid, which said in its winter outlook that it was going to start a voluntary scheme that would pay people to avoid using electricity at times of peak demand.Or perhaps at the back of Mr Hunt's mind is another issue, also raised by the National Grid - that asking citizens to reduce energy consumption may help avoid the need for rationing or blackouts.
As he battles to bring some stability to the country, the new chancellor will want to keep the lights on. To do otherwise would be politically devastating at a time when the Conservatives can least afford it.
hannahtpsky Watching Hunt yesterday in parliament.. will the real Prime Minister stand up.. Hunt the way he spoke and managed himself 👏 now that’s Prime Minister material
hannahtpsky Jeremy proving he’s a unt. Even to his own political peers. That was supposed to say Hunt. Honest.
hannahtpsky
hannahtpsky Brilliant! It’s now cheaper to stick a diesel generator in my garden than buy electric from the grid ofgem MartinSLewis trussliz That’ll make GretaThunberg JustStop_Oil & Greenpeace happy, how’s this work for the green targets then? energy EnergyCrisis CostOfLiving