British companies are paying the highest electricity prices of anywhere in the developed world, official data have shown, after costs more than doubled in the past five years. The Telegraph has the details.
The cost of power for industrial businesses has jumped 124% in just five years, according to the Government’s figures, catapulting the U.K. to the top of international league tables.
It is now about 50% more expensive than in Germany and France, and four times as expensive as in the U.S.
The figures will fuel concerns about the future of U.K. industry amid warnings that high energy prices are crippling domestic manufacturers.
They underline the challenge facing Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, who wants industrial businesses to switch away from gas to electricity-powered processes.
Frank Aaskov, the Director of Energy at lobby group U.K. Steel, said: “High industrial electricity prices have for too long damaged the competitiveness of U.K. steelmaking, and many in the wider manufacturing sector will be feeling the same pressure our steel companies do.
“The Government should tackle steep electricity costs and make the U.K. a fruitful place to invest, while enabling growth and improving competitiveness.”
The electricity price paid by U.K. industrial users per kilowatt hour rose to 25.85p in 2023, the data show. That compares to 10.43p as recently as five years earlier and 8.89p a decade ago.
It also far outstripped European rivals and allies such as the U.S. and Canada. The equivalent price was 17.84p in France, 17.71p in Germany and 6.48p in the U.S.
Across all the 31 member countries of the International Energy Agency, which collates the data, the median price was 17.70p per kilowatt hour, with Britain’s price higher than any other country.
Worth reading in full.
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Why was the article on AI removed?
Maybe the AI lobby didn’t like this
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/04/20/our-entire-ai-revolution-is-built-on-a-correlation-house-of-cards/
True.
Came to ask the same question! The article on Microsoft practically buying a nuclear power plant to feed AI? Where is it?
You have TY’s ear, maybe he will tell you.
Come to think of it, we never did find out why comments were removed on the Kate Middleton article.
Yep, still waiting…………
It was on wattupwiththat earlier but it seems to have been pulled. Hmmm
How odd
Why Microsoft made a deal to help restart Three Mile Island | MIT Technology Review
Wow, equivalent to c.800,000 homes consumption, all destined for one company. Heavily subsidised by taxes of the people being denied the power output.
Obviously Microsoft can buy what the hell it likes, we have no problem with this, I am sure. But the power station was built in large part with taxpayers’ money, I think, that’s your point?
I read it. —–Could not see anything in there that would cause the need to remove it. But there may be legal reasons that we are all not aware of for why it was removed. We should not jump to conclusions that the Daily Sceptic is running scared of something.
Agree 100% but would be nice to know
Tell me something I don’t know, good that its official now, my wife works for an energy broker that deals to councils and quangos, one of our friends who works in the procurement department, genuinly thinks AR6 was a good thing as it meant more renewables, and that more wind power will reduce bills. I don’t understand how they can operate?
Because they’re fooling themselves.
Massive subsidy ‘farming’ in practice
Why is that the UK always has to save the planet harder and faster than everyone else? Already we have the highest prices, and Miliband has hardly got started yet. The Industrial revolution started in the UK and we gained our prosperity by using fossil fuels. Our standard of living rose as people were brought out of poverty. We slowed death from preventable disease and from back breaking labour and life expectancy was greatly increased. We got more leisure time to enjoy.——-But now the Politics of Sustainable Development has decided our lifestyles are “unsustainable” and we are to make do with less of everything. Less energy, less travel, less food, less flights, and on and on. Our own Political Class are fully onboard with this agenda, and continually stuff climate change dogma down our throats in order to get us onboard with it as well. They are determined to lower standard of living and lie to our faces that their policies will create growth, jobs and lower energy prices. —Electricity prices are only going to go in one direction —UP
And UP
Politicians love the idea that the UK ‘punches above its weight’. Of course, most areas where the UK does actually punch above its weight – such as being a permanent member of the security council, or having world-leading scientific institutions – are for historical reasons.
Given that politicians hate our history, this is uncomfortable.
Perhaps this is why they want a new, shiny way of leading the world – to rapid deindustrialisation and penury – that wipes out all references to previous industrial innovation and dominance.
An absolute priority is erasing the history of this country as I have posted repeatedly.
Yup…after all Miliband Minor’s previous work shows this clearly…
Of course, our politicians only like this as long as it does not affect them. Only the little people must suffer. They can continue to have their short breaks to New York and the Mediterranean, continue to be driven around in gas guzzling cars, live in multiple houses that are not warranted for their work, attend pointless meetings around the world and have more children than their view of the world are deemed necessary. Oh yes, as long as the little people keep filling the trough for them to shove their snouts in, they are fully signed up.
Pretty obvious why this is the case really. Successive Governments have refused to put nuclear infrastructure in place even though we have Rolls Royce chomping at the bit. Even Mass Murderer Blair admitted nuclear was the only way forward.
Meanwhile, Government has closed down and destroyed our industries. MadBacon is intent on throwing tens of thousands out of work so that he can pretend importing is cleaner than using what is under our feet and our seas.
The bottom line on this is simple: how much are they getting in bungs? The policies are clearly insane and even stupid idiots like Mad and Gear can see that, so it has to be money.
It’s always money.
Either that, or they are certifiably bonkers. Which is a possibility, given how we seem to have created a society where people fail upwards.
Both, no question about it. In a proper world Miliband wouldn’t even be out selling The Big Issue.
Net Zero Britain Highest Electricity Prices
Successive Governments have said they will make the UK the World leader in decarbonisation. Job done.
Killing off all the carbon-based lifeforms here eh?
Basically, it’s all down to mad Ed Milliamp and his totally unthinkung, unscientific, uneconomic Climate Change Act. This is totally on his head. The sooner two-tiet Kier dumps him and reverses the whole net zero idiocy, the better.
It could well be Stalin’s only liked policy. Even the EV drivers might like it.