Last week, Ed Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero launched a new policy: “Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money.” The idea is that by “unleashing a rooftop revolution… a typical existing UK home could save around £530 a year from installing rooftop solar”. This, said Miliband in news interviews and his trademark social media skit, is “just common sense”. Once again, however, the economics underpinning the Government’s interpretation of “common sense” is not so straightforward and requires a lot to be taken for granted – or simply ignored.
“Looking both ways before you cross the road,” explains the Secretary of State, “not leaving your house without your keys… brushing your teeth before you go to bed… and yes, putting solar panels on the rooftops of new homes. It’s just common sense.” “Cutting energy bills by hundreds of pounds,” he concludes, “who could possibly be against that?”
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