Smart meters are due for domestic roll-out by 2018 and 2020 for commercial. The basic premise is that energy isn’t going to get any cheaper in the near future and consumers; domestic and commercial are going to have to manage their energy consumption – why? Because we’re digging the hard stuff [oil, gas and coal] out of the ground and the alternatives are either hugely more expensive or dangerous [e.g. Fukushima]. To enable this to happen successfully requires that the consumer is engaged in the process with the result being that they will be able to see how much, when and at what cost energy is consumed.

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With 2011 proving to be a particularly turbulent year for worldwide energy prices, heads are now turning to what to expect in 2012.

With civil unrest in the Middle East unlikely to ease, mixed with increased export capabilities, wholesale prices are expected to fluctuate heavily. European leaders look likely to impose an oil embargo on Iran, with Tehran warning of rising tensions and likely retaliation.

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Npower’s continued inability to contribute to the coffers of parent RWE looks likely to move them up the cost saving and asset disposal list.

As RWE struggle to come to grips with the phase-out of nuclear energy in 2022, net debt of over £24 billion, a less than anticipated return on a recent share sale, loss-making long-term gas deals and its failure to setup a joint venture with Gazprom for the takeover of all European generation including the UK, it doesn’t bode well.

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The Deptartment of Energy and Climate Change subsidies for Renewable Energy have been very successful, the majority of the Feed-In tariff support going to Solar Energy Schemes, almost too successful perhaps.
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