Originally Posted by
harpo88
Sorry MB I have to take you up on the net zero comment. We have capacity for a lot more renewable power and to use products that can use that renewable electricity rather than fossil fuels. The market structures are currently set up that the price of electricity though is driven by the price of gas, not the cheaper price of renewables. And while there are some levies on energy bills, currently these fall on lower carbon electricity rather than gas, so the system is working against itself. They also go to fund things like fuel poverty support schemes. And harnessing more renewables makes us more energy self-sufficient - but we're unlikely to be able to get 100% self-sufficient while keeping bills down, so interconnectors with places like Norway are important. And if we only used UK-based gas and oil, it would cost more (unless heavily subsidised by other taxes) because it wouldn't be part of a competitive market.
The best way to lower bills permanently - ie not with pots of funding we have to renew every winter or every fuel crisis - is to improve our housing stock with energy efficiency and transition to products that can use renewable power. There are upfront investment costs, but running costs will eventually be cheaper.