Dated May 2013

The Government is putting in place policies aimed at driving down energy bills for consumers, reducing input costs for industry, cutting carbon emissions and contributing to a more competitive economy. Electricity demand reduction (EDR) measures are a crucial part of delivering potential. Already developed policies include the flagship Green Deal and new domestic Energy Company Obligation. These, together with the deployment of smart meters, are expected to reduce electricity consumption by nearly 6.5TWh by 2030. In addition, the Green Investment Bank will support access to finance and, in time, audits required under the new EU energy efficiency directive will further reduce demand. However, the Department believes that above and beyond existing policies, it should be possible to reduce demand even further. If a 10% electricity demand reduction could be achieved, this could result in electricity system costs savings in the region of £4 billion in 2030. This consultation opens up a range of options to unlock the energy savings that are currently embedded in the system and seeks views on a number of market-wide financial incentives. Publishing simultaneously to the consultation are a consultation summary document (Cm. 8492, ISBN 9780101849227); Electricity market reform policy overview (Cm. 8498, ISBN 9780101849821); Energy security strategy (Cm 8466, ISBN 9780101846622); Annual energy statement 2012 (Cm. 8456, ISBN 9780101845625); and Statutory security of supply report (HC 688, session 2012-13 ISBN 9780102980691)

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This consultation document seeks views on proposals for implementing the key mechanisms under electricity market reform (EMR) - the Contracts for Difference (CfDs), the Capacity Market, and associated institutional and delivery arrangements. A package of draft secondary legislation is included to help illustrate the proposals. EMR is the Government's response to the challenges facing the electricity sector: a fifth of 2011 capacity has to close over the next ten years; the need to transform the generation mix to respond to climate change and to meet legally-binding carbon and renewable targets; the expectation that electricity demand will continue to increase over the coming decades. An estimated £110 billion investment is required over the next 10 years. CfDs will provide long-term revenue stabilisation to low-carbon plant, allowing investment to come forward at a lower cost of capital. The Capacity Market will provide a regular retainer payment to reliable forms of capacity (both demand and supply side), in return for such capacity being available when electricity supply is being squeezed. The National Grid will be the delivery body for EMR. The key mechanisms will be supported by: carbon price floor, a tax underpinning the price of carbon emissions in the UK; emissions performance standard, a regulatory backstop to the amount of CO2 emissions from new fossil-fuel power stations; action to promote electricity demand reduction; Ofgem's measures to improve wholesale market liquidity. The Energy Bill currently progressing through Parliament will introduce the powers to implement EMR.

The Annual Energy Statement 2013 sets out the government's priorities in delivering the UK's energy policies in the near term: helping households and businesses take control of their energy bills and keep their costs down; unlocking investment in the UK's infrastructure that will support economic growth; playing a leading role in efforts to secure international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. It presents plans to make switching simpler and quicker, and a new probe into energy firms' accounts, to make them more transparent on profits and prices, as well as increasing penalties for market manipulation and regularly checking that the market is working properly

The Government has three objectives for energy policy - to keep the lights on, to keep energy bills affordable, and to decarbonise energy generation. Simultaneous to the publication of this policy paper the Government is introducing the Energy Bill (HC Bill 100 2012-13, ISBN 9780215050151) into Parliament to implement the key aspects of Electricity Market Reform (EMR) as well as making a wider range of reforms. The Government set out its intentions in the EMR white paper issued in July 2011 (available at http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/white_papers/emr_wp_2011/emr_wp_2011.aspx). The Bill will drive the £110 billion of investment needed in the electricity sector by 2020, to ensure reliable, diverse and low-carbon power. With a fifth of the UK's electricity generating capacity due to close this decade these reforms are vital. Also publishing simultaneously is Electricity demand reduction consultation document (Cm. 8468, ISBN 9780101846820); Electricity demand reduction consultation summary document (Cm. 8492, ISBN 9780101849227); Annual energy statement 2012 (Cm. 8456, ISBN 9780101845625); Energy security strategy (Cm 8466, ISBN 9780101846622); and Statutory security of supply report (HC 688, session 2012-13 ISBN 9780102980691)

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