Electricity Market Reform Debate

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Electricity Market Reform

Laura Sandys Excerpts
Tuesday 12th July 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Huhne Portrait Chris Huhne
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There is a clear description in the White Paper of the different models on which we are consulting, and we are clear that there are essentially two families. One is the strategic reserve, which is effectively bought by the Government and released into the market at a clear trigger point, and the other is a wider range of capacity that is bought through a generalised mechanism for the market as a whole. Either of those targets a particular level of spare capacity, because we have to avoid black-outs in future. If the hon. Gentleman reads the detail of the proposals, I think he will find them compelling. We will reach decisions by the end of the year.

Laura Sandys Portrait Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)
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I welcome this fundamental reform of the electricity market. To what extent do we believe we can attract the supply chain to the renewables sector, and is the Department working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to ensure that we see an industrial benefit, not just a carbon benefit?