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· Government
to legislate for a Smart Export Guarantee - mandating most
electricity suppliers to offer a tariff that pays homes and
businesses exporting renewable electricity by 31st December
2019
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· REA
welcomes this positive step towards a more decarbonised, local,
and cheaper power system
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· Industry
concern over lack of ambition in zero-minimum price and no
contract length, in addition to delay in introduction following
the closure of the Feed in Tariff
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· Industry
supportive of ensuring the policy is linked to the
Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and that mechanisms are in
place to review the scheme should it become apparent that
generators cannot access competitive tariffs
Commenting on today’s confirmation about the detail of
Government’s Smart Export Guarantee and their announcement they
will legislate this week (10 June 2019) for its
introduction, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, Chief
Executive of the REA said:
“Small scale renewable power deployment is good for
businesses, good for homes, and good for our climate. The
Government confirming that they will legislate for a Smart Export
Guarantee is very positive and acknowledges innovation in the
market, how the falling price of batteries and renewable energy
can support lower bills, and how local generation and storage can
reduce grid constraints.
“There is growing popular demand for technologies such as
solar and battery storage. The linking of this policy to the
Microgeneration Certification Scheme is welcome and will help
ensure a measure of consumer protection in this new era of
deployment.
“Whilst we are fully supportive of encouraging innovation in
tariff design we still believe that the policy should introduce a
fair minimum price for generators. Minimum contract lengths
should be required to give future generators certainty. These
proposals do not ensure this.
“We have confidence that many independent suppliers will
bring forward attractive tariffs for future homes and businesses
who wish to self-generate power. We welcome the Government’s
commitment to review the market in due course to ensure that the
rest are following in step.
“Government must now take this into other areas of policy
making, specifically around building regulations. The Smart
Export Guarantee, combined with mandated solar and storage in new
homes should play a key role in the forthcoming Part L review and
considerations around taking new homes off the gas network”.
—ENDS—
Notes to editors
