News
Energy secretary faces challenges
STEVE BRATT, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE officer of the ECA, has welcomed the government’s appointment of Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, in the role of energy secretary following Chris Huhne’s resignation. Bratt said: ‘We need Davey to really engage with industry in order to drive forward the UK’s low carbon agenda. It is vital that he immediately picks up the mantle when pushing through programmes and policies such as the Green Deal. It is key that SMEs have a role in the Green Deal beyond being sub-contractors to large firms, and can use their face-to-face contact with clients to advise on and install energy saving solutions. We trust he will look to work with organisations such as the ECA.
Bratt noted that Davey has huge challenges ahead, particularly in light of the recent solar PV Feed-in Tariff (FITs) debacle. He added: ‘In the forthcoming comprehensive review of the FITs, covering all renewable technologies, he must ensure that the tariffs remain attractive to consumers.’
Engagement key to smart meter rollout success
Responding to the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on Preparations For the Rollout of Smart Meters, BEAMA welcomed the report’s acknowledgement of the potential benefits of the UK smart meter rollout. BEAMA chief executive officer Howard Porter commented: ‘It is important that industry bodies such as BEAMA, which represents over 20 manufacturers of smart meters and consumer energy displays, continue to work with government to ensure that the programme is a success.’ The huge potential benefits of a UK smart meter rollout were highlighted by a worldwide research project published in November 2011, which found that the programme could cut UK household electricity bills by £938m a year. This makes it all the more important that the concerns raised by the PAC about this large-scale nationwide project are resolved. BEAMA is confident that the ongoing positive engagement between government, industry and consumer groups will succeed in solving them.’ Porter added: ‘To realise these savings, it is essential that the government, energy suppliers and other stakeholders get fully behind a campaign to engage with consumers on how to benefit from the smart meter roll out. There is the potential in the UK to exceed the worldwide average. It is also important to remember the positive knock-on effect of the smart meter rollout, which is a crucial stepping-stone on the way to the development of a smart grid.’
ECA HAILS WITHDRAWAL OF BESNA AGREEMENT
THE ECA HAS WELCOMED the news that the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) has terminated its plans to introduce the Building Engineering Services National Agreement (BESNA).
The controversial BESNA proposals, which prompted acrimony and industrial action within the electrical sector, were shelved by the HVCA in late February following a withdrawal of support for the agreement by
6 ECA Today March 2012
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) and NG Bailey.
Announcing the end of BESNA, a statement from the HVCA explained: ‘In consultation with the remaining companies and following discussions with Unite, it has been agreed that HVCA will withdraw its proposal for the Building Engineering Services National Agreement (BESNA)’.
As a result, Unite has agreed not to pursue industrial action against the companies previously
supporting BESNA. The HVCA said it now intended to engage in ‘high-level talks with Unite within an agreed timeline, with the aim of creating new proposals and ensuring agreed terms are honoured’. The ECA’s response said the development presented ‘an important opportunity for the industry to move forward’. Its statement continued: ‘The ECA has consistently said that a collaborative way forward is the only way to
deliver sustainable change. Now the HVCA has withdrawn BESNA, we look forward to working with our industry colleagues to find a solution that works for the entire sector.’
The ECA statement concluded:
‘This is the only approach that makes sense if we are to deliver lasting change for the sector as a whole; something the ECA, along with our colleagues from the other trade associations, is committed to achieving.’
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