EEF comment on Annual Energy Statement

Commenting on the Energy Secretary’s Annual Energy Statement, Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said:

On the competition review announcement: “EEF supports the announcement to hold a competition review on the UK’s energy market. However, given the numerous reviews into the energy market and competition that have taken place over the years, and their subsequent failure to deliver any real change, government must ensure that this time it will make a material difference by undertaking a rigorous evidence-based approach, with real teeth.”

On the green levies review: “It is clear that unilateral climate change policies are adding costs to the UK manufacturing industry that are not borne by our competitors. We welcome any action that investigates the benefits of such policies, their costs to business and their impacts on the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, both at UK and global level.

"We must remember that we can’t tackle climate change alone and the UK must push for a global agreement which addresses the issue of competitiveness and delivers genuine global reductions.”

On the need to tackle the rising cost of energy for industry: “Whilst the price of energy for residential consumers has featured heavily in the news over recent weeks, it is important that government also remembers the costs faced by the manufacturing sector.

"We would urge the government to recognise the impact of rising energy prices and uncompetitive green levies on the UK manufacturing sector’s ability to grow and compete in a highly competitive global marketplace. EEF has long argued that the energy costs associated with manufacturing in the UK put us at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the world, hampering the sector’s ability to thrive and continue playing a key role in rebalancing the economy.”