Following the 12 week consultation that concluded 12th April, the Government will shortly be reporting on its long awaited energy review. The aim of this review was to establish the measures required to secure affordable energy whilst tackling climate change. This will be Labour’s second energy review since they came to power, and the likelihood is that it will produce a very different result. The last one suggested that all future energy needs could be met by meeting the UK self-imposed targets for renewables. This is unlikely to happen and therefore this energy review is expected to hint at nuclear. Powerisk has already suggested this will happen and this will be what the headlines pick up on.

However, what is also likely to come out of the energy review is a focus on the way we consume energy. The Government is expected to encourage us as consumers to consider, and ultimately change, the way we consume energy. The Government is already paving the way for this by announcing the introduction of an energy efficiency rating for all homes sold in England in Wales. An Energy Performance Certificate will form part of the new Home Information Packs being introduced next June and will show energy efficiency ratings and the impact of the house on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide. With households using about a third of total UK energy requirements, will initiatives like this be incentive enough, or will the next step be to dangle a carrot or beat with a stick?