Changeworks’ Post

Billpayers, charities and businesses are being urged to give their views on daily standing charges on energy bills, as part of a review. Regulator Ofgem said it wanted to open the debate over the charges, including opinions on how to change the system. Currently, energy customers pay a fixed daily charge covering the costs of connecting to a supply. But there has been anger about increasing fees and customers' inability to reduce what they pay. Charges vary depending on where customers live, but the amount of energy that they use is irrelevant for this part of a household bill. In most areas, the charge - which is capped by the regulator - has doubled over the last two years. A typical household pays 53p a day for electricity and 30p a day for gas - adding an extra £300 to the total bill each year. The money is also used to cover other costs, such as dealing with the failure of some suppliers. Ofgem is also due to announce next week what the official energy price cap will be from January. Read more ➡️ https://buff.ly/3G5Xra0 The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network is here to support your business - reach out to share your views, concerns and opportunities. #SCCnews #businesssupport #businessnetwork #businessvoice #businessleader Sign up for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce enewsletter at https://buff.ly/3CpsQnu

Direct Pay Opens Clean Energy Investment to New Sources of Capital This article highlights an exciting provision of the Inflation Reduction Act - direct pay for nonprofits and public entities. Allowing tax-exempt organizations to directly benefit from clean energy tax credits is a game changer. What excites me most is this will bring new investors into the market who previously couldn't utilize the credits. Having more diverse debt and equity partners widens the discussion on which projects get funded and where. It also enables new capital sources to purchase tax credits from developers, expanding the investment pool. More participants and liquidity means more projects can be economically viable. My hope is that direct pay will catalyze new collaborative models between nonprofit service providers, impact investors, and clean energy developers. Supporting community-led projects allows marginalized areas to share equitably in the clean energy transition. I see immense potential in direct pay to accelerate locally owned resilience and renewable energy assets. This can better empower communities while also engaging new forms of capital. If you have any examples of this playing out in the market please share. #taxcredittransfer #electrification #IRA #taxcredits #communityprojects #cleanenergytransition #climateresiliency #solar https://lnkd.in/gYxsnpvC

KiwiSaver is still most Kiwi’s largest carbon emitter after transport according to independent charity Mindful Money.   So, it’s great to read some positive news that says after years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners ARE making some progress.   As we often say - you can make a difference by choosing where to spend your time, choosing where to spend your money, and choosing where to INVEST your money.   Find out which banks are friendlier than the rest and if you want to know what your KiwiSaver is invested in visit mindfulmoney.nz #ethicalinvesting #wheregoodreturns #climatechangesolutions

Top stories today 📰 Weekend press: Former minister took energy firm donation despite security concerns https://buff.ly/4abs3DC In our latest round-up of sector coverage in the national media, former cabinet minister Simon Clarke is revealed to have taken a £5,000 donation from the developers of the controversial Aquind project. Meanwhile, thousands of Southern Water customers were left without water over the May bank holiday weekend and Thames Water has launched a legal challenge against housebuilder Redrow. ⚡💧 We know we need to accelerate delivery, so what’s stopping us? https://buff.ly/3Wvmih6 Standing almost at the halfway point of this decade, utilities face a steep climb to the summit of their ambitions for 2030. Whether it is progressing net zero, future-proofing infrastructure or protecting customers and the environment, the sector knows it has to increase the pace of delivery. Utility Week Live 2024 looks at how this can be achieved in practice. Here we profile some of the key challenges being discussed across our six stages. 🟢 Delay to SGN’s hydrogen trial ‘strengthens case’ for taking heating decision now https://buff.ly/3WBrakV The delay to SGN’s hydrogen town trial in Fife bolsters the argument for the government to bring forward its decision on hydrogen’s role in home heating, a leading gas expert has claimed. The government is currently set to make a decision on hydrogen for home heating in 2026. However, Dr Keith MacLean OBE, gas expert at consultancy Providence Policy, said that ministers should “bite the bullet” and make a decision now in light of the delay to the H100 Fife project.

10 years on from founding the #FossilFree divestment campaign and many universities, churches, charities, instiutions and individuals divesting from fossil fuels, Barclays have decided to stop directly funding new fossil fuel projects. However they are still financing fossil fuel companies like Equinor who are developing new oilfields like the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea. This shows they are finally begining to crack and feeling the pressure. We have to keep it up! #ClimateChange #StopRosebank

Billpayers, charities & businesses are urged to give their views on daily standing energy charges as part of a review.💬 https://lnkd.in/e8XBkZ6W #CostOfLivingCrisis #energycrisis #wrexham #northwales #wrexhambusiness #energyindustry

Our recent blog post, DETECTING FINANCIALLY-VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS AT SCALE: by Rebecca Vickery at EDF. As energy prices continue to skyrocket in the UK, the impact is felt most acutely by households already under financial strain. This is happening despite the government’s best efforts to stem the tide with measures such as the energy price guarantee. In response to this pressing issue, the energy sector is rising to the occasion. They are expanding their support initiatives for customers and making strides to ensure this assistance reaches as many eligible households* as possible. EDF had already increased the support that they could offer to customers throughout 2022. This included a doubling of the financial assistance for struggling customers to £10m, partnerships with charities such as Income Max to help customers access financial support entitlements and offering £20m of funding for home insulation. However, EDF were keen to ensure that this support could be offered to the customers who needed it most. Read the full blog, click on the link below; https://lnkd.in/dnm6pytg #DataScienceTalent #blog #DETECTINGFINANCIALLY-VULNERABLECUSTOMERSATSCALE

Please welcome to #taxcredit investment #tribes, #nonprofits, #stateandlocal governments, and #electricity cooperatives! Tomorrow at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern, I'll talk about the new proposed regulations that give these folks a seat at the table in #renewableenergy investment. *Finally.* https://lnkd.in/gUDVuS5X

The impacts of #climatechange are mounting much faster than predicted, but action to curb emissions can still avert the worst outcomes. At ACEEE, we've been working hard to help partners implement and maximize the impact of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act. We’ve also launched new initiatives to increase energy efficiency across the nation, and we’re gearing up for an even more active 2024! Support our work this #GivingTuesday and help us continue our efforts to reduce energy waste, protect the planet, and improve lives — for all.

Climate-smart systems and communities can help #decarbinastion and cut #emissions which are driving #ClimateChange. With climate-smart development, the benefits are threefold ✅People will be confident in their future. ✅Investors can be confident of a return on their capital.  ✅Donors can achieve more with available funding. Find out more about climate-smart development 👇 https://mottm.ac/3BCNaxL #WorldEngineeringDay for #sustainable development