A heavy reliance on gas leaves UK vulnerable to price spikes following years of policy inconsistency and insufficient investment, the Energy Crisis Commission finds.

The Energy Crisis Commission, including representatives from Energy UK, CBI, Citizens Advice and National Energy Action, was established to review the impacts of the energy crisis on households and businesses and make recommendations to better equip the country to withstand possible future energy crises.

The Commission found that British households and businesses were hit harder than many other European countries because of high dependence on gas for heating and power generation. Ranked against EU countries, the UK is second most dependent on gas for heating, and fifth most dependent on gas for electricity.

The Commission believes that the UK needs to accelerate its low-carbon transition, reduce its reliance on gas, ensure an insulation programme, scale up the installation of heat pumps and pursue electricity market reform urgently.

Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive at Energy UK said: “Global instability was a major factor behind these price shocks so it’s sadly evident that we need to be better prepared for a repeat that can’t be ruled out. Emergency last minute interventions are costly and unpredictable and can leave us too reliant on good fortune.”

---