HC Deb 23 November 1995 vol 267 cc248-9W
Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his policy to require companies taking over regional electricity companies' assurances in respect of the protection of small companies generating electricity by sustainable means; and what assurances have so far been given. [1606]

Mr. Eggar

The five-year transitional arrangements for those generators which supplied regional electricity companies under extended Energy Act terms ended in March 1995. A public electricity supplier's obligation under the non-fossil fuel obligation are not affected by changes in the ownership of that public electricity supplier.

Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to protect small independent companies generating electricity by sustainable means following the opening up of the electricity market. [1605]

Mr. Eggar

Those renewable generating stations with NFFO contracts will not be affected by the liberalisation of the electricity market until their NFFO contracts with the regional electricity companies end. Renewable generating stations without NFFO contracts will have the opportunity to benefit from the freedom to supply end-users in small niche markets, at a price that may be related to the electricity retail price as opposed to the wholesale price at which licensed electricity suppliers purchase electricity. I understand that OFFER and the electricity pool are considering the possibility of simplified arrangements to enable embedded generators to sell electricity without the requirement to become pool members.