Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 June 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 July 2001. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 July 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will undertake a review of current arrangements affecting net metering for renewable energy.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will undertake a review of current arrangements affecting net metering for renewable energy. [1679] Mr. Wilson: The issue of how best to value the export of energy to local electricity networks, including the specific issue of net metering, was examined by the Embedded Generation Working Group, who issued their final report recently. The Working Group concluded that further work on this issue was required and made a number of recommendations on how this might be progressed. We shall be making an announcement shortly on how the recommendations of the Embedded Generation Working Group will be taken forward. In May, the then Energy Minister wrote to electricity suppliers and distribution network operators asking them to consider improving net metering terms for small scale domestic renewable energy generators, including electricity from photovoltaics. A number of responses have been received and the Department will be considering what further action can be taken in the light of the conclusions that emerge.

Secondary information