• Major review into Britain’s electricity market design launched by UK Government to radically enhance energy security and cut costs of electricity for consumers in the long term
• Proposals out for initial consultation include exploring changes to the wholesale electricity market that would stop volatile gas prices setting the price of electricity produced by much cheaper renewables
• Coupled with immediate action to help people with higher energy bills this year, the Government continues to be on the side of British energy consumers short and long term

The UK’s exposure to volatile global gas markets and energy costs for consumers could be radically reduced in the long term, thanks to a transformational review into Britain’s electricity market design, launched today [Monday 18 July] by the UK Government.

The Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) will seek views on a wide range of options to address the combined challenges of responding to higher global energy costs, the need to further boost energy security and move the UK to a cleaner energy system.

Some of the changes being consulted on include:

• introducing incentives for consumers to draw energy from the grid at cheaper rates when demand is low or it’s particularly sunny and windy, saving households money with cheaper rates
• reforming the capacity market so that it increases the participation of low carbon flexibility technologies, such as electricity storage, that enable a cleaner, lower cost system
• de-coupling costly global fossil fuel prices from electricity produced by cheaper renewables, a step to help ensure consumers are seeing cheaper prices as a result of lower-cost clean energy sources 

Under the current system, gas prices often end up setting the wholesale electricity price, because it is often the last source of supply to meet demand. The ever-increasing participation of renewables in the system means over time, cheaper electricity produced by renewables energy will determine the price more often. This consultation will explore ways of updating this pricing system to further reflect the rise in cheaper renewable electricity - something that could have a direct impact on reducing energy costs, ensuring consumers reap the full benefits of the UK's world-leading and abundant supply of cheaper, cleaner energy. 

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:
“We’ve just seen the price of offshore UK wind power fall to an all-time low and gas is a shrinking portion of our electricity generating mix, so we need to explore ways of ensuring the electricity market is adapting to the times.

“That includes ensuring the cost benefits of our increasing supply of cheaper energy trickle down to consumers, but also that our system is fit for the future – especially with electricity demand set to double by 2035.

“In what could be the biggest electricity market shake up in decades, I am confident that this review will significantly enhance GB’s energy security and supply for generations to come.”

Today’s consultation launch forms part of the government’s comprehensive review of the electricity market, first announced in the British Energy Security Strategy (BESS). The BESS significantly raised ambitions for building low carbon and cheaper-to-run technologies such as offshore wind, solar and nuclear, as part of UK plans to deliver a clean and secure electricity system by 2035.

The UK is already making huge progress in accelerating the delivery of cheaper, home-grown renewable energy. Earlier this month, the UK secured a record capacity of almost 11GW of clean energy at record low prices, through the government’s flagship renewables scheme - almost double the capacity achieved in the previous round, and enough to power around 12 million British homes.

With electricity demand set to at least double over the next 13 years, REMA will focus on establishing a fit-for-purpose market design, identifying and implementing the reforms needed to GB electricity markets that work for businesses, industry, and households.

This includes consulting on both the continued evolution and expansion of existing schemes, such as the Capacity Market and Contracts for Difference, and the introduction of more fundamental change where needed to guarantee uninterrupted supply during periods of no wind or sun at the lowest cost possible for consumers.

 Energy Minister Greg Hands said:
“Today’s launch of REMA is a major step in delivering a secure energy future for Britain, putting in place the electricity market design we need to allow us to make the most of our world-leading diversity of power sources while offering more value for money for consumers.”

Today marks the first major consultation stage within REMA’s comprehensive programme of work. Through this initial consultation, the UK Government will engage extensively with the sector to develop and assess options for reform, with a response expected to be published this winter. Following this consultation, the department will further develop, refine and narrow down options for reform during 2022-2023 before delivering proposed reforms.