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Independent Energy Scrutiny Panel

I have been that busy with matters (specifically relating to Gas) that I have not managed to talk about the launch of the IESP.

I held a meeting with various stakeholders inc Chemical Industries Association, National Farmers Union, Energy Institute, Ofgem, New Energy Foundation and Powerswitch to review the fossil fuel situation. This has been planned before it turned out there was gas calamity.

It was agreed that we should form the IESP to challenge the assumptions behind figures provided by various players (Government, Regulators, National Grid etc etc).

It is very clear that the figures provided as part of the Winter Outlook 2005 were substantially in error. Not only that but it was a shock. It was such as shock that it appears that Malcolm Wicks did not even know on Wednesday.

One of the things that arose during the meeting was that the DTI were refusing to provide information to Ofgem about gas field problems. In the circumstances it sounds totally insane. That is probably because it is totally insane. The logic is one of commercial confidentiality. I sent an email at 10am today to Malcolm Wicks about this. Later in the day Ofgem announced that they had an agreement with the DTI to get this information.

Not that it helps that much now, but it is good to talk

Well now that I chair the Independent Energy Scrutiny Panel I can expect Steve McCabe to call on me to resign as he did with the BSP.

There is another fun issue about how now Potato Peelings are hazardous waste and have to be disposed of separately from non-hazardous waste. One of the issues is that to produce gas from waste is easier when waste is mixed.

We will have to change a number of rather silly rules that should have been changed in any event. Now, however, it matters.

It has been horribly cold tonight. It would not surprise me if that resulted in some gas interruptions.

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