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The UKGBC's task group looking at PAYS has published its report (look for the link on the home page). Thankfully, it looks like councils (rather than the Big 6) are the preferred collection mechanism. But the report seems to swing between 1) admitting that significant contribution from govt or end users will be required and 2) claiming that any subsidies will be "modest" and merely an incentive to "encourage uptake". Reading through now with more to follow.
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Great article from Forum for the Future. "To have an all-electric paradigm shift within the next decade, says Richard Gott, we’ll need some sort of major disruption to petroleum supplies – like a war, or some other huge economic or climatic disaster." How about just peak oil?
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Casey
What are your thoughts on PAYS for new build? I can see the reasoning on refurb/existing, but for new build seems to add more questions than answers?
If we agree polluter pays is the most sensible way forward, then who is the polluter? The builder (who has a free hand in choosing the equipment, albeit within economic constraints) or the occupier, who may use energy indiscriminately or frugally, but within the constraints of the equipment someone else has imposed on them?
As I understand it, it will be an extra charge, possibly added to council tax. Will people’s ‘mental accounting’ put them off the idea of buying a house with larger flat charges (even if variable energy bills will be lower?).
I can see that it might incentivise builders to not install the cheapest possible option, but what will be the effects on the market for micro-renewables? Any kind of incentive/tax distorts things and I’m thinking myself round in circles until I’ve no idea what will happen! Cheaper/more expensive/surplus/scarcity???
Look forward to your post