Latest news
12 January 2012
Publication of updated version of the draft CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) Allocation Regulations
The Government has published an updated version of the draft CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) Allocation Regulations. They contain consequential changes from previous simplifications of the CRC Scheme. They also include the allowance price of £12 for 2012 as announced at Budget 2011. Future prices are a matter for the Budget process.
The Allocation Regulations, laid by HMT under the Finance Act 2008, will make provision for the sale of allowances in the first phase of the Scheme. The exact dates of the proposed allocation periods are contained in the Regulations. Broadly speaking they are in June and July each year. Two allocation periods are provided for, an annual Government sale (the primary allocation period) and an opportunity for the Environment Agency to finalise the processing of late requests (the secondary allocation period). Account holders will not be able to request allocations in the secondary period. As the cap has been removed there is no need for the safety valve mechanism. This has been removed from the Regulations.
Comments on the draft Regulations are welcome by 10th February 2012. Please send any comments to crc@decc.gsi.gov.uk
8 November 2011
CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme performance league table published
The first CRC performance league table (links to Environment Agency) was published by the Environment Agency today. The table ranks participants in terms of their early action to manage their energy. The league table is based on the comprehensive reports submitted by the participants in the scheme.
Future league tables will be based on participant’s efforts to improve their energy efficiency. Their early action will have a diminished weighting each year, with metrics based on company growth and absolute emissions changes taking more prevalence.
By making this information openly available to the public, energy efficiency will become a reputational issue for supermarkets, universities and football clubs to name but a few. This will bring energy efficiency to the attention of any boardroom that cares about the image of their brand.
For more information on the scheme please see the Environment Agency: CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme web page.
More about CRC
The scheme features an annual performance league table that ranks participants on energy efficiency performance. Together with the reputational considerations, the scheme encourages organisations to develop energy management strategies that promote a better understanding of energy usage.
The scheme is designed to tackle CO2 emissions not already covered by Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Organisations are eligible for CRC if they (and their subsidiaries) have at least one half-hourly electricity meter (HHM) settled on the half-hourly market. Organisations that consumed more than 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year of half hourly metered electricity during 2008 qualify for full participation and register with the Environment Agency, who is the administrator for the scheme .
Organisations that do not meet the 6000MWh threshold will have to make an information disclosure of their half hourly electricity consumption during 2008. Participants, including supermarkets, water companies, banks, local authorities and all central Government Departments. Qualifying organisations will have to comply legally with the scheme or face financial and other penalties.
DECC has developed the CRC policy in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Environment Northern Ireland.
Contacts
If you have any queries about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, you can contact:
- The Environment Agency, the administrators of the CRC scheme, by email: CRCHELP@environment-agency.gov.uk
- DECC by post (for questions on policy development only):
CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) Team
National Carbon Markets
Department of Energy and Climate Change
Area 1A
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2HH
Participants in CRC in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland may like to contact the Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly Government, and Department of Environment Northern Ireland.