UK: Energy firms to be offered incentives to cut demand

The Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling, hinted yesterday the Government may give energy companies financial incentives to cut household electricity consumption as part of its goal of making all new homes “carbon neutral”.

Initiatives to increase energy efficiency so that the economy continues to grow while energy demand falls in absolute terms, is expected to be a key theme of the energy review, due to be unveiled next month.