The department was established on 7 February 2023.
The creation of the new department was described by Downing Street as an opportunity to "focus on giving the UK cheaper, cleaner, more secure sources of energy – cutting bills, cutting emissions, and cutting dependence on international energy supplies."[4]
The London School of Economics's Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment welcomed the creation of the new department saying that it "signalled a commitment to delivering net zero" and "showed that MPs on the right of the Conservative Party have failed to win the argument for weakening climate policy." However, the LSE warned that the new department would have to "persuade other departments and the Treasury to accelerate action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions across the economy outside the energy sector" to be effective.[5]
Responsibilities
The department's immediate priorities were outlined by the Prime Minister as follows:
To maintain energy supplies, particularly during the winter.
To reduce energy bills and lower inflation.
To ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding carbon budgets and Net Zero commitments.
To speed up significantly the delivery of network infrastructure and green energy.
To improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings.
To deliver a new Energy Bill by the end of the Parliament.[4]
Energy security, resilience, and preparedness; Energy market reform; Renewables and biomass; Oil and gas; Net Zero Strategy and commitments; Carbon budgets; Green jobs and skills; Trade, net zero investment and supply chains; International climate and energy policy, including G7/G20 and COP negotiations; International climate finance; Carbon leakage; Science and innovation for climate and energy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nuclear and Networks
New nuclear, including small modular reactors, Sizewell C and future GW-scale power plants; Existing nuclear power plants and decommissioning, including geological disposal; Nuclear protection, including regulation and non-proliferation; Nuclear fusion; Energy systems (Grid) and networks.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers and Affordability
Energy affordability schemes, including the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBSS) and Energy Bills Relief Scheme (EBRS); Energy consumer issues, including pre-payment meters (PPMs); Fuel poverty; Ofgem consumer elements, including the energy price cap (shared with the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero).
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance
Green finance; Energy efficiency and demand reduction; Industrial decarbonisation and emissions trading, including fuel switching, energy efficiency and electrification; Clean heat, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme; Smart meters; Heat networks; Local authority decarbonisation; Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); Hydrogen.
^ This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
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