How Britain Can Escape Its Energy Trap: Heat and Light at the End of the Tunnel

ABSTRACT Britain has high energy bills because it still relies on fossil fuels during a period of high prices, while also having to invest in a new, clean energy system. While the direction of Britain's energy policy has been right ‐ trying to shift from fossil fuels to clean power as quickly as possible ‐ the wrong decision has been taken on some key policy choices. In particular, successive governments have loaded too many costs on to electricity bills, and put too little emphasis on increasing the demand for electricity. Nonetheless, there is scope for Britain to escape its energy trap over the next few years, not by turning away from net zero but by committing to it and doing it better. Policy should focus on increasing the uptake of heat pumps, promoting flexible electricity use and spreading investment costs into the future.