West Burton power station: 21 protesters sentenced – BBC News
“Twenty-one people who occupied a power station for a week have avoided custodial sentences.”
BBC News, 6th June 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: energy
Ofgem widens investigation into alleged rigging of gas and power markets – The Guardian
“The energy watchdog, Ofgem, has widened its investigation into alleged manipulation of gas and power markets and warned that doubts over price-setting could lead to higher household bills.”
The Guardian, 6th June 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
SFO considers criminal inquiry into alleged price fixing by oil firms – The Guardian
“The Serious Fraud Office said on Thursday it is considering a criminal inquiry into alleged price fixing at BP and other oil companies already being investigated by European competition authorities.”
The Guardian, 16th May 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Burr v OM Property Management Ltd – WLR Daily
Burr v OM Property Management Ltd: [2013] EWCA Civ 479; [2013] WLR (D) 164
“When determining the amount of any service charge payable by a tenant for services supplied, on the natural and ordinary meaning of the words of section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, ‘costs’ were not ‘incurred’ on the mere provision of the services or supplies made to the landlord or management company.”
WLR Daily, 3rd May 2013
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Council to review wind turbine policy after High Court rejects residential “buffer zone” – OUT-LAW.com
“A council could not amend its wind turbine planning policy to ensure a larger ‘buffer zone’ between turbines and residential properties than that already set out in its local plan, the High Court has ruled.17 Apr 2013.”
OUT-LAW.com, 17th April 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
High court rules against ‘buffer zones’ for windfarms – The Guardian
“Wind energy developers are celebrating today after the high court ruled that Milton Keynes Borough Council’s attempts to impose a ‘buffer zone’ for new wind farm projects were unlawful.”
The Guardian, 15th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
SSE fined record £10.5m by Ofgem over ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling – The Guardian
“The utility giant SSE is to be fined £10.5m for ‘prolonged and extensive’ mis-selling in what will be the largest ever penalty imposed on an energy provider.”
The Guardian, 3rd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Energy giant EDF drops lawsuit against climate change protesters after backlash – The Independent
“Energy giant EDF today dropped a £5m law suit against 21 climate change protesters that shut down the company’s new West Burton gas-fired power station last October.”
The Independent, 13th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Heritage bodies win high court battle against Barnwell windfarm – The Guardian
“Leading heritage organisations have won a high court battle against plans for a windfarm they warn will result in substantial harm to a heritage area ‘of national significance.’ English Heritage and the National Trust say the case has national implications. They supported East Northamptonshire district council’s successful legal bid to block proposals submitted by West Coast Energy for four 300 feet (91 metre) turbines on farmland at Barnwell Manor in Sudborough.”
The Guardian, 8th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lost renewables subsidies successfully claimed as human rights damages – UK Human Rights Blog
“This decision upholding an award of damages for a claim under Article 1 Protocol 1 (right to possessions) may seem rather straightforward to a non-lawyer. Infinis lost out on some subsidies because the regulator misunderstood a complex legal document. It could not claim those subsidies any more, so it claimed and got damages from the regulator. But the relatively novel thing is that English law does not generally allow claims for damage caused by unlawful action by the state. And yet the Court of Appeal found it easy to dismiss the regulator’s appeal on this point.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 13th February 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Damages claims “inevitable consequence” of Government’s confused approach to solar, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
“Reports that some companies involved in solar energy are pursuing claims for damages against the Government are the ‘inevitable consequence of its hitherto confused’ approach to subsidies, an expert has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 24th January 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Government threatens to legislate if voluntary consumer data access standards are not adhered to by mobile, energy and financial services firms – OUT-LAW.com
“Financial services, mobile telecoms and energy companies will be compelled by law to provide consumers with data they hold about their transactions or consumption in an ‘electronic, machine readable’ format, upon request, if they do not do so voluntarily, the Government has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 20th November 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Energy smart meters are a threat to privacy, says watchdog – The Guardian
“Hi-tech monitors that track households’ energy consumption threaten to become a major privacy issue, according to the European watchdog in charge of protecting personal data.”
The Guardian, 1st July 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Anemometers and wind farms once more: PINS now win the day – UK Human Rights Blog
“I have previously posted on the decision leading to this successful appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, against an order that they produce their legal advice concerning a planning appeal. The decision of the First-Tier Tribunal in favour of disclosure was reversed by a strong Upper Tribunal, chaired by Carnwath LJ in his last outing before going to the Supreme Court. So the upshot is that PINS can retain whatever advice which led them to refuse this request for a public inquiry in a locally controversial case.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd May 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Tenant fails in its bid for a new tenancy after Court confirms landlord’s intention to occupy property for its own use is viable – OUT-LAW.com
“The operator of an oil depot has been unsuccessful in its bid for a new tenancy after the Court of Appeal confirmed that its landlord’s plans to occupy the property for its own business were viable.”
OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Government to give consumers control over smart meter data amidst privacy concerns – OUT-LAW.com
“Third-party companies will not be able to access data recorded in consumers’ smart meters unless consumers choose to let them see it, the Government has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Energy regulator to get augmented powers – The Guardian
“Energy companies guilty of overcharging households will be forced to compensate consumers by a beefed-up industry watchdog under government proposals to be published this week.”
The Guardian, 9th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
FiTs uncertainty remains for solar industry as Government refused leave to appeal – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government has been denied the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court in over its ‘legally flawed’ decision to reduce subsidies to businesses and homes which use solar panels to generate renewable energy.”
OUT-LAW.com, 27th March 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Environmental and planning law newsletter – Thirty Nine Essex Street
Environmental and planning law newsletter (PDF)
Thirty Nine Essex Street, March 2012
Source: www.39essex.com
Energy firm SSE loses appeal on mis-selling – BBC News
“SSE has lost an appeal into a conviction for tricking potential customers into switching from their existing energy firm.”
BBC News, 16th March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
