LONDON (Reuters) – Half a million more people have been plunged into “fuel poverty” due to the rising cost of gas and electricity, but few are benefiting from so-called social tariffs, research shows.
For every 1 percent increase in household utility bills, a further 40,000 households are plunged into fuel poverty, according to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.
With average bills rising 12.5 percent following price increases pushed through so far this year — to 1,026 pounds from 912 pounds — a further 500,000 people are now “fuel poor”, …

Itron supplies technology to manage energy use to thousands of utility companies around the world. In China, where improving energy efficiency over the next decade is critical, it’s just getting started.
Officials from the U.S. and China hope that marrying such high-tech solutions with pressing energy needs will help the two countries solve environmental problems while benefiting both economies.
China’s energy planners got a first-hand look at the technology last weekend during a visit to Itron’s headquarters near Spokane. It was part of an effort to showcase the Northwest’s innovations as government …

Delegations from more than 100 countries descended on the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) Tuesday, vowing to push forward the development of renewable energy sources to combat climate change and ensure energy security. “Our task is to develop the policies, incentives, and forms of international cooperation that will realize the full benefits of renewable energy in order to ensure adequate supplies of energy for all economies, large and small, in the future; to exercise responsible stewardship of the environment; and to promote …

Delegations from more than 100 countries descended on the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) Tuesday, vowing to push forward the development of renewable energy sources to combat climate change and ensure energy security. “Our task is to develop the policies, incentives, and forms of international cooperation that will realize the full benefits of renewable energy in order to ensure adequate supplies of energy for all economies, large and small, in the future; to exercise responsible stewardship of the environment; and to promote continued growth of the …

Energy companies last night launched a pre-emptive strike on the government ahead of next week’s budget, warning that any windfall tax on the industry would undermine investment in green power projects and other measures to combat climate change.
The companies fear ministers are considering a windfall tax on the industry after a public outcry greeted moves to raise household bills by as much as 15% in recent weeks.
British Gas, whose Centrica parent group is behind a number of wind farm and other renewable schemes, said it was vital companies had a …