this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2023
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UK Politics

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General Discussion for politics in the UK.
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The govt didn't have to let the energy shock into the economy, France and others didn't, so that is on them as they didn't use policy to address it sufficiently.

France's energy mix contains significantly less gas, when compared to the UK. They barely use any for electricity generation, see below, compared to the UK where gas is ~40% of our annual mix.

http://gridwatch.templar.co.uk/france/ https://www.mygridgb.co.uk/historicaldata/

That is why France was better insulated from a supply side gas shock.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It does help if you know what you are talking about.

As I said, the UK, along with the Netherlands and Belgium chose to let the energy shock into the economy and ameliorate with policy.

Other countries chose price caps to keep the energy shock out of the economy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/61522123

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

And EDF were able to cap prices at 4% because of their nuclear infrastructure which meant the cost of subsidising that 4% cap was considerably less than the equivalent would have been in the UK.

As always, context is important.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

And Spain? And all the other price caps?

It's almost like you're not comprehending what I'm saying

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/ES

Spain uses a lot of gas, and prices have increased substantially. Between 2017 and 2019 the price per MWh hovered around €50, in 2020 it fell to €34. In 2021 it jumped to €112, and 2022 to €167.

The government started removing excess profits in 2021 - see here - and more recently are also subsidising the cost to generators where needed, see here. This was at the peak of Spain's inflation, which reached 10% and then fell back to a more typical level, see here.

They have not been able to isolate themselves the same way France have, and are in a situation much closer to the UK with regards to reliance on gas, but through better economic management within Spain and across the eurozone now have lower inflation.

Edit: speeeeling.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the random facts, what's your point?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That context is important and ignoring it means you keep making easily falsifiable claims, like saying the energy crisis didn't impact other countries. I have now both shown, and explained to, you why that is wrong, and so my work here is done.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

Lol, I didn't say that though.

I said the UK, Netherlands and Belgium let the energy shock into the economy whilst other countries used price caps to keep it out.

I then provided a source that detailed the approach on a country by country basis

You then started quoting random stuff about Spain and France