Speeches by Reader.

“We talked a lot about consumers and demand management. Do you think that there is enough being done with industry, particularly heavy industry, in managing demand from those on networks?”

“There is obviously decarbonising industry, but there is still the demand management of the decarbonised energy. Is there enough focus on that from Government and industry in driving down and managing demand better from industry, particularly heavy industry?”

“If it is all right, Chair, I am going to eat into my time slightly to ask a couple of follow-up questions. I am really interested in the controls environment you are setting up. Apologies, I missed the start of the session. I was in a DL. You have a role for assurance. How mature would you say the controls environment …”

“You will recognise that, in a controls environment, it is not just about the data. Governance, reporting and culture are really critical. Are you going to seek any independent assurance of your controls environment, such as P3M3 or similar?”

“Talking about bringing in expertise, how is mission control engaging with the industry?”

“You have eight commissioners. Are they advisers or are they on the ground doing that engagement?”

“Do you think you have the right balance of advisers and doers in the function that you have?”

“In terms of engaging with devolved Governments, how are you doing that, in particular with Scotland, because it is quite a different consenting regime?”

“Looking at England in particular, we have some established strategic authorities. We have an announcement today of some newly formed ones, which of course will go through that formation. Then we have existing councils and others that are left in the current formation. Do you think that period of change is going to help…”

“I am going to talk about the balance of technologies. What technologies would provide the most effective route to meeting the 2030 target?”

“What about enabling systems around those technologies?”

“My next question was actually on storage, so thank you, Marcelle and Stuart, for picking that up. Adam, what is key to getting enough storage? Do you think there is enough focus in energy on the storage needed? We see a lot of focus on generation, distribution and transmission, but is there enough focus on the storage …”

“Do you think industry feels confident that Government have got a grip on that?”

“Stuart, what role do you think new nuclear, SMR, and carbon capture will have in achieving 2030 specifically?”

“Given the quite substantial cost, do you think we have the right balance, in terms of where Government are focusing, between renewables and these more unproven technologies?”

“On that point around risk and perhaps riskier or more or less unproven technologies, do Government need to be clear on discarding those in the short term in terms of what they focus on so that we achieve 2030? Should Government disincentivise the riskier or more unproven stuff to make sure that we hit our targets?”

“You will recognise that, in a controls environment, it is not just about the data. Governance, reporting and culture are really critical. Are you going to seek any independent assurance of your controls environment, such as P3M3 or similar?”

“Talking about bringing in expertise, how is mission control engaging with the industry?”

“You have eight commissioners. Are they advisers or are they on the ground doing that engagement?”

“Thank you for coming in today. I recognise that this is your first time in front of this Committee, but you have been in front of others before. In 2022, in front of the BEIS Committee, you were asked if you were on the side of the consumer or of energy companies. You said that you were very much on the side of the con…”