The speech had been prompted by the publication of the first tranche of government technical notices outlining the arrangements for different sectors of the economy if no Brexit deal can be concluded.
However, the energy papers issued so far cover only the civil nuclear sector. This means the industry is still in the dark about the impact that “no deal” will have in areas like the internal energy market (IEM), which governs trade through the gas and electricity interconnectors.
And the clock is ticking. As Energy UK has pointed out, electricity producers must set the price for their winter 2020/21 contracts to supply smaller retailers by this October. These contracts will be underpinned by the future framework surrounding the IEM and the EU Emissions Trading System, which sets the carbon price.
The EU’s negotiator Michel Barnier has said an agreement is unlikely before the EU leaders’ summit in mid-October, and the prime minister will face pressure to maintain a robust line on Brexit at the Conservative party conference in early October.
The industry needs answers fast but wider political pressures mean it is unlikely to get them.