The Democratic Unionists look likely to stiffen government resolve in actions to curb energy bills, analysis of the party’s manifesto reveals.
The general election manifesto of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which is in the throes of sealing an agreement with the Conservatives to enable the latter to continue in government, states that “the DUP wants to see our energy companies place further downward pressure on household bills.”
It adds that the DUP will “support efforts to better control energy bills” and ensure the extension of such measures to Northern Ireland.
The manifesto acknowledges that while electricity prices are perceived to be high in Northern Ireland, the bills of the province’s 800,000 domestic customers are “just below” the EU average and “considerably lower” than in the Republic of Ireland.
However, it says that electricity prices are “undoubtedly high” for Northern Ireland’s largest industrial customers.
The Conservatives have pledged to rein in household energy bills by implementing what energy secretary Greg Clark has told Utility Week would be an “absolute cap”.
On other energy and environmental matters, the DUP emphasized in its manifesto that it wants “continued progress” on the all-Ireland integrated single energy market and north-south interconnector.
The DUP also backs a “comprehensive new energy strategy” to improve the security of Northern Ireland’s electricity supply and to map out future renewable energy policy in the province.
In addition, the manifesto backs efforts to develop new generation capacity in Northern Ireland, noting that recent planning applications for new power stations demonstrate that the market is responding positively to the demand for increased supply.
However, the manifesto makes no reference to climate change, fuelling concerns about the DUP’s commitment to tackling increasing greenhouse emissions.
Critics have pointed to the party’s appointment of climate change sceptic Sandy Wilson to the environment portfolio in the devolved Northern Irish administration in 2008.
Wilson, who is one of the DUP’s 10-strong contingent of MPs following his re-election to the East Antrim constituency, helped to organise a meeting at parliament in 2014 to repeal the Climate Change Act that enshrines the UK’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.