Oral Answers to Questions

Laura Sandys Excerpts

Thursday 20th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are certainly using a lot of energy today, that is for sure.

[Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)]

I want to return to consumers and their costs. Will the Minister urge Ofgem to reconsider the unit as a specification? What does “a unit” mean? Could we not look at cost per bulb hour, and other things that consumers understand? That will drive behaviour change as well.

[Charles Hendry]

Let me say in response to your comment, Mr Speaker, that I like to see myself as a source of endless renewable energy. As for the point that my hon. Friend has rightly made, clarity is indeed a real issue. People are confused because they simply do not know what the term “unit” might refer to. I hope that Ofgem and the industry will try to establish what more can be done to ensure that it is absolutely clear how much energy people are using.