Environmental legislation 'could see household energy rationed'

The government has announced there could be changes to environmental legislation if a proposal to ration household energy is accepted.

Earlier this week, the Lean Economy Connection and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil announced its plans to reduce the use of energy in the UK.

The Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs) report explains how people will receive 'energy credits' for free, but they will have to pay extra if they want surplus units.

Alternatively, if they do not want to use their entire quota, they are allowed to sell some of the credits back.

This could help the government meet green goals of reducing its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 as uSwitch.com reported earlier this month that consumers are paying 37 per cent more for energy than they were three years ago, indicating that a number of people could be tempted to sell units.

Carolina Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said this environmental legislation change could help reduce energy demand, adding: "The TEQs scheme would guarantee that the UK's targeted carbon reductions are actually achieved, while ensuring fair shares of available energy."

Posted by Claire Manning