SSE, which supplies about 17 per cent of the nation's energy, said ministers were dragging their feet on launching reforms to allow companies to build new power stations and wind farms.
The group welcomed Government electricity market changes, planned for 2018/19, that will set up a market ensuring power is available when needed.
It should even out costs faced by generators who have to switch between different power sources to cope with peaks and troughs in supplying renewable energy such as wind power.
But it said the shake-up was needed sooner to give utilities confidence to keep or shut existing stations, build new plants and avoid power cuts.
SSE said: "The UK Government's intention to defer the capacity market until 2018/19 means the next few years will remain uncertain for existing and new plant. It does not address the risk of imminent shortages."
The UK Government does not address the risk of imminent shortages
It will spend about £1.5billion in 2013/14 on networks and its wholesale business. Since April, it has completed work to strengthen transmission lines in Scotland and energised part of a new power link.
It has also added a new 32-megawatt wind farm to its wind portfolio, giving it 3,283 megawatts, and continued work on a power station in south-east Ireland due to open later next year.
The group, which has faced criticism from consumer groups for increasing profits while hiking energy bills, said it remained on track to pay inflation-busting dividend rises in 2013/14 and beyond.
Chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies said: "SSE's year has got off to an encouraging start."
Shares fell 20p to 1605p.
Related articles
www.yahootrend.com
0 comments Blogger 0 Facebook
Post a Comment