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The cost of living remains front and centre for millions of households, and energy bills are a huge part of that equation.

As we approach the festive season and for some of us a break over Christmas and the New Year, my final blog of 2025 will pick out a few highlights.

I’ve been concerned for a while that DESNZ seems less focused on achieving a genuinely low-carbon future and more fixated on promoting a single technology. At times, it feels like they’re acting as sales reps rather than policymakers.

Last weekend some friends came to visit. Hadn’t seen them for a few years, so it was good to catch up.

Later this week the Chancellor will outline her plans for the UK economy, in particular tax and spending proposals. After months of speculation, it will be a relief just to have some certainty.

There is no single official figure published for the exact number of UK hospitality businesses using gas for cooking, but available industry data and reports give a clear picture.

The quote from Ovid stresses the benefits of balance, moderation and avoiding extremes – in our world, the continued use of natural gas in heating set against the cost, disruption and behavioural change required for everyone to have a heat pump.

As COP30 arrives, Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft, has just published a memo for world leaders.

I remember the first time I encountered this phrase, half-jesting this jibe was directed at me for daring to challenge an engineer on the costs his project was amassing, against some questionable benefits.

Last week the National Audit Office published a report into energy efficiency installations under the ECO 4 scheme.

A short while ago, in a land far, far away the ruling ministers pondered their next course of action

Last week the Conservative Party Leader announced her party was now opposed to the 2050 net zero target introduced by her party seven years ago. The political consensus has well and truly been shattered. But when the history books are written, who helped get us to this position?

The UN General Assembly or UNGA to its friends met last week and climate lobbyists waited patiently to hear from China. What commitments might they give towards carbon emission reductions given they are the biggest global emitter by far. The world waited and well frankly was underwhelmed. A commitment for a reduction of between 7 and 10 per cent from their peak by 2035 hardly sets the world alight in terms of global leadership (and doesn’t stop it warming).

The visit by President Trump heralded major announcements in tech investment, labelled the “Tech Prosperity Deal,” a £31billion of inward investment.

Last week, there was a notable intervention from the UK’s largest energy supplier.

Last week we saw plenty written about property, especially stamp duty (or the lack of it) but what many would have missed was another property story that is closer to home.