ECO cuts will cost 14,000 industry jobs

摘要

The government has admitted that its proposed cuts to one of its flagship retrofit schemes will mean 14,000 fewer jobs will be created in the energy efficiency sector as spending is slashed by nearly £lbn. The government announced a series of changes to the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) in the Autumn Statement in December as part of a drive to cut levies on energy bills, which ministers said were driving up prices. Under the changes, the carbon reduction target energy firms are required to meet through the scheme was slashed by 33%, while the timetable was extended by two years to 2017, effectively halving the impact of the scheme and meaning there will be less investment in energy efficiency in the short term. Last week energy secretary Ed Davey announced a consultation on the changes at the Ecobuild event in London, which he said were aimed at ensuring ECO "delivers in the most cost effective manner possible".