Britain’s top four energy quangos have seen costs balloon and staff numbers surge by up to 380pc amid Ed Miliband’s net zero push, new figures reveal. [some emphasis, links added]
Ofgem, the Climate Change Committee, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), and Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) have all exploded in size over the past decade as Britain races to cut climate emissions, a study from the Taxpayers Alliance (TA) found.
Among the biggest beneficiaries is the little-known LCCC, which administers the UK’s multibillion-pound annual net-zero subsidies to generators.
It has seen its headcount soar by 382pc from 49 employees to 236 staff while costs have also tripled, TA said on Tuesday.
Those costs are set to more than double by 2029 as more subsidised wind, solar, and other projects commissioned by Mr. Miliband come into operation.
Similarly, regulator Ofgem saw expenditures rise by 237pc from £77m to £260m while its headcount more than doubled from 907 staff to 2,276, making it one of the largest energy regulators in Europe.
Much of the growth in all four bodies is linked to the increasing focus on achieving net-zero targets, the growing complexity of the UK’s energy systems, and especially decarbonizing electricity.
The data covers 2015 to 2025, meaning Mr. Miliband was in charge of energy policy for only a small part of that period. However, the Labour energy secretary has dramatically stepped up the country’s net-zero push since coming to power.
John O’Connell, TA’s chief executive, said:
“Britain has developed a sprawling energy quango state with soaring staffing costs and ballooning headcounts.
“As ministers continue pursuing net zero through arm’s length bodies, taxpayers are funding an ever-growing bureaucracy operating largely out of public view.
“The Government should rein in this quango empire-building and ensure these bodies face far greater scrutiny, transparency and accountability.”
Read rest at The Telegraph
