As energy bills soar, politicians still cling to their green delusions

SIR – As I read your report (August 29) on Boris Johnson’s plea for Britain not to give up on green energy, I checked the live grid data.

Out of a total installed capacity of 25.5GW, wind was generating 4.4GW while gas was generating 15GW.

Even as consumers face skyrocketing bills, we have the leader of a major political party (Ed Davey of the Lib Dems) crowing that it was he who stopped fracking by setting an absurd limit for seismic activity of 0.5 magnitude (report, August 28).

I am afraid politicians have drunk too much green Kool-aid and wilfully allowed the country to get into its present dire straits. They should hang their heads in shame.

Ian Goddard

Wickham, Hampshire

SIR – Some energy companies are telling customers that the electricity they are supplying is 100 per cent renewable. If this is true, why are they increasing the price to the customers? Their costs should not have risen.

There is something to be explained here, either by the energy companies or Ofgem.

Dr John Lloyd

Darlington, Co Durham

SIR – It is a sad fact that top limits, or caps, can so quickly become targets and then minimums. Student fees have now almost all settled at the “upper” limit, as have energy prices.

It was inevitable that this would happen, and until the market returns to normal it will continue to be so. Graham Jones

Tytherington, Cheshire

SIR – In the 1990s and beyond 2000, I was often challenged by journalists and politicians about the “high” cost of electricity.

Out of respect for the wide range of companies that I represented, I usually gave a measured response. What I would have loved to have said, however, was that electricity from the competitive generating industry was extraordinarily cheap and gave the customers great value for money. But domestic and business customers (and journalists) had a different perception, and I would have been condemned.

Times have changed. We must get used to more expensive electricity. Government measures will help to absorb the initial shock for many people, but it will be customer response and innovation that enable us to cope in the longer term. That makes a clear price signal vitally important. It should not be hidden by political or regulatory fog.

David Porter

Chief Executive, Association of Electricity Producers (1991-2012) Plymouth, Devon

SIR – For people with sash windows (Letters, August 25), a further way of eliminating draughts and ensuring warm rooms is to hang heavy curtains with warm linings. The building will retain its character both inside and out and no work will be required. Professor Margaret Mackeith