Public energy firm backed

A PUBLICLY owned energy company (POEC) must be positioned at the heart of policy-making, a Holyrood committee says.

Proposals are under consideration by MSPS on whether to establish a stateowned company that would supply household power and could invest in renewable energy.

In her speech to the SNP conference in October 2017, Nicola Sturgeon said the idea would be taken forward by 2021.

The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee have written to the Scottish Government indicating that a POEC could provide independent oversight, collaborate with others and join up existing climatechange and fuel-poverty policies.