E.ON

E.ON welcomes publication of the draft Energy Bill and promises to continue to support customers' best interests

22 May 2012, 14:55

E.ON has today (TUES) welcomed the publication of the draft Energy Bill and the supporting policy documents that set out proposals for most of the comprehensive measures needed to deliver low carbon and secure energy for Britain, but cautioned that more clarity was needed in a number of areas to make sure that these measures will be effective and ultimately deliver the best value for customers. Dr. Tony Cocker, Chief Executive of E.ON UK said: "The publication of the draft bill is an important step forward. In the last year alone we invested over £1bn in the UK and I have confidence that we are heading towards a framework that will provide the certainty needed to bring forward further low carbon energy investment and also deliver real value for our customers. We will now work through the details published in the bill and continue to ensure all proposals meet our two key considerations: Will our customers get value from this change? Will the proposals provide a robust basis for investment? "We have been clear from the beginning that we support the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff with Contracts for Difference as it should provide the clear investment framework needed to support new low carbon plant and provide better value for customers. However the continued uncertainty surrounding the nature of the counterparty needs to be resolved so that we have a framework which provides a robust basis for investment and brings value to our customers. We must make sure that all aspects of electricity market reform meet our simple but critical two-stage test. "We also welcome the Government's commitment to ensure security of supply for customers through its capacity market proposals but we now need to accelerate the pace so that we have more detailed proposals later this year.  In the meantime we welcome the work underway to develop an effective gas generation strategy." E.ON will now work with the UK government as consultation continues concerning the draft bill to ensure that the measures proposed help to attract investment and deliver value for customers by making this investment as cost effective as possible.   Ends. Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council comprising business leader Allan Leighton, Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts and ex-MP and Select Committee chair Paddy Tipping, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. Changes made to date include: Helping customers control their bills: Fair prices, simple products, transparent profits, A fairer way of paying: Providing stability to help households budget, Improving customer service: Consistency, easier contact, the confidence to complain;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 80% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

E.ON raises the rainbow flag in support of Nottinghamshire Pride

17 May 2012, 08:54

  As part of its continued support to the Nottingham area, E.ON has today (THURS) announced it will sponsor this year's Nottinghamshire Pride event which takes place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham. In celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), E.ON will today be displaying rainbow flags at five of its office sites across the midlands. Darren Cornish, Head of Residential Customer Operations and sponsor of E.ON's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Network said: "We're we're committed to investing in the communities in which we live and work and we're delighted to be able to sponsor this year's Nottinghamshire Pride. "We remain extremely proud of our LGBT community and will be showing our support by flying the rainbow flag at a number of our Nottingham sites today. IDAHO is a very worthwhile cause which we hope will help homophobia disappear from society." Earlier this week E.ON announced a new Nottingham sponsorship programme which will focus on community events in the city. Nottinghamshire Pride is one of the first events that customers can experience. E.ON is part of Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index which is a benchmarking exercise for Britain's most gay-friendly employers. IDAHO is marked on 17 May each year to commemorate the World Health Organisation's decision to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. The community sponsorship scheme in Nottingham is part of a trial project as part of E.ON's Reset Review which began in January to examine every aspect of its relationship with its customers - from tariffs and bills to how customers pay, how products are sold and how support is offered. E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. For further information, details of the improvements made to date or to join customers already on the YourSay panel, please visit www.eonenergy.com/reset. For more information on IDAHO visit dayagainsthomophobia.org and for more information about Nottinghamshire Pride visit nottinghamshirepride.co.uk. Ends Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production, It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs.  E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• In an industry first, E.ON has launched its Reset Review - a process that will examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers. It will look at tariffs and bills, at how customers pay, at how products are sold, and how support is offered to customers. To do this E.ON will work with its independent Customer Council, directly with its customers and engage with consumer advocacy groups and other interested parties to undertake the Reset Review. As a result, E.ON will put customers back in control of their energy, which will be simply communicated and transparently fair;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development.
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 50% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year;

• Nottinghamshire Pride is a festival which enshrines the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to help promote their self-affirmation, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBT rights movements throughout the world.

Reality bites for mums who work from home

17 May 2012, 08:50

• Three quarters of mums face unexpected side-effects of working from home
• Rising household costs worry for one in seven work-from-home mums
• E.ON and Mumsnet offering working mums tips and advice on working from home

• Nearly a third of mums (28%) struggle to juggle their work with caring for their children;
• Almost half (44%) worry about balancing deadlines with their children's needs;
• 47% are concerned about keeping their working hours under control.

• Over two thirds (68%) were attracted by the increased flexibility of their working hours;
• Half (49%) were keen to spend more time with their children;
• One in six (18%) work from home to combat the high cost of childcare;
• A third (31%) of mums who run their own business saw it as a way to keep overhead costs down;
• One in 10 (11%) work from home as their commute is so expensive;
• One in 20 (5%) dislike the office environment so decided to work from home.

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council comprising business leader Allan Leighton, Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts and ex-MP and Select Committee chair Paddy Tipping, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. Changes made to date include: Helping customers control their bills: Fair prices, simple products, transparent profits, A fairer way of paying: Providing stability to help households budget, Improving customer service: Consistency, easier contact, the confidence to complain;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 80% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

E.ON donate to Local Charity and double their money

16 May 2012, 10:28

E.ON has donated £25,000 to Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (NCF) in order to take advantage of the Government's Community First match opportunity. The fund will become £50,000 with the £1 for £1 match and set up as an endowment called the Acorn Fund. Interest on the investment will provide grants to support social action and community work in the city and county. An oak tree was planted in the grounds of Newstead and Annesley Country Park to mark the occasion. Paddy Tipping, Chair of NCF said: "E.ON is not only a major supplier of energy but a big employer locally. Working together we can make a big difference to communities in Nottinghamshire. The Acorn Fund and the newly planted oak tree is a symbol of a new, better and greener future. I'm grateful for such generous support." Fiona Stark, Director of Corporate Affairs at E.ON, said: "We're delighted to be able to support Nottinghamshire Community Foundation. At E.ON our customers are at the very heart of our business and we're committed to investing in the communities in which we live and work. "As a business we regularly support charities and community organisations that support educational projects and vulnerable customers through employee volunteering, our Employee Community Fund and Charity of the Year initiative. I hope this donation, with the Community First matched funding, will go on to help many worthwhile community projects groups in the Nottingham area."   Ends   Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production, It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• NCF delivers a range of funds for local companies, families and charities and they have given over £22 million away in grants for crucial community work since 2007. If you are looking for funds for your group or wish to set up a local trust or legacy please go to http://www.nottscf.org.uk/. If you want your group to benefit from match funding opportunities please ensure they are registered with http://www.localgiving.com/.

E.ON promises no residential price rises in 2012 - CEO says: "I want families to have certainty and know E.ON will always be fair."

14 May 2012, 08:15

E.ON has today (MON) provided peace of mind to some five million existing domestic customers, by promising not to raise residential prices in 2012, thereby demonstrating its commitment to be fair and transparent. This announcement comes just weeks after E.ON revealed it made less than 2% profit supplying gas and electricity to UK homes in 20111. Dr. Tony Cocker, Chief Executive of E.ON UK said: "Let me be clear, E.ON will not raise residential prices in 2012. I want every family in the UK to know that we will always do our best to be fair and act in the best interests of our customers. Earlier this year we cut our prices in a way that helped some 75% of our customers and I hope that the certainty we've given today will show our customers again that we are committed to helping them, and I also hope that it will help to show millions more that if they look to switch they can find in E.ON a company that puts its customers first. "Unfortunately global energy markets are expected to see an overall trend of rising wholesale prices but as a company we believe in acting fairly, which means cutting prices when we can and never raising prices unless absolutely necessary. We will continue to spare no effort in getting our customers energy fit by insulating homes, installing smart meters and providing advice that makes a real difference. That help and action, combined with the price cut announced in February and the promise we've made today, mean that E.ON customers can plan for the future and properly control their energy costs, as well as reducing their consumption." As clearly evidenced by the changes made as part of E.ON's Reset Review, today's price promise and the values that are at the core of its business, E.ON has shown it stands foremost in the energy industry as a company driven by fairness. "Our Reset Review is about real changes - whether big or small - in how we meet our customers' needs. We'll continue our work to improve our customers' experience with us into the summer and beyond, particularly concentrating on clearer, more accurate bills, simpler tariffs that can be easily compared, and making improvements for our vulnerable and small business customers." In January, E.ON launched its Reset Review which is designed to examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers - from tariffs and bills to how customers pay, how products are sold and how support is offered. E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. For further information, details of the improvements made to date or to join customers already on the YourSay panel, please visit www.eonenergy.com/reset. Ends 1 = Domestic (Residential) margin presented as OFGEM segmented residential margin view 1.68% (includes Depreciation, Amortisation, allocation of central costs and VAT). Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council comprising business leader Allan Leighton, Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts and ex-MP and Select Committee chair Paddy Tipping, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. Changes made to date include: Helping customers control their bills: Fair prices, simple products, transparent profits, A fairer way of paying: Providing stability to help households budget, Improving customer service: Consistency, easier contact, the confidence to complain;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 80% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

37 million Brits need to get energy smarter

9 May 2012, 08:53

• Over three-quarters of people are ignoring smart meter savings
• Over half of Brits praise consumer technology for providing access to more advice and information
• Six in ten would reduce energy usage if they could visualise their consumption

• The wisdom of age - 55% of over 55 year olds are most likely to be able to correctly define what a smart meter is
• The positivity of youth - 18-24 year olds are the most enthusiastic at viewing smart meters as having a positive effect on their lives

• Male aspirations - Males are twice as likely as females to really want a smart meter
• Seeing is believing - Females would reduce their energy usage more so than males if they could visualise their behaviours 

• 1. 76% of people are unaware a smart meter can help them make a 4% saving on their energy bill. 76% of 49 million adults (sourced from ONS,2009) = 37,240,000;
• 2. Energy Demand Research project with 18,000 smart meter customers between 2007 and 2010 for E.ON, EDF, SSE and ScottishPower;
• 3. Research carried out amongst 2,000 UK adults by OnePoll in April 2012;
• 4. Edigitalresearch in February 2012;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 21 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 50% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

UK renters missing out on savings of over £990 million a year on energy bills

2 May 2012, 13:45

• E.ON reveals 2.4 million UK renters missing out on energy efficient savings of up to £400 a year (1) per household Renters across the UK are missing out on savings of over £990 million(2) because their rental properties are lacking basic energy saving measures such as insulation, according to new E.ON research carried out with 10,000 UK households.(3) Indicating a significant difference in their views on energy savings, only two in 10 renters have made any attempt to make their home more energy fit compared with over three-quarters (78%) of homeowners who have made some energy efficiency improvements to their property. The confusion around responsibility between landlords and tenants for energy efficiency improvements means that tenants are missing out on estimated average savings of almost £400 a year(4) per household through methods such as the installation of double-glazing, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.   Surprisingly, despite being faced with high property costs, Londoners were the least savvy energy savers, with a quarter (24%) admitting to being unaware of the £400 saving on offer. In comparison, nearly nine in 10 shrewd Scots were mindful of the savings. Revealing a prudent approach, men were almost twice as likely than women to make energy efficient changes once they found out about the vital savings available. With over three million private rented properties across the UK(5), and with rising house prices leading to people renting for longer, E.ON is calling on landlords to make their rental properties ‘energy fit’ to reduce energy bills for their tenants in the short term and add value to their properties in the long term.  The responsibility gap across the UK: • Over two-thirds of renters (67%) would want their landlords to make changes to their property to benefit from the potential energy savings; • Nearly half of all renters (47%) believe it’s their landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the property is energy efficient; • Two-thirds of renters (66%) think that their landlords would not agree to make any changes; • Only one in seven (14%) renters feel that they should be the ones to make energy-saving home efficiencies themselves; • Some 8% of renters have already asked their landlord to make energy-saving modifications to their house but have yet to see any changes • Over a third of renters (35%) believe that the law should be tighter in order to put the pressure on landlords to make homes more energy efficient. Richard Lambert, Chief Executive Officer at the National Landlords Association (NLA), said: “It’s important that tenants and landlords both realise that there are ways of improving the energy efficiency of properties. The NLA encourages landlords to take advantage of the government’s Green Deal, available later this year, which will enable landlords to make significant energy improvements to their properties with no upfront cost.” David Bird, Customer Operations Director at E.ON, added: “What’s clear is that there’s some confusion surrounding energy efficiency and who the responsibility should lay with in terms of making rental property energy fit.   “We’d urge both renters and landlords to think seriously about making some improvements to their properties. In some cases, renters can be eligible for free cavity wall and loft insulation, and costs for installation can often be much cheaper than you’d think, so always speak to your energy provider first to make sure you’re aware of all the offers available.” E.ON’s top tips for landlords: - Make sure the property is fully insulated If your property isn't fully insulated, consider investing in cavity wall insulation and make sure that loft insulation is at the recommended level of 250mm; Remember if your tenant is on qualifying benefits or is aged 70 or over, they are able to get free cavity wall and/or loft insulation; - Keep in touch Be proactive, don’t forget to contact your tenants and request the opportunity to inspect the property. Many tenants may leave contacting you about an ill-fitting window or cracked tile until there’s a cold draught blowing in or a damp patch on the ceiling; - Contact your property’s energy provider Your property's energy supplier will be able to tell you about any additional services they can offer you. To join the NLA and take advantage of on-going support and guidance for landlords, visit: www.landlords.org.uk In January, E.ON launched its Reset Review, designed to examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers - from tariffs and bills to how customers pay, how products are sold and how support is offered. E.ON's Reset Review continues to identify and discuss changes with customers through its 28,000-strong YourSay panel, its independent Customer Council, its 1,000-strong MySay employee panel and through discussions with consumer advocacy groups such as Which? and Consumer Focus. For further information, details of the improvements made to date or to join customers already on the YourSay panel, please visit www.eonenergy.com/reset. Ends Notes to editors: 1. Source E.ON. Based on a 1940’s three bed semi, with a 10 year old gas boiler, going from 5cm of loft insulation to 27cm and having cavity wall insulation too with a gas price 3.73 pence per kWh (the price of gas for each hour you use it), plus additional savings from installing other energy efficiency measures, such as installing energy efficient light bulbs and energy efficient boiler controls. Further information at eonenergy.com. Ideas and tips for getting energy fit and making energy savings available at eonenergyfit.com; 2. Based on Communities and Local Government (Housing and Planning Statistics 2010): 3.1 million private renters in 2008-09. 80% of 3.1 million renters x £400 = 992,000,000; 3. Research carried out amongst 10,000 UK adults by OnePoll in March 2012; 4. Source: E.ON 5. Based on Communities and Local Government (Housing and Planning Statistics 2010): 3.1 million private renters in 2008-09 About E.ON • E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production, It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide; • In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers – meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs.  E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power; • In an industry first, E.ON has launched its Reset Review - a process that will examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers. It will look at tariffs and bills, at how customers pay, at how products are sold, and how support is offered to customers. To do this E.ON will work with its independent Customer Council, directly with its customers and engage with consumer advocacy groups and other interested parties to undertake the Reset Review. As a result, E.ON will put customers back in control of their energy, which will be simply communicated and transparently fair. About the NLA The National Landlords Association (NLA) is the UK’s leading organisation for private-residential landlords. It has over 20,000 paid members, ranging from full-time landlords with large property portfolios to those with just a single letting. NLA membership helps landlords make a success of their lettings business by providing a wide range of information, advice and services. The NLA campaigns for the legitimate interests of landlords by seeking to influence decision-makers at all levels of government and by making landlords’ collective voice heard in the media. It seeks to raise standards in the private-rented sector while aiming to ensure that landlords are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities. Based at its head office in Central London, the NLA currently employs over 40 full-time staff and has a network of more than 40 regional representatives and branches throughout the UK. For more information contact: Rebecca Bieniaszewska on 02476 183 202 or Rebecca.Bieniaszewska@eon-uk.com

E.ON Gas Storage UK and Noble agree Holford gas storage tie-up

30 Apr 2012, 10:03

E.ON Gas Storage UK has successfully marketed its capacity at the Holford gas storage facility in Cheshire, UK, from the 2012/13 storage year. Noble Clean Fuels Limited will have the ability to utilise 100% of Holford's capacity during the contract period with the gas storage facility continuing to be wholly owned and operated by E.ON Gas Storage UK. Commenting on the five-year agreement reached with Noble, Jo Vizor, Managing Director, E.ON Gas Storage UK said: "We are delighted to have reached agreement with Noble. The highly flexible, fast-churn capability of the Holford gas storage facility will offer a fantastic addition to Noble's portfolio. Our expert team will continue to manage and operate the facility and we look forward to work hand in hand with Noble during this period." Speaking on behalf of Noble Clean Fuels Limited, Mark Strange said: "We are excited about working with E.ON Gas Storage and the Holford gas storage facility.  We expect that this facility will play an important role in our energy business in Europe." Construction work at Holford began in 2005. The creation of the underground gas storage caverns has taken approximately two and a half years. The first three caverns, which represent the first phase of the development, have been fully available since the end of 2011. With a current capacity of 60 million cubic metres, the facility will play a vital role in the UK's energy infrastructure. When all eight caverns are commercially available in early 2013, Holford will have capacity of up to 160 million cubic metres. Ends Notes to editors: About E.ON

• E.ON Gas Storage GmbH (EGS) is responsible for the construction and operation of E.ON's underground gas storage facilities and for the development of energy storage systems. EGS's working gas capacity in Europe as a whole, including that of its subsidiaries E.ON Földgáz Storage in Hungary and E.ON Gas Storage UK in the United Kingdom, is over 12 billion cubic metres;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• In an industry first, E.ON has launched its Reset Review - a process that will examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers. It will look at tariffs and bills, at how customers pay, at how products are sold, and how support is offered to customers. To do this E.ON will work with its independent Customer Council, directly with its customers and engage with consumer advocacy groups and other interested parties to undertake the Reset Review. As a result, E.ON will put customers back in control of their energy, which will be simply communicated and transparently fair;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 80% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

• Noble Group (SGX: N21) manages the global supply chain of agricultural and energy products, metals and minerals. Noble operates from over 140 locations, employing more than 70 nationalities;
• Noble manages a diversified portfolio of essential raw materials, integrating the sourcing, marketing, processing, financing and transportation of those materials;
• Noble owns and manages a portfolio of strategic assets, sourcing from low cost producers such as Brazil, Argentina, Australia and Indonesia and supplying to high growth demand markets including China, India and the Middle East. Today, Noble has interests in grain crushing facilities, coal and iron ore mines, fuel terminals and storage facilities, sugar and ethanol plants, ports, vessels and other key infrastructure facilities.

E.ON welcomes local planning decision for Whitehill gas storage project

26 Apr 2012, 16:21

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has resolved to approve the updated planning application by E.ON for its proposed Whitehill gas storage facility, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement. Commenting on the decision, Cindy McAneny, Project Development Manager, E.ON Gas Storage UK said: "We're delighted with the Council's decision in relation to our updated application. "Following public consultation and further detailed studies we submitted an updated application to ensure that our environmental statement is fully up to date and transparent, taking into account the feedback from our recent internal engineering work. As we move forward we will continue to work with the local community and maintain our commitment to being open and honest at every stage of the project's development." E.ON will continue to review the current and future gas market and its final investment decision in the development of the Whitehill site is not expected to be taken earlier than 2013. The Whitehill gas storage project will consist of 10 underground storage caverns which will be built nearly 2km below the surface. The first caverns could be commissioned as early as 2017/18 and when complete the facility would be capable of storing up to 400 million cubic metres of gas. Ends Notes to editors:

• E.ON Gas Storage GmbH (EGS) is responsible for the construction and operation of E.ON's underground gas storage facilities and for the development of energy storage systems. EGS's working gas capacity in Europe as a whole, including that of its subsidiaries E.ON Földgáz Storage in Hungary and E.ON Gas Storage UK in the United Kingdom, is over 12 billion cubic metres;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide;
• In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers - meaning the company has to buy approximately 122.7 billion kWh of power and gas each year to meet their needs. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy fit by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
• In an industry first, E.ON has launched its Reset Review - a process that will examine every aspect of E.ON's relationship with its customers. It will look at tariffs and bills, at how customers pay, at how products are sold, and how support is offered to customers. To do this E.ON will work with its independent Customer Council, directly with its customers and engage with consumer advocacy groups and other interested parties to undertake the Reset Review. As a result, E.ON will put customers back in control of their energy, which will be simply communicated and transparently fair;
• E.ON's generation portfolio includes world-class gas-, coal- and oil-fired power stations. E.ON is a market leader in combined heat and power (CHP), and is one of the UK's leading green generators with 20 wind farms and the UK's first wave power generator, with another 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development;
• One of the many ways E.ON leads the energy industry is through its commitment to market liquidity and transparency as evidenced by its actions on the day-ahead UK power markets including the N2EX auction. E.ON was the first company to sign a gross-bidding agreement with N2EX and leads the market with a volume equivalent to some 80% of E.ON UK's generation activity being traded so far this year.

E.ON awards offshore cable contract to Balfour Beatty

26 Apr 2012, 11:32

E.ON has today announced that Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions (BBUS) has been awarded the contract to install the cable on its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm. The contract, worth circa £19 million, will involve the design and installation of a 30km section of underground 132kV cable which will be used to connect the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm to a new onshore substation at Hedon in East Yorkshire. E.ON's £736 million Humber Gateway wind farm, situated 8km off the Yorkshire Coast close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary, will consist of a 73 turbine array that will generate up to 219MW of electricity, enough energy to power up to 170,000 homes. Tony Cocker, CEO of E.ON UK, said:  "We're extremely pleased to be working with Balfour Beatty on this very important next step in the construction of our Humber Gateway wind farm.  Increasing the proportion of electricity we generate from low carbon, renewable sources is a vital part of meeting the energy challenges we all face." Balfour Beatty will begin cabling work in summer and E.ON's entire Humber Gateway project is expected to be complete in Spring 2015.   Ends   For more information please contact: Cara Ponton on 02476 181 303 or cara.ponton@eonenergy.com