On 8th June 2026, the Net Zero APPG hosted a parliamentary session with green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, exploring why energy costs so much and how to rebuild public trust in the Net Zero transition.
Held in a well-attended committee room and chaired by Dr Simon Opher MP, the session brought together parliamentarians, experts, and industry representatives to examine the link between gas and electricity prices, the case for bringing energy costs down, and the broader political task of restoring confidence in the transition.
The discussion covered a number of key themes, including:
- Breaking the gas-electricity link, with strong agreement that electricity prices remain high because the market is set by the most expensive plant needed to meet demand, usually gas, meaning households are not feeling the benefit of cheaper renewables.
- Market reform and ambition, with contributors arguing that the Government’s planned reforms do not yet amount to a genuine structural break, and that change is held back by vested interests rather than genuine technical difficulty.
- Energy affordability and policy costs, noting that a significant share of bills reflects policy costs and other charges rather than the direct cost of generation, with calls to treat energy as an essential and protect a basic level of household consumption.
- Reframing the narrative, with broad agreement that the transition should be sold in terms of energy independence, lower bills, security and economic resilience rather than the increasingly loaded language of “net zero”.
- Rooftop solar, storage and smarter systems, highlighting the untapped potential of unused roof space and the growing role of batteries, smart grids and demand flexibility in balancing a renewables-led system.
- Protecting vulnerable households, with the case made for an “essential energy guarantee” so that basic energy need is protected at a lower rate, alongside greater protection for small businesses.
- Community energy and local benefit, with discussion on how locally-led generation and ownership can build public support and ensure value stays within the communities hosting energy infrastructure.
- Misinformation, housing and food systems, where speakers raised the importance of trusted local voices, whole-house retrofit approaches, and a more candid public conversation about climate, nature and food.
Speakers also reflected on the wider political and economic context, noting that recent gas price shocks and geopolitical instability have reinforced the importance of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, while cautioning against losing sight of the underlying climate science as the politics grows harder.
We are grateful to Dale Vince and Pippa Heylings MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Energy Security and Net Zero, as well as all the attendees who contributed to a thoughtful and constructive discussion.
You can read the full minutes here.
