Latest news with #PeteMiller
The National
04-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Octopus Energy launches live windfarm constraint costs tracker
The company is urging ministers to support the introduction of zonal pricing, which would split the UK into price regions based on local supply and demand. Octopus Energy has said repeatedly that such a system could mean Scots benefit from some of the lowest energy prices in Europe. But the UK Government has said it will not split the country's energy market into regions if it raises people's bills in some areas. It in unclear when a decsion will be made. READ MORE: Stephen Flynn's Waspi compensation bill blocked by Westminster Now, Octopus has launched a live 'wasted wind' ticker – prominently featured on its website and visible to 12 million monthly visitors. At the moment, Britain has one national energy price even though at any point in the day the cost of producing electricity differs radically around the country. If an offshore wind farm in Scotland produces more electricity than the network can handle it is paid to turn off, or "constrained", and a gas-fired power plant in the south of England is paid to turn on. The tracker on Octopus Energy's website, at the time of writing (Image: Octopus Energy) For example, the UK's biggest wind farm – Seagreen – is paid to not generate 71% of the time it could be generating. As a result, the effective cost of electricity it does generate is four times higher than it should be. The constraint costs – which are collected from consumers – are huge. The ticker reveals, in real time, how much bill payers' money is spent to turn off as systems that can't keep up with the power generated. Constraint costs are on track to cost the UK a staggering £8 billion a year by 2030. This year, the UK has already paid £650 million to turn off wind farms – more than £200m more than the same time last year. Soon, figures and information on current constraint costs will be added to the 7.5m bills sent every month and will feature in its app, used by 500,000 people daily. READ MORE: Thousands face major delays and cancellations as French air control strikes Additional information breaking down more details on the costs of waste, and where customers' money goes, will be added shortly. Pete Miller, Octopus Energy's head of customer experience, said: 'It's crazy to build wind farms where there's no grid, then pay them to sit idle, and then pay the most expensive fossil fuel plants to generate the power instead. 'Octopus was clear with customers that the energy crisis was caused by the cost of gas, and now we need to be clear that high electricity prices are the cost of a broken energy system.'
Chicago Tribune
06-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
MGT wins final state incentive award in Gary
The state has closed the books on its contract with MGT of America, which managed the financially distressed Gary Community School Corp. from 2017 to 2024. The state renewed Florida-based MGT's contract in 2022, with incentives making it worth $7.8 million. Last week, the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board awarded an $800,000 contract incentive to MGT for maintaining at least a $1.5 million surplus for the 2023-24 school year and at least 20% cash reserves in key funds as of June 30, 2024, MGT's last day as manager. The key funds included education, operations, referendum and rainy day. DUAB chairman Pete Miller said the award was delayed because the agency wanted to wait until the State Board of Accounts to complete its annual audit. In November, MGT received $279,375 for meeting seven mostly academic benchmarks achieved during the 2023-24 school year. The $800,000 incentive award brought MGT's incentives total to $1,079,375 for the 2023-24 year. The DUAB voted last June to return district control to local officials. An appointed five-member school board took office in 2023 under a new state law. In 2024, the district gained full governing authority and the board appointed Yvonne Stokes as superintendent.
