Thursday 11 September 2014

Knight to hang up shield for energy sector

The straight-talking chief executive of Energy UK Angela Knight announced her plans to step down by the end of the year today.

Speculation has now begun as to who will replace her.

Unafraid of voicing criticism when she felt it was necessary, the former MP and boss of British Bankers’ Association once said Ofgem was “big time wrong” on its calculation of energy prices.

She kicked off her tenure – at a time when Big Six bashing became de rigeur - by calling for the “honesty box” to be opened.

Tasked with defending suppliers’ profits, she said they were “necessary for employment and investment in this country so we can build new power stations”.

Mrs Knight took the helm of Energy UK when it was newly formed from the merger of several trade bodies including the Association of Electricity Producers in September 2012.

Today she said: “It has been a great two years bringing Energy UK together to support and represent at such an important time, this industry that is so vital to the country.”

Hinting at the challenges facing the sector, she said: “Building new, cleaner and greener electricity generators and making the other changes necessary to meet national and international targets inevitably adds to customers’ bills.

“At the same time, consumers expect a first class service from the industry, a secure energy supply and one which is affordable.”

The next step is to pursue her interests in non-executive roles, added Mrs Knight.

Lord Spicer, chairman of Energy UK declared she will be "a hard act to follow": "She has established Energy UK by bringing the industry together at a difficult period and helped it find its own unique and measured voice.”