I sent a letter to my local paper, the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Gazette and they have now published a version (17.07.2026) some five weeks later. The message is important, particularly as I feel passionate about the need to get the UK out of a very serious financial position in order for the current population at least to be able to keep their homes warm in winter. I also recognize the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels in a time scale that is fair for existing and future UK populations.
Letter (with a few word changes) to the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Gazette
18.06.2026
I am afraid Mike Baldwin (Gazette letters June 18th), along with most UK political parties have got themselves in a muddle over energy costs and climate change. Let’s start with the current retail UK energy costs in the same units of kWh; Electricity is 26.1p, Petrol 16.6p, heating oil 10p, and Gas 7.3p. So, gas is over three times cheaper than electricity to heat a house in Devon. Mike Baldwin is correct that fossil fuel and gas are sold at market prices; however, at the moment the UK residents and industry are paying a ‘ridiculously’ high price for their electricity and this has been a significant reason why for several decades the UK heavy manufacturing economy has steadily declined and also why Devon District and County Councils now struggle to keep within National budgets. The UK is essentially broke; dominantly from a misguided and misunderstood energy policy.
Mike Baldwin is absolutely right to be concerned about the effect of global warming where in fact the UK was a world leader in the late 20th century by moving away from its past UK energy ‘engine room’ source of using coal.
Energy supply is vital to all countries economy and Norway for example has got the use of North Sea oil and gas ‘more right’ than the UK. At present the UK spends around £100 Billion/annum importing Norwegian gas through an undersea pipeline from similar North Sea regional sources that the UK has access to. Yes, both the UK and Norway will need to decarbonize their fuel supply and I personally believe that carbon capture technology will be developed, so fossil fuel gas can help the way the world transitions, without preventing most of the UK (and the Devon) population from being unable to even afford to keep their homes warm in winter.
Malcolm Mackley
Salcombe
02.07.2026
