TRIGGERnometry This Isn't Science, It's Ideology - Kathryn Porter
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Sep 28, 2025 
Kathryn Porter, an independent energy consultant with over 25 years in the field, dives deep into the complexities of UK energy policy. She reveals how hidden levies drive up electricity prices and explains the unsustainable nature of current renewable energy sources. Kathryn critiques the ideology behind net zero policies, pointing out the risks of poor governance and the human costs of blackouts. She advocates for moving levies into taxation and emphasizes the urgent need for civil service reform to enhance accountability in energy governance.
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Retail Prices Diverged From Wholesale Since 2006
- Retail electricity prices diverged from wholesale from 2006 as levies and policy costs piled onto bills.
- Government subsidies and levies have decoupled consumer bills from wholesale market movements.
Cutting UK Emissions Can Raise Global Emissions
- UK contributes only 0.8% of global emissions, so cutting domestic territorial emissions can raise global emissions via offshoring.
- Shuttering local manufacturing often increases emissions abroad and from added shipping.
Civil Service Independence Reduced Ministerial Control
- Gordon Brown-era reforms made many regulators and the civil service effectively independent of ministers.
- That independence reduced ministerial control and allowed bureaucratic cultures to entrench policy choices.