Harvey Rowlinson
Founder and Director, Purely Energy
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Published Articles
EIA sees OECD oil stocks falling to lowest since 2003 as Brent heads for $105
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects oil reserves across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will fall below 2.3 billion barrels by December, the lowest level since its records began in 2003.
6/10/2026
National Grid seeks £4.5bn above RIIO-T3 baseline in Ofgem re-opener
National Grid has submitted 25 funding proposals to Ofgem seeking approval for approximately £4.5 billion in additional electricity transmission investment in England and Wales, using the regulator's re-opener mechanism to go beyond the baseline set under the current price control.
6/6/2026
Brent slips to $91.36 as US-Iran strikes offset eighth weekly US crude draw
Brent crude futures fell 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $91.36 a barrel at 06:41 GMT on Wednesday, in a volatile session that saw prices rise on renewed US-Iran strikes before sliding back on profit-taking.
6/10/2026
European winter power hits 20% premium over 2027 on gas and hydro crunch
European winter electricity contracts are trading at their steepest premium over year-ahead benchmarks since the 2022 energy crisis, with German and Italian winter baseload now above **€110/MWh** and **€120/MWh** respectively, driven by gas storage running at 38.2% of capacity and a decade-low hydrological balance.
5/28/2026
Brent drops $1.98 as Trump pauses Iran strike to pursue deal
Brent crude for July delivery dropped **$1.98, or 1.8%, to $110.12 a barrel** in early Asian trading on Tuesday after President Trump announced a military pause to allow negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.
5/22/2026
ICE TTF drops €2.69 to €44.79/MWh as Iran signals Hormuz deal
Europe's benchmark gas contract dropped sharply on Thursday after Iran confirmed receipt of a draft US framework that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
5/28/2026
IEA cuts 2025-26 supply outlook by 2.4 million bpd as Hormuz closure depletes stocks
International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol told reporters at the G7 finance ministers' meeting in Paris on Monday that commercial oil inventories are declining rapidly and will last only 'several weeks', as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran conflict drain global supply at a record pace.
5/22/2026
Has Business Energy Solutions Ltd (BES Utilities) closed down?
BES has officially rebranded as Ruby Energy. Find out why the company changed its name, what it means for customer accounts, and what to expect going forward.
9/7/2024
Why is Warrington the best place for businesses to locate?
Discover why Warrington excels commercially, with a strategic location, strong transport links and a skilled talent pool that make it a thriving business hub.
8/19/2024
UK fuel duty rise postponed: 5p/litre hike set to be cancelled again
Rachel Reeves is expected to announce next week a further extension of the temporary fuel duty reduction, shelving a planned 5p/litre increase that was due to take effect in September.
5/26/2026
EIA projects OECD oil stocks at lowest since 2003 as Brent heads for $105
OECD oil inventories are on track to fall below 2.3 billion barrels by December, their lowest level since records began in 2003, with the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasting Brent crude to average around $105 per barrel through June and July.
6/10/2026
National Grid files £4.5bn re-opener request with Ofgem for transmission upgrades
National Grid has submitted 25 funding proposals to Ofgem seeking approval for approximately £4.5 billion in additional electricity transmission investment in England and Wales, using the regulator's re-opener mechanism to fund network demands that exceed the baseline set under the current price control.
6/6/2026
GB day-ahead baseload eases as wind tops 40% and mild demand cuts gas burn
Day-ahead baseload power prices in Great Britain drifted lower across the past week as wind generation repeatedly covered more than 40% of GB electricity demand and mild seasonal temperatures reduced the call on gas-fired plant.
5/22/2026
Brent drops 10.5% on week as US-Iran ceasefire deal reported
Brent crude fell **$1.24 to $92.47 a barrel** at 06:56 GMT on Friday, putting it on course for a 10.5% weekly decline after reports that the US and Iran had reached a preliminary agreement to extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
5/29/2026
ADNOC chief sets 2027 date for full Hormuz oil flow recovery
Full oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will not resume before the first or second quarter of 2027, even if the Middle East conflict ends immediately, according to Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of Abu Dhabi's state oil company ADNOC.
5/22/2026
UK Energy Supplier Closures
See which UK energy suppliers have gone bust since 2018, how many customers were affected and what caused the wave of failures in the market. Read blog now
11/10/2025
UAE quits OPEC, freeing 1.35 million bpd of suppressed capacity
The UAE formally ended its nearly 60-year OPEC membership on 01/05/2025, freeing it to raise production toward **4.85 million barrels per day** and beyond, in what a senior presidential adviser described as a race to monetise reserves before hydrocarbon demand structurally declines.
5/25/2026
National Grid opens EGL5 consultation on 585km Scotland-to-Lincolnshire link
National Grid has opened a public consultation on Eastern Green Link 5, a 585km subsea high voltage direct current cable that would carry Scottish renewable power to Anderby Creek in Lincolnshire, with the window running from 29 May to 24 July 2026.
6/3/2026
Brent dips to $91.36 as US-Iran strikes offset by eighth weekly stock draw
Brent crude fell 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $91.36 a barrel at 06:41 GMT on Wednesday in a volatile session, as renewed US-Iran hostilities pushed prices up before profit-taking dragged them back down.
6/10/2026
GB fossil fuel output drops below 1 GW for the first time on record
Britain's electricity grid came within touching distance of fully fossil-free operation in April 2026, with gas and coal output dropping below **1 GW** for the first time on record, according to Drax Electric Insights analysis produced by researchers at Imperial College London.
5/25/2026
Scrapping VAT on household energy: what it could mean for your bill
See how removing VAT and environmental levies from energy bills could impact your business’s future energy costs.
9/15/2025
VAT & CCL Charges for Private Schools: The Latest Updates
Policy regarding VAT for private schools is changing. Will it affect your school? Read to find out more...
2/14/2025
National Grid files £4.5bn re-opener request with Ofgem for transmission upgrades
National Grid has submitted 25 funding proposals to Ofgem seeking approval for **£4.5 billion** in additional electricity transmission investment in England and Wales, using the regulator's re-opener mechanism to fund grid upgrades that exceed the baseline set under the RIIO-T3 price control.
6/7/2026
Norwegian offshore strike threat puts NBP supply at risk from 5 June
617 Norwegian offshore workers are set to strike from 5 June if state-mediated wage talks fail, threatening output from the country that supplies roughly one-third of Europe's annual gas consumption.
6/1/2026
617 Norwegian offshore workers set to strike on 5 June as wage talks stall
A strike involving up to 617 Norwegian offshore workers could begin on 5 June if state-mediated wage talks between unions Styrke, Lederne, and Safe and industry body Offshore Norway break down, threatening output from a country that supplies roughly one-third of Europe's annual gas consumption.
6/1/2026
National Grid files £4.5bn transmission spend request with Ofgem
National Grid has submitted 25 funding proposals to Ofgem seeking approval for approximately £4.5 billion in additional electricity transmission investment in England and Wales.
6/7/2026
Commercial Solar Export Rates (p/kWh)
Find out how much UK businesses can earn from commercial solar exports and how to maximise returns on surplus energy.
12/5/2024
OPEC+ approves fourth consecutive 188,000 bpd output rise for July
Seven core OPEC+ members are expected to agree a further production quota increase of approximately **188,000 barrels per day** for July at Sunday's online ministerial meeting, even as Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to suppress actual output well below target.
6/2/2026
Norway strike deadline of 5 June puts NBP gas contracts on alert
Norwegian oil and gas employers and trade unions began two days of wage negotiations on Wednesday, with roughly 8% of offshore workers prepared to walk out from 5 June if talks fail.
6/3/2026
The Rise and Fall of Tomato Energy: A Cautionary Tale for Business Customers and Brokers
Discover what led to the rise and fall of Tomato Energy, why it ceased trading and how the UK energy regulator protected customers during the transition. Read now
11/13/2025
OPEC+ set to lift July quota by 188,000 bpd as Hormuz cuts actual supply
Seven core OPEC+ members are expected to approve a further output quota increase of approximately **188,000 barrels per day** for July when ministers meet online on Sunday, even as Strait of Hormuz disruptions have kept actual production well below target.
6/2/2026
EIA sees OECD oil stocks falling below 2.3 billion barrels, a 2003 low
Oil inventories across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are on course to fall just below 2.3 billion barrels by December, their lowest level since the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) began tracking the data in 2003.
6/10/2026
Hormuz dark-ship flows reach 710,000 bpd as strait stays restricted
Tanker outflows from the Strait of Hormuz have quietly accelerated to an estimated **710,000 barrels per day** since early May, with roughly 65% of laden vessels disabling their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to cross undetected, yet the waterway remains far below pre-conflict volumes and a durable recovery looks distant.
6/4/2026
Day-ahead baseload eases Monday after Friday intraday prices breach £200/MWh
UK day-ahead power prices for Monday delivery have pulled back after intraday prices breached £200/MWh on Friday, when low wind output and plant outages left the system critically tight.
6/7/2026
NBP prompt gas firms on Norwegian outages ahead of next week
UK National Balancing Point (NBP) prompt gas contracts edged higher on Friday, supported by unplanned Norwegian maintenance cutting pipeline flows into the UK system.
6/7/2026
Brent holds above $93 as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz to tankers
Brent crude rose 8 cents to $93.18 a barrel on Thursday after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil tankers and the US launched fresh strikes on Iranian targets, though prices pulled back from an earlier $2 gain.
6/11/2026
Gas Meter Installation & What size gas meter is required
Find the best gas meter size for your business and access fast gas meter installation, often available within a week.
9/6/2024
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) Made Easy
Learn who must comply with SECR, what data is required, and how reporting supports sustainability and cost savings.
8/28/2024