Jersey Energy Trust (JET): Disbandment

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A decision made 30 June 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2014-0061
Decision Summary Title :	Disband the Jersey Energy Trust (JET)		Date of Decision Summary:	24 June 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Environmental Policy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	Disband the Jersey Energy Trust (JET)		Date of Written Report:	24 June 2014
Written Report Author:	Director of Environmental Policy		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: To disband the activities of the Jersey Energy Trust as of their final meeting of the 27th June 2014.
Decision(s): The activities of the Jersey Energy Trust will cease beyond the date of their last meeting the 27th June 2014.
Reason(s) for Decision: To disband the activities of the Jersey Energy Trust and move to the formation of an Energy Partnership as a delivery mechanism for the Pathway 2050: An Energy Plan for Jersey.
Resource Implications: No additional resources are required.
Action required: To thank the members of JET for their work in assisting the Department and for officers of the Department to invite the members of JET to put themselves forward for consideration for the Energy Partnership - Stakeholder Forum.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Jersey Energy Trust (JET): Disbandment

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Written Report - Disband the Jersey Energy Trust

Purpose of the Report and Recommendations

For the Minister to formally disband the Jersey Energy Trust established by Ministerial Decision in 2009.

For the Minister to thank the members of the Jersey Energy Trust for their service since 2009 and celebrate the successful programme that has provided energy efficiency grants to nearly 2,000 socio-economically vulnerable Islanders.

To outline the next steps to deliver the Pathway 2050: An Energy Plan for Jersey and invite members of JET to put forward their names for consideration to be included on the Energy Partnership’s Stakeholder Forum.

Background

The Jersey Energy Trust was formally established on the 15th June 2009 via Ministerial Decision MD/PE/2009/0114. It was defined as a non-political body that would provide advice and oversight to the Minister and support the programmes and objectives of an Energy Efficiency Service (EES) in providing energy efficiency grants to socio-economically vulnerable Islanders.

During the initiation of the EES, the continued running of the EES since 2009 and to date, the Jersey Energy Trust has provided valuable oversight, governance and direction for the scheme. JET has met c.6 to 8 times a year and the Board receives regular updates on the progress of the Energy Efficiency Service and the operational delivery of energy efficiency grants. In addition, JET has provided advice to the Department and the Minister in respect of the programme’s development and policies.

The non-executive membership comprises:

Andrea Cooke OBE - Serving from inception of JET to date and was the Acting Chair until October 2009;
Sir Nigel Broomfield - Serving from October 2009 where he took over as chair and remains in post to date;
Chris Ambler - Serving from inception of JET and still currently a member of JET;
David Lord - Appointed to JET in January 2010 and is still currently serving ;
Peter Cadiou - served from inception of JET and resigned in January 2014 as he moved from his position as MD of Jersey Energy to take up a new position in Jersey Electricity plc.

Executive support is provided by the Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer of the Environment Department, the Director for Environmental Policy and officers from the EES.

Rationalising Ministerial Advisory Groups

In May 2012 the Minister carried out a full review of the existing Ministerial Advisory Groups (MD-PE-2012-0058). It was considered that, in line with the Comprehensive Spending Review and with the aim of reducing bureaucracy within the Public Service, that the 13 existing Ministerial advisory groups were rationalised in order to align with the Departments medium term work plan to 2014.

The review considered the Jersey Energy Trust and recommended that the group continued as per its current Terms of Reference until the States Assembly has debated the Energy White Paper. It was acknowledged that the Energy White Paper will set the direction for external advice requirements via a possible Energy Partnership which would supersede the role of JET.

The Development of the Energy White Paper – Pathway 2050: An Energy Plan for Jersey

During 2012 and 2013 there was continued development of the Energy White Paper followed by public consultation and subsequent examination of the Plan by the Environment Scrutiny Panel [1]. The Jersey Energy Trust contributed to the development of the Energy Plan and actively participated in the consultation and subsequent Scrutiny process.

The Environment Scrutiny Panel concluded that a ‘Priority for action’ was to ‘Create a new, strong cross-Governmental partnership to replace existing bodies and work alongside energy stakeholders, co-ordinate the energy strategy, set targets and monitor and report on progress’.

In line with the consultation and Scrutiny’s recommendations, the Energy Plan (as lodged) further developed and outlined a delivery and monitoring mechanism for Action Statements within the Energy Plan called the ‘Energy Partnership’. The Partnership [2] comprises two components: The Energy Executive and the Stakeholder Forum.

Adoption of the Energy Plan and the role of the Energy Partnership

The Energy Plan: Pathway 2050 was overwhelmingly adopted by the States on the 22nd May 2014 (P.38/2014). The next step is to form the Energy Partnership whose model of working supersedes the work of JET and as part of that process the Jersey Energy Trust is being formally disbanded.

This process is considered to be part of the evolution and delivery of Jersey’s energy policy. The work of the JET since 2009 has been instrumental in the early development of energy efficiency programmes for which the Minister is extremely grateful.

The Ministerial Executive and Stakeholder Forum will work together alongside the project teams in developing and delivering the Action Statements outlined in the Energy Plan including providing energy efficiency grants to both the socio-economically vulnerable and ultimately an expansion to the able-to-pay sector (work begun by the EES under the guidance of JET).

Members of JET will be invited to put forward their names for consideration to be included on the Stakeholder Forum; the Minister is delighted that in recent discussions, some members have already indicated their interest.

Continuing and expanding energy efficiency programmes

The provision of grant assistance to socio-economically vulnerable Islanders will continue as part of the work stream outlined in the Energy Plan under Action Statement 3 (‘Apply energy efficiency measures to the pre 1997 stock of properties’, pg. 41 of Pathway 2050).

The programme in the domestic sector will also be extended into the able-to-pay sector with appropriate incentives such as subsidised home energy audits. This work will continue to be carried out by the Energy Efficiency Service team who now have extensive experience in this sector gained since 2009. The business plan of the EES will be revised to reflect this extended remit.

Recommendation

For the JET to be disbanded after their meeting of the 27th June.

For the Minister to formally thank the members of the Jersey Energy Trust for their service and celebrate their key role in the successful programme that has provided energy efficiency grants to nearly 2,000 socio-economically vulnerable Islanders.

In due course, for the Minister to write to all members of JET inviting them to put forward their names for consideration to be included on the Energy Partnership’s Stakeholder Forum.

Written by:	Director Environmental Policy

Approved by:	Chief Officer for the Department of the Environment

Date:	24 June 2014

[1] http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/ScrutinyReports/2013/Report%20-%20Energy%20Policy%20-%2014%20November%202013.pdf

[2] See Action Statement 1: Form a multi stakeholder Energy Partnership (pg32 of Pathway 2050)