Of profits, transparency, and responsibility: public views on financing energy system change in Great Britain

Becker, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9557-4968, Demski, Christina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9215-452X, Evensen, Darrick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8892-0052 and Pidgeon, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8991-0398 2019. Of profits, transparency, and responsibility: public views on financing energy system change in Great Britain. Energy Research and Social Science 55 , pp. 236-246. 10.1016/j.erss.2019.05.013

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Abstract

Energy transitions in Great Britain (GB) require public engagement and acceptance, but it is not clear how energy system change is to be financed. In this paper we explore public views on responsibility (of the government in Great Britain, energy companies and residents) to pay for costs associated with energy system change and personal acceptance to contribute financially. Five focus groups with 6-9 participants each, were conducted in four locations across GB. Using thematic analysis to examine responsibility and the role of trust we identified three themes relating to 1) views on profits, 2) lack of transparency and 3) the perceived problematic relationship between energy companies and government. Participants assigned greater responsibility to institutional actors and did not believe that these actors were currently contributing sufficiently. Although participants were prepared to accept some additional costs because they were in favour of energy transitions, they also expressed distrust towards the other actors due to concerns over the profit driven energy system, lack of transparency and perceived close connections between the energy industry and government. These concerns could result in reduced public support for transitions if they remain unaddressed; they highlight a demand for a more equal distribution of costs and benefits and fairer processes in the energy system and transitions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2214-6296
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	20 May 2019
Date of Acceptance:	16 May 2019
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2023 00:32
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/122672

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