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Andrew Sissons

@acjsissons.bsky.social
9.3K followers 965 following 8.2K posts

Day job: climate change, heat pumps, energy at Nesta Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring. Personal account.

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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 15h
The link between electricity and gas prices has already begun to break - and the government can take some credit for that... www.nesta.org.uk/blog/the-ene...
Chart showing gas bills rising by 88% and electricity bills by 68% between April and October 2022. And then gas rising by 33% and electricity by 9% between April and October 2026
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Saw some crocuses, was surprised and worried they thought it was spring already, found out that they are autumnal crocuses, felt happy
A field of autumnal crocuses, light pink flowers
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The UK government is designing a new scheme for upgrading heating and energy in low income households, to replace ECO (which had a lot of issues). How can government get the new scheme right? We’ve set out Nesta’s view here: www.nesta.org.uk/report/nesta...
The ten building blocks that make up an effective low-income scheme

A diagram titled 'The ten building blocks that make up an effective low-income scheme'. The ten building blocks are organised into four categorised columns:

User centricity: Providing a joined-up consumer experience and supporting households to benefit long term.
Appropriate measures: Deciding which measures and funding homes get, unlocking investment in local economies, and determining how to distribute funding fairly and effectively.
Ability and flexibility: Enabling each local scheme to respond to local needs through devolution, identifying and including households in need, and building the capabilities needed to deliver everywhere.
Do things well: Providing strong guarantees and long-term support and delivering high-quality, effective upgrades to homes.
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Superb and fascinating chart.
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Monday morning plug for my essay in the new IPPR Progessive Journal: How Britain can escape its energy trap
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
So if this is right, will economists start modelling “intelligence” (or whatever) as distinct from capital and labour? Or just treat it as part of capital?
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I have a new essay in the newly relaunched IPPR Progressive Journal. It’s intended as a sober assessment of the political economy of Britain’s energy challenge, as we move from the old, dying fossil fuel system to the new world of electrification onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Screenshot of journal article How Britain Can Eacape Its Energy Trap: Heat and Light at the End of the Tunnel
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
In my recent “is AI going to end the world?” conversations with normies, I’ve mostly said “i’m not sure about extinction but we might have to stop using the internet” and people’s reactions are mostly, like, “oh ok, fine”. Which is a pretty damning indictment of the great technology of our age
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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Really interesting study from @nestauk.bsky.social and @acjsissons.bsky.social shows how energy bills are rising, but gas bills are rising much faster than electricity bill, suggesting the clean power drive is starting to deliver the long-sought decoupling. www.businessgreen.com/news/4536329...
businessgreen.com
Study: Electricity bills rising 'much more slowly' than gas due to UK's clean power drive
Household energy bills are set to rise this winter, but Nesta claims there are signs gas and electricity bills are beginning to 'decouple' in a boost for households with heat pumps and EVs
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I'm surprised that no one is talking about electricity bills decoupling from gas. Gas prices will be painfully high this winter - because of Trump. Electricity prices will be much more insulted from the shock - because of all those renewables we built... www.nesta.org.uk/blog/the-ene...
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another piece on energy from me today (happy Friday, I guess!) This time it's a bit of a good news story: the latest on electricity prices decoupling from gas. Decoupling is still happening, and electricity bills would be higher if the UK didn't have so much clean power.
Chart shows the change in gas and electricity bills between April and October in 2022 and 2026 - during two energy crises.
In 2022, electricity prices rose almost as fast as gas prices (88% v 68%). In 2026, gas prices rose much faster (33% compared to 9%)
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another piece on energy from me today (happy Friday, I guess!) This time it's a bit of a good news story: the latest on electricity prices decoupling from gas. Decoupling is still happening, and electricity bills would be higher if the UK didn't have so much clean power.
Chart shows the change in gas and electricity bills between April and October in 2022 and 2026 - during two energy crises.
In 2022, electricity prices rose almost as fast as gas prices (88% v 68%). In 2026, gas prices rose much faster (33% compared to 9%)
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Sarah O'Connor @sarahoconnorft.ft.com · 24/09/2026
Please excuse me while I scream into a cushion at the thought of ALL the articles I had to write on the "UK productivity puzzle" in the 2010s www.ft.com/content/c819...
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I have a new essay in the newly relaunched IPPR Progressive Journal. It’s intended as a sober assessment of the political economy of Britain’s energy challenge, as we move from the old, dying fossil fuel system to the new world of electrification onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Screenshot of journal article How Britain Can Eacape Its Energy Trap: Heat and Light at the End of the Tunnel
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Listening to the big Robert Gordon book and just noting this stat down for future use: In 1940, more than one third of the (US) consumer budget went towards goods and services that did not exist in 1869. By 2013, these post-1869 goods and services made up nearly 60%
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
WSJ: The AI build-out is on track to become the biggest economic bet in US history, dwarfing the investments made to fund other huge US infrastructure projects — such as the railroads, the highway system and the plumbing for the internet.” (via Jefferies)
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Blimey…
bbc.co.uk
Community condemn Bedminster AI mural as 'insult' to artists
The pub's owners said the vinyl sticker is a "temporary solution" and will soon be replaced.
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This is good...
ft.com
UK must ‘electrify now’, says energy secretary
Miatta Fahnbulleh promises ‘pragmatic’ approach on North Sea oil and gas, as decisions on Rosebank and Jackdaw fields loom
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I think maybe an underrated reason for why everyone is so mad is that we’re all* driving massive cars at each other in spaces that don’t fit them several times a day
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
For no reason at all, re-upping my piece The Cake Equation. It's an attempt to explain colloquially why it is now simply impossible to do the "good public services, no tax rises" thing that all politicians say they will do acjsissons.medium.com/the-cake-equ...
acjsissons.medium.com
The Cake Equation
UK politicians of all stripes often promise to tax more and tax less — having their cake and eating it. But cake is now in short supply…
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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
There's a huge amount in this new IFS report on the UK's high electricity bills (which am sure opponents of decarbonisation will be trying to weaponise any minute now, even though it's clear on how clean power can lower bills in the long term). www.businessgreen.com/news-analysi...
businessgreen.com
Could smart tariffs hold the key to tackling the UK's rising energy bills?
Wide-ranging report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies proposes series of policy interventions that could help lower domestic energy costs while still driving decarbonisation
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Good to see @theifs.bsky.social call for more focus on time-of-use pricing for electricity today - this is one of the big opportunities for bringing down electricity bills. Also an interesting idea to move many fixed costs of electricity off unit rates, onto standing charges or taxation...
ifs.org.uk
Electricity prices | Institute for Fiscal Studies
We explore why UK electricity prices are so high and what reforms can be made to improve the efficiency of the market for and taxation of electricity.
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Oooh yes, if you’re at Lib Dem conference, come and join us at 12.15 to talk about how to make electricity cheaper! Room 1A. I’ll be putting the questions to (Professor the Lord) Tim Leunig, Shauna Dubler from Energy UK and Louise Gilmore from EoN
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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Attending the Liberal Democrat Party Conference this weekend? @libdems.org.uk Join us to explore options for bringing down the cost of electricity and a plan for food and health. Find out details ⤵️ bit.ly/3TusJSp
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Plenty to agree with in Paul Johnson’s essay about low UK investment - reflects a broad consensus - but the policy prescriptions feel quite flat to me. Cheaper building via deregulation. Stop being myopic, provide stability. Tax and welfare reform. Empower city regions. Drive pensions investment.
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Aveek Bhattacharya @aveek18.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I don't believe it's accurate to say EAs "downplay" climate change. 18% of EAs believe climate change should be a top priority for the movement, just 3% that it should receive no resources. This is in fact higher than I would have expected!
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
To offer an opening salvo in the flame war: consider climate change. It’s easy to make a strong utilitarian case for tackling climate change: it will cause great suffering to pretty much everyone, so we should tackle it until the costs of doing so outweigh the avoided suffering.
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Chairman Moët @chairmanmoet.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
You can say what you want about hedonistic utilitarianism on here because anyone who believes pleasure should be the sole motivating principle as to how society is organised wouldn't be anywhere near Bluesky.
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I think Bluesky should just have a massive flame war about utilitarianism
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Mark Waugh, most famously of all
Ormond was involved in a notable piece of sledging; when, in a Test match against Australia in 2001, Mark Waugh asked him, "Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England." Ormond replied
"Maybe not, but at least l'm the best player in my own family", a reference to Waugh's brother Steve, who was the captain of the Australian team. 2]
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
My contribution to Bluesky levity is: what places sound like they’re owned by a man with an old-fashioned name? I’ve got Barry’s Island* and the Forest of Dean so far
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is good
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050
Exclusive: PM, who is facing pressure over whether to approve North Sea oil and gasfields, makes strongest comments yet on issue
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A striking “trade offs involving the different uses of water” example here: Gloucester docks have silted up, in part because of water being taken from a local canal to supply Bristol
bbc.co.uk
Is Bristol behind Gloucester Docks' silt crisis?
Drought conditions and a software issue led to high silt levels in Gloucester Docks, say experts.
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Steve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW: How did the summer heatwaves and wildfires change attitudes to climate and Net Zero, if at all? A short thread on analysis of tracker polling now summer is winding down. 🧵 (for @persuasionuk.bsky.social with @yougov.co.uk)
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
How times have changed... www.gov.uk/government/n...
Screenshot of government press release saying UK becomes first major economy to pass net zero emissions law. It was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government. Minister Chris Skidmore is seen signing the legislation
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Has anyone done a comparison between current existential fear about AI and the psychological impact of the nuclear bomb in the post-war years?
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Good day to recirculate our paper on how to respond to the 2026 energy crisis, which we published nearly 6 months ago… www.nesta.org.uk/report/how-t...
nesta.org.uk
How to respond to the energy crisis
How the government can respond to an energy crisis by reducing reliance on oil and gas
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Your occasional reminder that reservoirs can be pretty dangerous. (For example, the impacted area for reservoir flooding central London is a lot worse than the rivers and the sea one) check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/map
Map of reservoir flood risk in central London. The Lea Valley is especially at risk - but the flood risk from the Thames is worse than river or tidal flooding
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Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Far more Americans drive than use gas to heat their homes.
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch
Chart with headline “The Us has little incentive to ease the global gas squeeze”.
The charts show European (Dutch TTF) prices rising from $10 per MMBtu to nearly $30 now, while US prices have remained mostly flat below $5
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Leffe Curve. Y-axis is “your faith that cutting taxes will increase tax revenues”. X-axis is “number of Belgian beers you’ve consumed”.
The line is flat at 0 until around 7 beers, at which point it begins to oscillate wildly
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Great thread with a *sensational* punch line
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Gavin Jackson @gavinjackson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Can cheap power make poor countries competitive in data centres? Not really, says the World Bank. Most of the cost is hardware rather than energy so small differences in financing costs and regulation erase any advantage from cheaper energy. documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
documents1.worldbank.org
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Big fan of the French verb “discuter”. Thinking of opening a Discutheque, a nightclub for people who’d like the music a bit quieter so they can have a chat
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
If you've read the latest post, then this from @ciaranm.bsky.social is a very sensible analysis of the cyber security situation www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-pac...
linkedin.com
AI pacing: the call and the claim
The Anthropic boss chose a very sloppy, easily dismantled example from cyber security with which to lead his call to pace the frontier. That was a mistake, but shouldn't undermine the wider force of t...
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Honestly, trying to read about AI is exhausting. Always need to know who the author is, what their motives are (often opaque), how much they actually know, what assumptions they make (omg we so badly need some common analytical framing)… Spend more time checking out the author than actually reading
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Going to push some lighter content… here are some holiday snaps from a little cycling tour around an *amazing* set of Stone Age tombs and standing stones in the Vendee #StandingStoneSunday #DolmenDimanche
Boy sitting under a Dolmen (de la coeur du Breuil) in the VendeeA roadside Dolmen (de Salvatole) with a bike and trailer next to it
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
One thing I’ve found so baffling is how effective astroturf campaigns are. They seem to have a beguiling effect on politicians, who you’d think would know better?
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
People often say to men my age “do you want a medal?” And honestly, yes, I would like a medal, just every now and then
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I’m late* to it, but thought this UK govt memo on “The Simplification and Agency of Government” was v interesting. Seems like the most radical bit of the Burnham agenda. Some thoughts… www.gov.uk/government/p... *i’m late to everything this week
gov.uk
The Simplification and Agency of Government - Letter to all ministers
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