Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 15hThe 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... 21710
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Saw some crocuses, was surprised and worried they thought it was spring already, found out that they are autumnal crocuses, felt happy 1192
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026The 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... 141
Reposted by Andrew SissonsDuncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Superb and fascinating chart. 87520
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Monday morning plug for my essay in the new IPPR Progessive Journal: How Britain can escape its energy trap 241
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 27/09/2026So 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? 130
Reposted by Andrew SissonsAndrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I 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.... 43117
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 26/09/2026In 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 7678
Reposted by Andrew SissonsJames Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Really 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.comStudy: Electricity bills rising 'much more slowly' than gas due to UK's clean power driveHousehold 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 03313
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I'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... 1196
Reposted by Andrew SissonsAndrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Another 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. 23418
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Another 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. 23418
Reposted by Andrew SissonsSarah O'Connor @sarahoconnorft.ft.com · 24/09/2026Please 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... 39618137
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I 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.... 43117
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Listening 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% 052
Reposted by Andrew SissonsCarl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 24/09/2026WSJ: 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) 37503180
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Blimey…bbc.co.ukCommunity condemn Bedminster AI mural as 'insult' to artistsThe pub's owners said the vinyl sticker is a "temporary solution" and will soon be replaced. 171
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026This is good...ft.comUK must ‘electrify now’, says energy secretaryMiatta Fahnbulleh promises ‘pragmatic’ approach on North Sea oil and gas, as decisions on Rosebank and Jackdaw fields loom 45410
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026I 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 15809
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 22/09/2026For 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.comThe Cake EquationUK 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… 075
Reposted by Andrew SissonsJames Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 22/09/2026There'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.comCould 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 1143
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Good 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.ukElectricity prices | Institute for Fiscal StudiesWe 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. 3132
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Oooh 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 072
Reposted by Andrew SissonsNesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Attending 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 032
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Plenty 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. 1133
Reposted by Andrew SissonsAveek Bhattacharya @aveek18.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I 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! 131
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 19/09/2026To 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. 4157
Reposted by Andrew SissonsChairman Moët @chairmanmoet.bsky.social · 18/09/2026You 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. 1111
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I think Bluesky should just have a massive flame war about utilitarianism 12211
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026My 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 27221
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026This is goodtheguardian.comAndy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050Exclusive: PM, who is facing pressure over whether to approve North Sea oil and gasfields, makes strongest comments yet on issue 2214
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026A 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 Bristolbbc.co.ukIs Bristol behind Gloucester Docks' silt crisis?Drought conditions and a software issue led to high silt levels in Gloucester Docks, say experts. 021
Reposted by Andrew SissonsSteve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 17/09/2026NEW: 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) 37551
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026How times have changed... www.gov.uk/government/n... 2142
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Has anyone done a comparison between current existential fear about AI and the psychological impact of the nuclear bomb in the post-war years? 11162
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Good 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.ukHow to respond to the energy crisisHow the government can respond to an energy crisis by reducing reliance on oil and gas 0167
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Your 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 161
Reposted by Andrew SissonsAdam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Far more Americans drive than use gas to heat their homes. 171
Reposted by Andrew SissonsGavin Jackson @gavinjackson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Can 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 4144
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Big 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 2141
Reposted by Andrew SissonsRachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 13/09/2026If 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.comAI pacing: the call and the claimThe 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... 1224
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Honestly, 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 1353
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Going 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 2522
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 12/09/2026One 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? 1100
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 11/09/2026People often say to men my age “do you want a medal?” And honestly, yes, I would like a medal, just every now and then 5273
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I’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 weekgov.ukThe Simplification and Agency of Government - Letter to all ministers 120