"A timely and incisive exploration of ownership, power, and politics in the UK energy system. Downing masterfully traces the history of Britain's energy infrastructure, showing that the current expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable system is the result of political choices - choices that could be made differently. Read this if you want to understand the past, present, and potential futures of UK energy - and how we can build a system that works for people and planet, not profit." --Grace Blakeley, author of Vulture Capitalism "This brilliant book shows what needs to be understood about the past, present, and future of British electricity if there is to be successful decarbonisation. It requires not just a rejection of free market fantasies, but of the unworkable system of subsidies which generates returns for investors rather than cheap renewable electricity for the people. A must-read for anyone interested in the new politics and expertise a post-carbon world will need" --David Edgerton, author of The Rise and Fall of the British Nation "Few things rile ordinary Britons as much as inflated energy prices. Yet few issues attract as much misinformed commentary from across the board. Deftly weaving together the economics, technology and politics of energy provision, Arthur Downing - a unique mix of industry insider, academic and activist - is ideally positioned to explain how Britain got into its current energy mess and how it might get out.

" --Brett Christophers, author of The Price is Wrong "A timely and incisive exploration of ownership, power, and politics in the UK energy system. Downing masterfully traces the history of Britain's energy infrastructure, showing that the current expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable system is the result of political choices - choices that could be made differently. Read this if you want to understand the past, present, and potential futures of UK energy - and how we can build a system that works for people and planet, not profit." --Grace Blakeley, author of Vulture Capitalism "This brilliant book shows what needs to be understood about the past, present, and future of British electricity if there is to be successful decarbonisation. It requires not just a rejection of free market fantasies, but of the unworkable system of subsidies which generates returns for investors rather than cheap renewable electricity for the people. A must-read for anyone interested in the new politics and expertise a post-carbon world will need" --David Edgerton, author of The Rise and Fall of the British Nation.