Undertaking a review of the issues behind a long-term energy strategy is an exercise to be welcomed; many would argue that it is long overdue. In recent years, a number of the major engineering institutions have taken every conceivable opportunity to recommend to the UK Government that it should look at energy in the round. However, since the privatisation of the gas and electricity industries this has been resisted on the basis that it was for the market to decide. Thus this study represents a significant change in attitude and the period of public consultation will allow different views to be voiced.