Dieter Helm

Dieter Helm

Background

One of the founders of the economic consultancy, Oxera. Helm is a non-executive director of Oxera Holdings Limited, parent company of Oxera Consulting Limited; a Director of Helm Associates Ltd; and a Fellow in Economics, New College, University of Oxford.

Influential Committees

Helm is on the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology, is the Chair of Defra's Academic Panel; as well as being on the DTI's Sustainable Energy Panel Advisory Board, and the Ministerial Task Force on Sustainable Development.

Influential Voice

Helm is a key advisor to the government on energy policy, and is said by government insiders to be close to Geoffrey Norris, Blair's key pro-nuclear advisor.

In 2002, the Planet Ark website reported how "A top academic [Helm] with influence in government said yesterday Britain should force consumers to buy nuclear power to save stricken generator British Energy and protect the struggling nuclear industry". In the article, Helm said that nuclear power should be treated like renewable energy and supported by government rules to create a guaranteed market.

Although Helm often appears to be technology neutral, he has put forward mechanisms which can be used to support nuclear power. His perspectives have been used by the pro-nuclear forces to argue their case. For example, the Nuclear Industry Association picked up on Helm's comments to the programme "If":

"Under the present arrangements no one is directly responsible for ensuring that the lights stay on. As Dieter Helm remarked at the conclusion of the film, 'If you want the lights to stay on, if you want security of supply, if you want what a modern economy needs you have to be absolutely clear what your priorities are, who has the right powers and how they will be exercised, then the market works. But we're a long way from that point yet, and that is the challenge that should be at the DTI's door morning noon and night.'

"In conjunction with the programme, which was watched by 2.8 million people, the BBC posed the question, 'Should Britain keep nuclear power?' on their website. The results shown here reveal that more people than might be expected are heeding 'the wake-up call'."

The Nuclear Conference Circuit

Helm was also due to speak at a BNES event in March 2006, called "Securing the Future - The Role of Nuclear Energy". Other speakers on his panel included Roger Ewart-Smith, from N M Rothschild; Mike Weightman, from the NII; and James Lovelock. The Conference was sponsored by the World Nuclear Association, Nuclear Industry Association, and UKAEA and co-organised by the Institution of Nuclear Engineers.

He was also due to speak at the Adam Smith Institute's inaugural "Nuclear Industry Forum" in May 2006 along with, amongst others:

• Vincent de Rivaz, CEO, EDF Energy
• Vincent Maurel, Member of the Executive Board, President & CEO of Framatome ANP, Areva
• Andrew Duff, CEO, RWE nPower
• Bill Coley, CEO, British Energy
• Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor, HM Government
• Jake Ulrich, Managing Director, Centrica Energy
• Lauri Piekkari, Vice President Finance, TVO
• Chris Murray, Chief Executive, Nirex
• Roger Ewart-Smith, Managing Director, Rothschild
• Dr Sue Ion, President, BNES

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