The security of supply of fuel resources is a key issue, with the UK now a net importer of gas, no longer self sustaining but dependent on overseas suppliers to top up its own production. Oil and gas supplies are generally obtained from politically unstable areas of the world. We frequently read about Gazproms threats to interrupt supplies to Europe.
These issues for both electrical and gas-fired heating systems will have a significant impact on the way we will heat our homes in the future.
Through its Energy White Paper (2003) and more recently the Energy Review (2006), the Government has set the UK on a clear path towards a future where electricity generated from sustainable and renewable sources will provide the cornerstone of our energy requirements; low-zero carbon emissions, inexhaustible and freely available.
At the macro level, policies to provide at least 20% of electricity from renewable resources such as wind, geothermal, tidal and biomass by 2020, coupled with production from 'clean' coal power stations will improve the carbon efficiency of electricity generation. The Government also believes that nuclear power will make a significant contribution to meeting the UKs carbon reduction and energy policy goals and has left the door firmly open for new nuclear plants to be built.
The Government's Micro-generation strategy also promotes the use of small scale production of heat and / or electricity from low carbon sources, such as solar, photovoltaic, rooftop mounted wind turbines, heat pumps and others to help in tackling climate change, ensuring reliable energy supplies and tackling fuel poverty.
Long term then, there is little doubt that the future is electric. And of course energy efficient electric appliances are by definition 'renewables ready', meaning that as more renewable and low carbon sources of supply become available, electricity will increasingly be favoured over gas. | 
