Two new energy tariffs have been launched, offering a choice of green and affordable deals by supplier Our Power, supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council and Bath & West Community Energy.
The new scheme, called Our Power In B&NES, offers locally-generated renewable energy to residents through a collaboration with not-for-profit energy supplier Our Power and local community business Bath & West Community Energy.
The ‘Our Local Green Energy’ tariff will provide 100% renewable electricity as part of a dual fuel offer with gas.
Electricity will be locally sourced and community owned wherever possible, using green energy from Bath & North East Somerset and the surrounding area.
This will enable residents to buy from local community owned solar energy arrays in B&NES for the first time.
The scheme will also include the ‘Our Fairer Energy’ tariff from Our Power, which is currently one of the cheapest tariffs available on the market for dual fuel pre-payment meter customers.
Around 11,000 households in B&NES (14%) pay for energy by pre-payment meter.
The council is endorsing the scheme because it contributes to Council objectives of tackling fuel poverty and supporting renewable energy in the district.
Our Power was one of the first not-for-profit energy suppliers in the UK, and was founded by housing associations, community organisations and local authorities with the aim of making energy fairer and greener.
Our Power will be working with Bath & West Community Energy which will support with community marketing and whose local community owned renewable energy generation projects will be among the first to power the scheme.
Dawn Muspratt, CEO of Our Power, said: “We are really excited to be working with Bath &North East Somerset Council, and as an energy supplier with a mission to make household energy more affordable and greener for all energy customers, we have a very close fit with what B&NES Council wants to offer its residents.
“Our Power’s not-for-profit status also means that profits can be reinvested to benefit our customers and their communities.”
Pete Capener, Managing Director of Bath & West Community Energy, said: “We have always wanted local people to be able to benefit from the renewable energy that Bath & West Community Energy’s projects generate – it’s the reason we set BWCE up.
“We hope this scheme will increase support for local renewables projects and the community benefit that they create.”
Martin Shields, Corporate Director at Bath & North East Somerset Council, added: “This scheme is great news for the environment, our local economy and for households living with pre-payment meters.
“It is in line with the Council’s Core Strategy district target to deliver 275MW local renewable energy generation in the district by 2029.”
Residents from Bath and North East Somerset can sign up at https://our-power.co.uk/bathnes or by calling Our Power on 0808 189 3085.
