Archived press release

Britain's Brown Electricity. Suppliers Fail Eco-Test on De-Regulation Day.

14 September 1998

Britain's electricity suppliers are failing the test for green power companies, Friends of the Earth said today. The pressure group has published a "Guide to Buying Green Energy",which includes a "green league table" of electricity suppliers across Britain.

The table's publication comes on the day that competition begins in the power market, with consumers having complete freedom to choose from which company to buy electricity. To date, consumer information on de-regulation has concentrated entirely on price. But since 30% of all the UK's energy use is in the home, FOE believes that consumer choice could play a key role in protecting the environment and fighting climate change.

Most of Britain's largest companies are criticised for their record on the environment.Problems include:

. prosecutions for pollution;
. opposing international treaties on climate change;
. not supporting renewable energy; and
. minimal action on energy efficiency.

Greenest of the large suppliers was Eastern Electricity, which scored 7 out of 12 in the FOE survey. Bottom equal were East Midlands, SWEB (South Western Electricity Board) and Swalec. But small suppliers may offer consumers a much better green choice. The Renewable Energy Company came top of FOE's survey with a score of 9 out of 12.

FOE wants the public to switch to the greenest companies to help in the fight against global climate change. The best companies are those that offer green electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and plant power, and that help their customers save energy in the home. Most of the RECs are investing very little in renewable energy and are simply trying to sell as much electricity as possible, with some offering incentives such as air miles.

Although there may be marginal price premium in choosing a green supplier, being what FOE calls a "super energy saver" could mean an overall cut in fuel bills. Energy saving

ideas include

. turning down the thermostat by 1 degree. Annually, this could save 31.50
. insulating lofts and lagging hot water pipes. Possible savings annually 70.00
. using compact fluorescent light bulbs. Possible savings per bulb 126

FOE also points out that electricity prices to domestic consumers have already fallen by 6%in the last year, and are set to fall further.

Anna Stanford of Friends of the Earth said:

"Our research shows that most electricity suppliers are doing very little to cut pollution and invest in green energy. Green consumers should consider looking somewhere else for their electricity supply. The freedom to choose between suppliers gives us all the power to insist that big electricity companies improve their environmental performance. That's a tremendous weapon in the fight against global climate change and for a green future."

For more details see our Green Energy web site

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] Friends of the Earth's Guide to Buying Green Energy, September 1998. Available from Friends of the Earth Publications Despatch, 56-58 Alma Street, Luton LU1 2PH or by phoning 020 7490 1555.

[2] 14 September 1998 marks the start of the introduction of competition into the domestic electricity market,meaning that all customers will be able to choose their electricity supplier. From that date, around 10 per cent of customers in areas currently supplied by Eastern, Yorkshire, Scottish Power and Manweb will be able to switch supplier. Over the coming months, choice will spread to other customers in their areas and to other companies' areas. It will be phased in by postcode across the country, with completion due by June 1999.

[3] The league table research was conducted by the Ethical Consumer Research Association on behalf of Friends of the Earth. Information was gathered between March and July 1998. Information on policies and targets was obtained largely from the companies themselves. Additional information on companies' pollution records was obtained from the US ethical investment research group, Council on Economic Priorities, the US Environmental Protection Agency databases, the Ethical Consumer Research Association Corporate Critic database and EIRIS, the UK ethical investment research group. Further details on the methodology and information sources are available from Friends of the Earth.

[4] A copy of the league table is attached. We can provide the following photographs: renewable energy (wind farms); people using electricity in the home; energy efficiency in the home (eg insulating a loft). Phone our press office for details.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust