Co-operative Energy urges Big Six to rise to renewables challenge

Just 17% of electricity produced in the UK comes from renewable sources such as wind, wave and solar, and households still face a very limited choice in the type of energy they can buy.

Co-operative Energy general manager Ramsay Dunning said: “This is totally unacceptable. The International Energy Agency predicts that renewable energy is set to overtake coal and become the world’s number one electricity source by 2030 if countries keep their climate change pledges.

“But here in the UK customers are prevented from doing their bit for the environment because the Big Six are acting like a bunch of ostriches. They have their heads in the sand and aren’t listening to customers.

“According to the IEA, global emissions could peak as early as 2020 – but it is clear that too many UK suppliers are still not offering customers enough choice in the type of energy they use because they’re stuck with legacy fossil fuel contracts.”

Speaking at the EU Sustainable Energy Europe Awards ceremony in Brussels, European commissioner for climate action and energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “Today’s consumers are not passive. They care about what they buy – they want to know where it comes from, what it’s made of, who made it, and whether it’s good for them and good for the planet.

“The energy consumer is as active as the high street shopper checking the product label or ‘best before’ date. We need to support them to make sustainable choices.”