Many households question renewable claims
Almost two-fifths of UK adults admit they were unaware that being on a renewable tariff does not always mean renewable electricity is generated to match their use. Of those already on such tariffs, 81% say they feel misled once they learn suppliers can buy Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin certificates months after the power was actually supplied. The Censuswide survey of 2,001 people also found 32% of consumers currently choose renewable tariffs, with younger adults more likely to do so.
How the current system works
Suppliers report their fuel mix once a year, so they can purchase REGO certificates when renewable output is high and apply them to periods when fossil fuels dominate the grid. Good Energy, ranked first on the Matched Clean Power Index, argues this annual approach hides big gaps between claims and reality. The supplier wants half-hourly matching to become the industry standard so customers can see exactly how much renewable power is generated for every half-hour of demand.
What Good Energy is calling for
Fran Woodward, Managing Director of Supply at Good Energy, said: “For too long, energy companies have been allowed to make vague claims around their use of ‘renewable’ energy tariffs. In an era of widespread misinformation, it is more crucial than ever that UK customers get the truth about what they are paying for.” The company has launched a Renewable Reality Check calculator so households can test their own supplier’s matching performance.
We think the findings underline why it pays to compare energy suppliers carefully before switching. You can start that process on our gas and electricity comparison pages.
