Almost two-fifths (39%) of Brits admit they were not aware that being on a renewable energy tariff does not always mean renewable energy is being generated to match their use.
Those opting for renewable tariffs want their energy choices to support cleaner power, but current regulation allows suppliers to claim their tariffs are ‘100% renewable’ – even when they purchase substantial amounts of electricity generated from fossil fuels.
Because suppliers report their fuel mix annually, they can buy Renewable Electricity Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates when renewable generation is plentiful and count them against electricity supplied months later, when fossil fuels are making up much more of the energy mix. This makes it challenging for customers to understand how the electricity they use is really generated.
In fact, of those polled who were on renewable tariffs, 81% reveal they feel ‘misled’ knowing providers can use these certificates to claim their energy tariffs as ‘renewable’.
Good Energy is calling for half-hourly matching data to become standard across the energy industry – to bring much greater transparency on how energy companies make renewable energy claims.
The research, conducted with Censuswide, shows the scale to which UK consumers feel ‘misled’ by energy suppliers. It also shows:
- Almost one-third (32%) of UK consumers are currently on a renewable energy tariff.
- Young people show a greater interest in renewable power than their older peers, as 44% of those who said they were on renewable tariffs were aged 18-24, while just 26% were aged 45+.
- Almost one-fifth (18%) admit that knowing that renewable tariff claims can be made using offsetting methods they would actually be less likely to switch to a renewable energy tariff.
Fran Woodward, Managing Director of Supply at Good Energy, said: “For too long, energy companies have been allowed to make vague and misleading 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.”
Fran continued: “Millions of well-meaning households are choosing renewable energy tariffs – but using the label ‘renewable’ doesn’t mean that renewable electricity is actually being generated to match demand. This is unacceptable and must change.
“At Good Energy, we’ve long believed that consumers deserve greater transparency about where their electricity comes from. That’s why we believe suppliers should provide transparent, half-hourly matching data – rather than relying on annual balancing, which can mask huge differences between their claims and the reality.”
Good Energy is now inviting UK consumers to check their own provider’s renewable claims with the launch of a new ‘Renewable Reality Check’ calculator. To use the calculator and find out how closely your energy supplier is generating renewable power to match demand, visit https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/renewable-reality-check/
