Energy giant says that from today all domestic customers will receive 100 per cent renewable power at no extra cost.
The green tariff market just welcomed a major new player, after energy giant E.ON announced all its tariffs have switched to 100 per cent renewable power as standard.
The company revealed today that it has moved all its 3.3 million residential customers to 100 per cent renewable electricity supplies, promising to ensure their power use is matched by wind, biomass, and solar supplies. The company said the move was the largest of its type to date in the UK and would be delivered at no extra cost to customers.
The move provides further evidence that renewable power, whether sourced directly or through proof of origin certificates, can be secured at little to no price premium compared to standard power from the grid.
Alongside the announcement, E.ON released the results of a YouGov survey of over 4,300 people which found growing consumer demand for clean energy tariffs.
The survey found 61 per cent of those not already on a renewable tariff would like to switch to green power if the move could be made at a “reasonable price”. Moreover, over three quarters said they were concerned about climate change and 79 per cent said they could do more to become more sustainable.
“Climate change is the defining issue of our era, and one that energy customers are increasingly concerned about,” said E.ON UK chief executive Michael Lewis. “We believe large-scale action can make significant change possible and we’re committed to playing a leading role and setting an example for others to follow, that’s why we’re providing all of our residential customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity as standard – a change at a scale never seen before in Britain.”
He added that the move was part of a wider push by the company to slash its emissions and expand its clean tech offerings. “Our announcement is an important first step in a journey towards a more sustainable and personalised energy system, but the future of energy doesn’t stop here,” he said. “The opportunities include helping all of our customers to better manage their energy through smart, personalised and sustainable technologies.”
The move comes just days after the company launched a range of new interest free financing options to help homeowners spread the cost of installing solar and storage systems. It also follows the announcements earlier this month that E.ON’s German operations have launched a new service to improve the energy efficiency of supermarkets and have agreed to acquire the biomethane arm of gas giant WINGAS.
The market for green tariffs has exploded in recent years, as specialists such as Ecotricity and Good Energy have expanded and mainstream energy suppliers have developed their own renewables offerings. ScottishPower last year became the first Big Six operator to unveil plans to shift to 100 per cent renewables generation with the sale of its gas operations to Drax.
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