I am delighted that the pressure group Power for People has joined 187 MPs, including myself, to campaign for the Local Electricity Bill in Parliament. The Bill, once enacted, would help rebuild local economies whilst increasing clean energy generation and will create a new ‘Right to Local Supply’ of energy that would empower communities to sell locally generated electricity directly to neighbouring households and businesses. Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities which means money people use to pay their energy bills is not contributing to local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.
Power for People is calling for MPs and the government to make the Bill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations including Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB. 44 local authorities have also pledged their support. Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said, “We thank Kevin Hollinrake for supporting the Local Electricity Bill. If it becomes law the Bill would unleash the huge potential for new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs, services, and facilities in communities across the country.”
This new scheme could create a whole new market encouraging suppliers to bid competitively for this electricity, giving exporters the best market price whilst providing the local grid with more clean, green energy, unlocking greater choice and control for solar households over buying and selling their electricity. Low carbon electricity is central to the transition to the smart and flexible energy systems of the future. This is urgently needed given the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. I will do all I can to ensure it becomes law.”
