Green Electricity Tariffs

The electricity grid network is supplied by power stations which are mostly fossil fuelled. However, there are now some smaller renewable power stations, which are also supplying electricity to the grid. A distinction can therefore be made between ‘green’ electricity, which is produced from renewable sources, and ’normal’ electricity, which is produced from fossil fuels.

Many electricity suppliers now offer customers a choice of purchasing either normal electricity or green electricity. There are two types of green electricity offerings from suppliers:

  1. Green tariff – if you choose a green tariff your supplier is obliged to source for you an amount equal to some or all of the electricity you consume from existing renewable energy sources e.g. wind farms. Your electricity supply is unaffected.
  2. Green funds – under this option you pay a premium on your electricity to contribute towards a fund that will be used to support the development of new renewable energy schemes. By contributing to the future development of renewable energy schemes, this option helps to alter the future energy mix away from fossil fuels, towards renewable sources.

For further information see The Energy Saving Trust’s factsheet on Green Electricity.

There are several useful comparison sites where you can compare the cost and features of green electricity tariffs including:

There are at least three companies based in the south west that provide green electricity tariffs. These companies are: