Utility Week

he name of Robin Hood Energy does not just refl ect its No ngham loca on, it also has an ethos and purpose that echo those of the City's most famous son – redistribu ng wealth from the rich (energy companies) to the poorest consumers. And not surprisingly, Gail Scholes, who created this fi rst local authority-owned energy operator, has an air of crusading zeal about her. "When the council gave the go-ahead in September 2014, one of the main objec ves was to help alleviate fuel poverty and vulnerability in the energy sector. When we launched in May 2015, we launched a prepayment tariff and we undercut the market by some £300 to £400," says the Robin Hood Energy chief execu ve. "At that me, prepayment tariff s were the most expensive tariff s on the market. That meant the most vulnerable and in need were being charged at the most expensive rate. "Not only did we benefi t the customers who were joining Robin Hood Energy at the me, but every prepayment customer across the East Midlands benefi ted from us being in the market, because other suppliers had to respond. So every customer got almost £200 knocked off their prepayment tariff as well." The ac ons of Robin Hood Energy were subsequently referenced in the Compe on and Markets Authority's (CMA's) inves ga on into the energy markets, resul ng in the prepayment price cap in April 2017. "It was a real feather in our cap, to think that we set up with a social value purpose and we've absolutely delivered on that." The idea to reduce energy bills was set in mo on by the Labour controlled authority a few years earlier. At the me, Scholes was director of energy at the council and was charged with coming up with a solu on for a cheap energy tariff . Her response was the idea of a licensed supply company. "From September to May, we'd found premises, we'd done a full procurement, we'd got systems on board, we'd gone out and recruited talent and we had our fi rst customer. So when most people say that local authori es CHANG E M A K E R S THE PUBLICLY OWNED ENERGY PIONEER In the run-up to U lity Week Live, we will be talking to a six people driving change across energy and water. Denise Chevin begins our series of 'change makers' with Gail Scholes, who started up the fi rst local authority energy company in England and whose ac ons have brought down bills for the poorest customers. "It was a real feather in our cap to set up with a social value purpose and we've absolutely delivered on that." II GAIL SCHOLES P R E S E N T S 26 | 1ST - 7TH FEBRUARY 2019 | UTILITY WEEK

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