Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 22ND - 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 | 15 Policy & Regulation "It would focus consumers' minds if the government forced every supplier to off er at least one renewable energy tariff ." Opinion Steven Day, co-founder, Pure Planet E ach year of Pure Planet's young life, we've com- missioned a piece of nationwide research that asks the British public about their attitudes to energy and the environment. We call it the People and Power report because we want to learn about how energy consumers relate to the environment through their energy choices and con- sumption behaviours. Increasing publicity about our planet's problems – thank you, Sir David Attenborough – means sustainabil- ity is now higher up the public's agenda (even if they don't call it "sustainability" yet). It's not just consumers who are concerned with our environment. The government introduced the Climate Change Act a decade ago; we've got a national carbon budget; and along with most of the rest of the world we've signed the Paris Climate Agreement. Our most recent People and Power survey threw up an interesting thought-provoker to this question: "Which steps do you currently take in your home to protect the environment?" Recycling at 79 per cent was number one. Using a reusable water bottle (50 per cent) and boycott- ing plastic straws (49 per cent) were higher up the table this year. But those saying they were choosing renewable energy to power their home was only at 14 per cent. Not only do each of the higher- scoring sustainable habits o– en require a daily e— ort to maintain, whereas one simple switch to a clean energy supplier makes you a carbon- cutter all year round, it was obvious that the eco-friendly practices we tend to embrace more readily are the ones which are, or will soon be, regu- lated. So, here's the thought: why isn't renewable energy regulated better? I don't mean gen- eration, or the rules govern- ing solar panel roofs. I mean how renewable energy tari— s are o— ered by suppliers. Why, for example, isn't every supplier made to o— er a green choice as part of its portfolio, to help combat climate change? It's a counter-intuitive suggestion, perhaps, from someone whose business relies – to some degree – on o— ering a competitive green tari— . But think about it. We all know that we need to do much more to help tackle the climate crisis. We all know that we need to act quickly to get to a low-carbon economy. Scientists have warned us o– en enough. We have to be carbon net neutral by 2050 to stay within 1.5 degrees. Yet we as Brit- ish consumers are slow to choose a green tari— to supply our homes. Research by Uswitch found that half of the cheapest tari— s on the market in 2018 were renewable, yet just 13 per cent of households in the UK are on a green tari— . Price alone, it seems, is not enough. And while the regulator is happy to intervene in the consumer marketplace with retail price caps, Ofgem and the government should insist that all suppliers provide a green tari— choice within their portfolios. Don't get me wrong. At Pure Planet, we're free marketeers. We believe in entrepreneurial innovation ahead of regulation. But e— ecting a change in human behaviour is hard. There's no doubt that in the need to do the right thing a little nudge can help – whether that's through an incentive, regulation, or government intervention. Forcing all ¡ rms to o— er a renewable option would help focus the minds of consumers on cleaner energy. Such a move would bene¡ t householders and reward suppliers who innovate and promote the sustainable bene¡ ts of renewable energy. It would also boost invest- ment in related industries, such as battery storage and electric vehicles, all of which will become commonplace in our lifetime. And it would accelerate the roll out of more much-needed renewable generation. As an industry, we know energy is vital to life. And we also know the damage that carbon dioxide is doing to our world. So we have an urgent and fundamen- tal duty to look a– er the health of all people and of our¢planet. That's why, given domestic energy's 17 per cent contribution to the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, we believe it's time for regulators to make a meaningful move to support renewable energy tari— s. Ensure all energy suppliers do the right thing and o— er at least one 100 per cent renewable tari— to British consumers.

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