Islington Council has partnered with Robin Hood Energy to launch London’s first municipal energy provider in more than a century.
The council yesterday announced the launch of Angelic Energy, a white label provider set up alongside the Robin Hood Energy supplier established by Nottingham City Council, with the aim of offering “fairer” gas and electricity prices to Greater London residents.
The not-for-profit supplier will offer energy solely within the borders of Greater London and says it could save Londoners as much as £277 per year, addressing what the council has labelled a “stark inequality” faced by customers placed on pay as you go meters.
“For years, inflated energy prices have forced thousands of people across London into fuel poverty, with catastrophic consequences for their health and quality of life. Too many are forced to face the question ‘heat or eat?’” Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport at Islington Council, said.
“With Angelic Energy, Islington is leading by example in London, taking practical steps to drive down fuel poverty and encouraging people to make the big switch.”
Islington becomes the latest council in the UK to launch an independent energy supplier, following the trend set by the likes of Nottingham and Bristol councils which have done similar to, at least in part, fight localised fuel poverty.
The London borough has also beaten its capital rival ‘Energy for Londoners’ (EfL) to the market. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan included a pledge to launch an independently-owned energy supplier within his mayoral manifesto last year, but has since been accused of watering down his vision and opting for a white label supply partnership, much like Angelic Energy’s, instead.
The move was however backed by the capital’s deputy mayor for energy and the environment Shirley Rodrigues who said the white label partnership would see Londoners benefit quicker.
The original aim for EfL was to establish a bespoke supplier within the capital that would purchase surplus renewable generation and sell it to London’s businesses and homes, which would both deliver cheaper, cleaner electricity and support flagging renewables development. However the white label partnership will now merely see residents purchase energy from an existing supplier under a white label deal.
Angelic Energy is to act in a similar fashion and, according to Robin Hood Energy’s most recent fuel mix disclosure, around 30% of its power supply will derive from renewable sources.
Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council and board member at Angelic Energy, said: “We are pleased to be in partnership with Islington Council in launching Angelic Energy. Our company ethos and values are similar and like Angelic Energy our aim is very much about helping people move out of fuel poverty.”
Clean Energy News’ local authority expert Stephen Cirell has written extensively on the subject of local ESCOs and white label opportunities, including this blog from earlier this year.