News / bristol energy
Bristol set to launch energy company
Pioneering plans to establish a municipal energy company look set to be given the go ahead. If approved by Bristol City Council, the company will look to launch this summer during Bristol’s European Green Capital year.
Bristol is one of the first local authorities in the UK to look into municipal energy supply. The company would be wholly owned by the council and offer people a “viable, trusted and accountable local energy company”.
Bill Edrich, director of the council’s Energy Service, said: “We’ve been developing plans to launch a different type of Energy Company in Bristol and one which would deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.
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“Customers would be guaranteed competitive, fair and simple energy tariffs with any profits reinvested back into local communities.
He added that the company would also provide low carbon electricity and invest in clean energy across the south west to make the UK’s energy supply more sustainable.
The company would create a number of new jobs in the city, especially in the energy and sustainability sectors.
The council is also developing plans for district heating networks – a system of underground pipes that supply cheaper, lower carbon heat to businesses and public sector organisations.
Funding for the company comes from the European Investment Bank and the company model is based on European models from Germany and Scandinavia where a number of successful municipal energy companies operate.
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