§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure an accreditation scheme is in place for green tariffs for domestic electricity customers; and if she will make a statement. [122219]
§ Mr. TimmsAt the moment there is no government-sponsored accreditation scheme in place for green tariff offerings from electricity suppliers, although in the past that function has been fulfilled by the DTI-accredited and Energy Saving Trust run scheme "Future Energy".
Since the introduction of the Renewables Obligation (and associated Renewables Obligation Scotland), all licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain are required to supply a specified and growing proportion of their supplies from eligible renewable sources, with the ultimate aim of achieving 10 per cent. by 2010. With the introduction of the Renewables Obligation, it is important that electricity consumers are given clear information about "green" electricity schemes. Both the industry regulator, Ofgem, and Energywatch, the statutory consumer body for the industry, have parts to play in this area. In April 2002, Ofgem issued guidance for those offering green tariffs, aimed to ensure that they genuinely involve the purchase of renewable energy beyond what suppliers would purchase in any case to meet the requirements of the Renewables Obligation.
Energywatch also has a specific duty to advise members of the public with concerns about green energy schemes.
As of 23 October 2003, consumers and generators will have access to a further source of confidence in the "greenness" of electricity—Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin Certificates (REGOs). The Department is currently consulting on the mechanisms for implementing Article 5 of EC Directive 2001/77/EC 73W on the promotion of electricity from renewable sources. This particular Article allows all generators of electricity from renewable sources, regardless of size and potential output capacity, to be provided, on request, with a Guarantee of Origin for their electricity. Ofgem will be responsible for administering the electronic certification system in Great Britain, and R EGOS will be accepted in other EU member states, thus creating EU-wide assurance in any green electricity offerings.