Ofgem urged to audit green energy

Energywatch is ramping up its efforts to lobby the Government and Ofgem to introduce an accreditation scheme for green energy tariffs.

The independent gas and electricity watchdog has been pressing for the scheme behind the scenes, but is planning further activity in the run-up to the Energy Review.

It says the scheme would enable consumers to make more informed choices about the energy they buy.

Edward Reed, strategic development manager at Energywatch, says: “There is a very real need for a green tariffs accreditation system.

“We are seeing an increasing number of enquiries from consumers who cannot fathom if the extra they are willing to pay will make any difference.”

The consumer watchdog is calling for a system to audit energy providers every year or six months to check that they are delivering the green energy they claim to be.

Reed says the system would give consumers more choice and greater confidence while opening up the market, benefiting business and domestic consumers as well as suppliers. He believes most electricity providers support the idea.

A spokeswoman for Powergen, which offers green energy via its GreenPlan product, says it supports the idea in principle, as it would help consumers.

Reed explains that Ofgem has produced guidelines on green tariffs but has not updated them since The Renewables Obligation was introduced in 2002.