East Lothian energy firm to offer cut-price people power

● Tie-up between local council and People’s Energy ● Energy from 100% renewable power sources

East Lothian Council has joined forces with social enterprise People’s Energy to offer “affordable, sustainable and fair energy” for residents in the region.

The collaboration is part of the community interest energy supplier’s commitment to ending fuel poverty.

New venture East Lothian Energy promises to supply local consumers with electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources.

It will offer a special variable and fixed tariff that is discounted from its regular tariffs and available exclusively to East Lothian residents. This could equate to potential savings of up to £200 annually compared with the current energy price cap, People’s Energy noted.

East Lothian Energy customers also stand to benefit from automatic People’s Energy membership which includes a pledge to pay back 75 per cent of profits to all domestic customers through an annual rebate.

Launching the new venture, David Pike, chief executive and co-founder of People’s Energy, said: “Within East Lothian, it is estimated that almost a quarter of households are living in fuel poverty, equating to 13,500 homes. With this new affordable tariff for East Lothian residents, we have the potential to reduce the fuel poverty gap in the area quite considerably.

“People’s Energy is a social enterprise that puts people and the planet before profits. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner with East Lothian Council to help make a positive change in the same area where People’s Energy first started three years ago.

“This collaboration with East Lothian Council is one of many steps we are taking to help eradicate fuel poverty and we would welcome other local authorities looking to do the same to get in touch.”

Councillor Norman Hampshire said: “East Lothian Energy gives county residents the exclusive opportunity to purchase affordable, sustainable and fair energy. We hope this will be attractive to householders across a mix of tenures – including tenants and homeowners.

“As well as saving money and helping to reduce fuel poverty, East Lothian Energy is a great way of enabling customers to support the environment and tackling climate change – a key priority for us as a council. That is because all of the electricity comes from 100 per cent renewable sources.

“East Lothian Energy customers will receive automatic People’s Energy membership – with 75 per cent of their profits being paid back to domestic members through an annual rebate.”

People’s Energy was founded by husband and wife team David Pike and Karin Sode in 2017 after they became frustrated with the lack of transparent energy suppliers.