In response to today’s Budget, Juliet Davenport, CEO of 100% renewable electricity supplier Good Energy, comments on four specific points:

1.       Page 56 - Capital allowances for microgeneration: Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives

Juliet Davenport says: “It’s great news that the Government is going to look at tax breaks for microgeneration equipment through a consultation on capital allowances which should help reduce the upfront costs, and  ensure more people can benefit from schemes such as the Feed-in Tariff and the Renewable Heat Incentive.”

2.       Page 82 - The Government’s introduction of a new framework to cap the impact of levy-funded support on energy bills covering policies such as Feed-in Tariffs

Juliet Davenport says: “However, in introducing a new cost framework for schemes like the Feed-in Tariff, we’re disappointed that the Treasury has taken the view that those schemes are a burden to the consumer; Feed-in Tariffs are a great way of helping families and businesses reduce their electricity bills by giving them more control of their energy use. Whatever framework the Government is now proposing should take this into account.”

3.       Page 33 – Green Investment Bank

Juliet Davenport says: “It’s good to hear that the Green Investment Bank will be a proper bank, rather than just another body dishing out funding. But whilst everyone is talking about how it will finance bigger projects, it’s vital that it supports smaller energy schemes too - the Government needs to do a lot more to encourage decentralised energy if it’s going to hit its 2020 renewables targets, and so the GIB needs to make sure that borrowing costs for households and communities will be lower.”

4.       Page 32 – Carbon Price

Juliet Davenport says: “The announcement of a carbon price floor should underpin the renewables sector but it won’t do much drive new investment, which will still be reliant on Feed-in Tariff and ROCs.”

For further information, please e-mail or call:

• Stephanie Blott 0207 618 9137 or e-mail: goodenergy@luther.co.uk
• Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall: 01249 767482  or e-mail: Sophy@goodenergy.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• Good Energy is unique in the electricity supply industry by selling only 100% renewable electricity. Its standard electricity tariff is certified under the independent Green Energy Supply Scheme. To compare the fuel mix of other suppliers please visit: www.electricityinfo.org/suppliers.php  
• More than 26,000 homes and businesses across the UK have switched to Good Energy.
• Good Energy supports a pioneering community of more than 1,700 independent renewable generators that use wind, small-scale hydro, solar power and sustainable biomass to generate homegrown energy.
• The Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme ensures that a minimum of 50kg of CO₂ is abated for each customer each year. Good Energy has chosen to do this through investment in renewable heat projects that benefit local communities.
• In February 2011 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, opened the newly repowered Delabole wind farm in North Cornwall, owned and operated by Good Energy, which invested £11.8 million to repower it. The 10 original turbines were replaced with four more powerful ones with the combined capacity of 9.2MW, enough to supply around 7,000 homes - more than double the previous output.  
• Good Energy has been named Best Buy for green electricity by Ethical Consumer magazine and came top of a recent Which? survey on customer satisfaction in the utility industry.
• Good Energy has won numerous awards including, most recently: West of England Business of the Year 2009; Sunday Times Green Company 2009; Observer Ethical Award for best online retail initiative 2009; and Juliet Davenport won PLUS markets CEO of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
• The Good Energy Shop helps customers reduce their energy use and costs and sells energy efficient products for low-carbon living. http://www.goodenergyshop.co.uk/