Good Energy first supplier awarded ‘Gold’ in Uswitch new green tariff accreditation scheme

Good Energy, the UK’s first 100% renewable electricity company, is now the first to be awarded the highest standard on a groundbreaking new green accreditation scheme for energy tariffs. Launched today, the ‘first of its kind’ scheme from a comparison and switching site categorises green energy tariffs into Bronze, Silver and Gold, with Good Energy the only supplier awarded Gold.

The energy company has long been vocal about greenwashing in the energy industry, calling out the practice of using cheap certificates, called REGOs or GoOs, to label fossil fuel and nuclear power as renewable and mis-sell it to customers as ‘100% renewable’.

Juliet Davenport, Founder and CEO of Good Energy, said “This is a watershed moment for transparency around green tariffs. For years now energy suppliers have been able to mis-lead customers who are trying to do the right thing in choosing green. So it’s brilliant to see Uswitch take action, and do it in the right way by asking independent experts. We hope to see other comparison and switch services follow suit.

“The UK cannot achieve net zero without bringing everyone along, and being dishonest with the very people trying to help is not the way to go about that. In order to build a greener future together, we have to give people the facts about the renewable choices they are making.”

The Uswitch Green Accreditation aims to provide transparency to customers looking to switch to a green tariff. Research from the comparison service found that whilst a third of households are now on a ‘green’ tariff, more than half (52%) of UK consumers are confused about what actually makes up the many ‘green’ deals on the market.

Criteria verified by an independent panel of experts require Gold standard tariffs to be backed with 100% renewable electricity purchased from renewable generators direct, and 10% of green gas. Good Energy, which is also rated ‘excellent’ on customer service reviews site Trustpilot, was awarded the standard for all tariffs it submitted.

For more information on the new Uswitch Green Accreditation, see the Uswitch news release and information page.