The Greater London Authority (GLA) will seek an existing supplier to deliver its Energy For Londoners supply company, although the mayor has not ruled out starting a fully licensed supply company in the future.
In its new Draft London Environment Strategy, the GLA said said the mayor will “tender for the delivery of an energy supply company, aiming to offer fairer energy bills to Londoners as soon as possible”. The GLA has been considering its options for delivering Sadiq Khan’s election pledge to establish a not-for-profit company providing a range of energy services. The new strategy said: “In light of changing market conditions and uncertainty in national policy, the mayor aims to start a scheme using an existing supplier. This will allow Londoners to have fairer energy bills sooner. The option to move to a fully licensed supply company will kept under review in light of changes in the market and clarification of national policy, as well as the progression of the Licence Lite project.”
The GLA said the Energy for Londoners programme would also:
- accelerate the retrofitting of buildings, while encouraging energy demand reduction and energy management practices, smart meter roll-out and demand side management
- decarbonise London’s energy supply by developing and delivering decentralised energy, renewable generation, especially solar, community energy programmes
- protect the most vulnerable and tackle fuel poverty
- attract finance for energy efficiency and renewable energy
The consultation on the draft strategy is open until 17 November 2017. To comment on the strategy, click here.
Cllr Julian Bell, chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “I welcome the London Environment Strategy’s ambition for the capital to become a zero carbon city by 2050 and the acknowledgement of the role of other strategies, such as the mayor’s Transport Strategy and London Plan within it. I look forward to reviewing the full strategy to ensure the role of the boroughs in improving London’s environment is reflected throughout.
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