The People’s Energy Company – a radical new approach

David and Karin

11 February 2017

David Pike, founder of Our Energy, explains...

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: We will give power back to 1 million UK citizens, literally! We want you to have ownership of energy company and profits returned to you.

How does Our Energy differ?

Large – often foreign owned – corporates have taken natural resources such as gas and electricity and are making large profits on them, leaving ordinary people to struggle with their monthly fuel bills. That isn’t right!

To us, the earth’s resources belong to us all and we should all benefit from them. That is why we are creating Our Energy – The People’s Energy Company:

  • Our Energy give you ownership through shares, free of charge, for as long as you are a customer
  • We give you 75% of the profits back. In seven years, that will rise to 100%.
  • We give you democratic influence through customer representation on the board and regular polls, e.g. on renewable energy investment decisions
  • And we promise full transparency – in decisions, our salaries, etc.

No more energy rip offs. No more hollow words about customer service – we are set up to put you first as you become the owners of the company, not some faceless and greedy shareholder…

Is Our Energy green?

Yes, we are very focused on renewable energy. Initially we will offer two options – ‘Lean’ and ‘Green’. ‘Lean’ is the cheapest available package for those who find the size of their bill a challenge. ‘Green’, on the other hand, is a fully renewable package. For people who want to go green but can’t afford it just now, they can choose ‘Lean’ for a period and in months when their bank balance is healthier they can then switch to ‘Green’. That’s flexible energy supply. A flexibility that you can’t get anywhere else.

Over time we also want to invest in renewable projects across the UK, allowing us to deliver electricity produced in the local community. You will have influence on which projects we invest in.

How can I switch to Our Energy?

Our Energy will launch in May. However, you can register to switch now, by contributing to our Crowdfunding campaign, with a small or a large sum – it’s up to you. All customers will be treated equally, irrespective of their pledge. And your pledge will be returned to you with interest, once we are up and running and have reached 20,000 customers. So, for example a £100 pledge will give you the equivalent of £125 back in free energy, £500 will give you £650 back, and so on. A couple of days ago a generous person pledged £5,000 with a promise of a further £5,000 once we are closer to our deadline, that will give them 16 years of free energy!

We are choosing to fund the company through crowdfunding rather than by investments from traditional investors, because we want you to own the company, not them! That means we need you to pledge and declare your intent to switch now, so we can establish this UK wide community energy project on your behalf, with a launch in May this year.

Our crowdfunding campaign closes by the end of next week and we will only get the money if we reach our target of £200K. In other words, our ability to launch your own energy company depends on you taking action on www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ourenergy now! We look forward to serving you as our customers and as one of many owners of the company!

David and Karin

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Comments

John Harwood replied on Permalink

This is great news, albeit long overdue. I hope other utilities and goods suppliers start to follow this trend too. We don't need somebody draining off profits from our misfortune. I have already left the big six in favour of a green supplier but I will check the rates from Our Energy as soon as they are available and I will be happy to support this movement.

IAN JONES replied on Permalink

I like your style!! I'm willing to give you a go with a £50 pledge and hope you all the very best in your endeavors to break the strangle hold on the energy market in this country.

Yinka oniru replied on Permalink

Just now watched Sky news and saw the interview regarding this company. I am fully in agreement with this movement and will happily pledge. My gas bill that was usually invoiced at a reasonable price of £300 to £400 every quarter, which was always invoiced at an actual read,has now misteriously gone up to £1000 every quarter. Bear in mind boiler always gets serviced yearly and nothing has changed in regarding cooking pattern, timer on central heating, etc.

Southern Gas has seriously gone bonkers!

PHILIP MCBRIDE replied on Permalink

very interested in your quest to help ordinary consumers like myself ,i will wait until i can see your rates and take it from there best of luck

Sarah replied on Permalink

Long overdue! I'm definitely on board. These money-sucking parasites will hear us loud and clear!

Kevin Smeaton replied on Permalink

What a great model. I am at a safe distance from the big 6 and have been for years I will be watching progress with a view to joining at some point.

John Thomas replied on Permalink

I'm interested but you need to consider whether renewables can keep the lights on. I want low/no carbon electricity, but wind turbines produce only around 30% of their full capacity, solar only 22%. That's due to the wind not blowing and the sun setting of course. When renewables are not producing, the lights can be kept on by burning fossil fuels or burning nuclear fuel.

Have a look at the live picture yourself, and click on the map of France to see a country that produces most of its electricity without emitting carbon.

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk

Andrew Kaye replied on Permalink

Hi.

It all looks a great idea in principle, but I would like to know what the actual tariffs are going to be as I am considering switching at the moment.

Thanks

Andrew

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