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BRISTOL ENERGY
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What are the key things I need to know?
Bristol Energy offers gas and electricity for customers across Bristol, the South West and nationwide.
They say they are a force for social good. It champions social equality, local renewables and stronger communities. It does this by:
offering fair and transparent tariffs and helping customers to choose the tariff that suits them best- reinvesting in local communities by providing an innovative way to support Bristol City Council in its economic, social and environmental goals
- supporting and investing in local renewables to boost the local economy and giving its customers the chance to choose a greener energy supply.
As well as providing gas and electricity to homes, it also offers business tariffs for micro and SME businesses, both within the South West and nationally.
The History
Bristol Energy is one of the UK’s first municipal energy companies because it entirely owned by Bristol City Council. Its aim is to engage customers with an alternative way to buy their energy and offer electricity and gas at a fair price.
It is a company that hopes to make a positive impact on the city as well as its customers.
The company is developing partnerships with local people and organisations generating renewable energy. It offers competitive rates, flexible terms and excellent service for community groups, developers, asset managers and independent generators of all sizes (above 50kW), technologies and levels of export.
Ways to get in contact
To get in touch with Bristol Energy call 0808 281 2222. The lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Wednesday when they are open 9:00am to 4.45pm.
If you prefer to email, the email address is CustomerCare@bristol-energy.co.uk.
If you would like to write to them, the address is:
Customer Care Team
Bristol Energy & Technology Services (Supply) Limited
1 Temple Quay
Temple Back East
Bristol
BS1 6DZ
You can also visit in person at its Hub on the Harbourside in Bristol:
The Hub
Unit 5-6
1 Canon’s Road
Bristol
BS1 5UH
The Hub is the place to go for face-to-face customer service from the Bristol Energy team. There is also an event space which runs free, family-friendly activities and is the place to meet some of the Bristol organisations that Bristol Energy works with, including community groups, local organisations, charities and others that share its values.
Bristol Energy is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BristolEnergy/ and on Twitter at twitter.com/BristolEnergy.
What help can I get if I’m on a low income or in debt?
If you are struggling to pay your bill, Bristol Energy says to contact it as soon as possible so you can talk through the available options and agree the best plan of action for your particular circumstances. The options it can offer you are:
- deferring payment in the short term
- agreeing a debt repayment plan as instalments
- agreeing a regular instalment plan for future bills
- installing a prepayment meter, where it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so
- arranging for payment directly from benefits through the Fuel Direct Scheme where appropriate.
They suggest a range of ways you can reduce the amount of energy you use to help you save money on your bills. The everyday suggestions it makes include:
- turning off appliances at the socket rather than leaving them on standby
- not charging mobile phones or laptops unnecessarily
- turning down the heating by 1C and turning it down low if you’re away for a few days
- sealing floorboards and fixing sticky strips to your doors and windows to keep more warm air indoors
- washing your clothes at 30 degrees and drying your clothes on a line when you can.
The bigger fixes include:
- fitting double glazing
- replacing your boiler if it’s over ten years old
- installing heating controls
- choosing the most energy efficient versions of appliances such as cookers, fridges and washing machines
- insulating your home as well as possible.
For more detailed advice, Bristol Energy suggests contacting the following organisations:
- Energy Saving Trust: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
- National Energy Action: www.nea.org.uk
It also highlights organisations you might like to contact if you live in Bristol:
- The Centre for Sustainable Energy: www.cse.org.uk
- Warm Up Bristol: www.warmupbristol.co.uk
Are they part of the Warm Home Discount Scheme?
Yes, they are.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme gives eligible people a £140 discount on their electricity bill between October and April. The Warm Home Discount Scheme payment doesn’t affect your annual Winter Fuel Payment or any Cold Weather Payment you might receive.
Bristol Energy was one of the first suppliers to volunteer to offer the discount to its customers. Currently, only companies with more than 250,000 customers are obliged to join the Warm Home Discount scheme.
You are automatically eligible for the scheme if your energy company is a member of the scheme and you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. People who are on a low income or get certain means-tested benefits and have their electricity from suppliers who are part of the scheme may also be eligible. If you think you may qualify, you need to apply for the payment via your electricity supplier.
For more information on the Warm Home Discount Scheme you can visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/.
What fuel sources does they use?
Ofgem requires all electricity companies that have been operating for a year or more to tell their customers the fuel mix they use to generate their electricity. The company started in February 2016 so does not yet need to disclose its fuel mix.
What we do know is that Bristol Energy says it is committed to increasing the amount of green energy it provides across all its tariffs. It says it will always aim to supply more renewable energy than the average and if you are on its 100% renewable tariff, all your electricity will be from a renewable source. It buys renewable electricity from over 10 generators from a variety of sources including wind, hydro, solar and even bio-generation.
What are the current gas and electricity tariffs?
| Tariff Name | Variable Tariff | Fixed Rate Tariff | Exit Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Energy 1 Year Fix Issue 15 Paper Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| Bristol Energy 1 Year Fix Issue 15 Paperless Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| Bristol Energy 2 Year Fix Issue 2 Paper Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| Bristol Energy 2 Year Fix Issue 2 Paperless Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| Bristol Energy Standard Prepayment | Yes | No | No exit fees |
| My Bristol Tariff 1 Year Fix Issue 7 Paper Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| My Bristol Tariff 1 Year Fix Issue 7 Paperless Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| My Green Plus 1 Year Fix Issue 3 Paper Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| My Green Plus 1 Year Fix Issue 3 Paperless Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| My Local Tariff 1 Year Fix Issue 7 Paper Billing | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| My Local Tariff 1 Year Fix Issue 7 Paperless Bills | No | Yes | No exit fees |
| Standard Variable Tariff Paper Billing | No | No | No exit fees |
| Standard Variable Tariff Paper Billing | Yes | No | No exit fees |
| Standard Variable Tariff Paperless Billing | Yes | No | No exit fees |
| Standard Variable Tariff Paperless Billing | No | No | No exit fees |
Last Updated: 18/05/2018