Labour-run Islington Council has launched Angelic Energy, London’s first municipal energy provider in more than a century. The move is the latest in the Council’s efforts to make Islington a fairer place for all by reducing inequality.
Angelic Energy is a not-for-profit energy company with no shareholder dividends or directors’ bonuses to pay. It will help residents in Islington and London with the rising cost of living by delivering a fairer and local solution to rising energy bills. Fuel poverty is a serious problem in the borough, with an increasing number of households being forced to choose between feeding their meters and their families.
Angelic Energy will be one of the best value on the market for Pay as You Go customers (those with a prepayment meter) who are particularly impacted by rising and unfair energy prices. Over 23,000 Islington households, including around 40 per cent of social housing, use prepayment meters. Those who have never switched or have not switched for a long time could save over £277* on average by moving to Angelic Energy.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, says: “”Under the Tories, energy bills have risen by 36 per cent above inflation. The rise in zero hour contracts, unfair benefit sanctions and benefit payment delays provide a real threat to the health of many Islington residents as they also struggle to heat their homes.
“Islington is the 24th most deprived local authority in England and has one of the biggest gaps between the wealthiest and poorest residents. By tackling the broken energy market and the Big Six, we can help thousands who are suffering.
“We are committed to making Islington a place where everyone can enjoy a good quality of life. The idea for Angelic Energy was born at an Islington Labour fringe event at Party Conference in 2014 and I am pleased that, by working together, we have brought it to life.”
Older people and social and private renters are the least likely to switch energy supplier, meaning they are paying well over the best deal. In many cases, they do not realise that this is an option. The Council will be working hard to reach out to and encourage them to switch to a better deal with Angelic Energy.
The Council is committed to tackling fuel poverty and cold, damp homes so that Islington residents do not have to endanger their health by choosing between heating and eating. Each year, dozens of people in Islington die and hundreds are admitted to hospital in emergencies due to winter conditions.
Angelic Energy’s energy is supplied by Robin Hood Energy, owned by Nottingham City Council, who have entered into a strategic partnership with Islington Council. The two Labour-run councils share many values and have formed this alliance to deliver fairer energy bills not just for Islington residents but all Londoners.
Islington residents and Londoners can visit the Angelic Energy website to find out more and get a quote.
*Based on the cheapest proposed Angelic Energy fixed tariff, compared to the mean average of the big six energy providers’ standard variable tariffs for a medium-use, duel fuel customer, paying by direct debit and receiving paperless billing, living in London, on 20 September 2017. Prices may change.
Pictured – Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, and Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council, at the launch of Angelic Energy