Revision of Guidelines on Green Supply Offerings - Consultation Document

Following consultation, Ofgem issued Guidelines on Green Supply Offerings in the domestic electricity market in April 2002 (the 2002 Guidelines). The 2002 Guidelines set out objective criteria for the use of environmental or green claims in the description and marketing of electricity by suppliers.Since 2002 there have been a number of developments that affect green supply offerings. These include: the decision of the Energy Saving Trust to discontinue the Future Energy Scheme; experience of three years of operation of the Renewables Obligation; the introduction of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin; the requirement for electricity suppliers to disclose the fuels used to generate the electricity they supply, and the growing importance of green supply for non-domestic consumers. The 2002 Guidelines are being reviewed in the light of these changes, the operation of the supply market in respect of green supply offerings, and the views expressed in the series of workshops organised by suppliers and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. This document includes a draft set of revised Guidelines and is actively seeking views on a number of aspects of the Guidelines. The following issues have been addressed in revising the Guidelines: scope of the Guidelines; supply in the commercial/industrial market; evidence of supply; links with fuel mix disclosure; definition, measurement and standard for additionality; third party accreditation, and enforcement.Ofgem invites views from interested parties on all aspects of the draft revised Guidelines. Final revised Guidelines will be issued later in 2005.