Green power ratings guide consumers

Adelaide Advertiser
Wednesday 15/11/2006 Page: 26

SOLAR and wind power offered by Origin and TRUenergy has been rated the best electricity Australian consumers can buy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a new report shows.

Green Electricity Watch 2006 was launched by the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF-Australia and the Total Environment Centre yesterday to encourage consumers to switch to power retailers that produce the least amount of pollution.

It states at least 25 per cent of electricity will need to be sourced from renewable energy by 2020 to help avoid climate change. The report claims this would only be achieved if more people bought green power provided by retailers.

The three environment groups rated 14 electricity retailers on how environmentally friendly the power is and how much the company had increased the uptake of green power.

Origin's GreenEarth Solar and GreenEarth Wind, along with TRUenergy Wind Power Pty Ltd, were given the maximum rating of four stars. AGL's Green Energy program rated fourth and was given a three-star rating.

Australian Conservation Foundation sustainability program manager Monica Richter said electricity consumption was the biggest cause of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 35 per cent of emissions.

"By buying electricity with the highest amount of green power, we help boost the demand for clean, renewable energy, which immediately cuts our own greenhouse gas emissions," she said. "It is the best way individuals can contribute to reducing Australia's greenhouse pollution." Australians source 92 per cent of electricity from fossil fuels, such as burning coal.

A website, www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au, has been launched to help consumers choose which green energy plan is available to them and how it compares to other companies.