From the Birmingham Mail:
BIRMINGHAM City Council is hoping to slash gas and electric bills for householders and businesses by setting up its own energy supply business.
The local authority wants to use its clout as a wholesale energy buyer and solar power generator to offer gas and electric to the city’s 440,000 homes and 50,000 businesses at a cheaper rate…
The council wants to capitalise on a freeing up of the energy market announced by energy secretary Chris Huhne at last week’s Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham…
The city council’s deputy leader Paul Tilsley is taking up the initiative with a scheme to challenge the might of the current big six suppliers: British Gas, e.on Energy, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, npower and Scottish & Southern Energy.
Coun Tilsley (Lib Dem, Sheldon) said: “The citizens and businesses of Birmingham all buy their energy off retailers, not manufacturers of energy.
“With that kind of market there is an opportunity for Birmingham City Council, which is a major wholesale purchaser of energy, to sell some on. We can buy it in bulk.”


