Three of them have previously held the title. Octopus Energy is an Eco Provider for the first time this year.
Energy companies approach 'green energy' and sustainability very differently. Some have been supporting and generating renewable power for many years, some are helping customers cut their home's carbon footprint in more ways, and some are still doing surprisingly little towards decarbonising our energy grid. That makes it tricky to work out what impact your own energy tariff has.
So we've assessed energy companies on a range of sustainability criteria to see how they compare - and so you can find out how your provider stacks up.
With very little to choose from in terms of energy prices at the moment, it could be a good time to choose a provider with strong green credentials.
Find out more about the .Which? Eco Providers for 2023: 100 Green, Ecotricity, Good Energy and Octopus Energy
We assessed 17 energy firms on a range of sustainability criteria. We asked energy companies to answer a series of questions as well as looking for information on their websites.
Our Eco Providers all got close to full marks for buying and selling renewable power and score highly for generating renewable power or selling green gas.
Good EnergyOctopus Energy100GreenEcotricityThe table below shows how each company scored. Suppliers are included whether or not they make green claims to give you the full picture of the energy market. Companies which did not provide the information we requested could not be awarded points for it.
Swipe or scroll right to see the total score breakdown in full.
How we scored energy suppliers on sustainability
We requested information from 17 energy firms in August 2023, as much of the information required for our assessment was not publicly available. Points were awarded based on the responses companies gave to our questions and on information publically available on their websites, such as their annual Fuel Mix Disclosure (FMD).
Generating renewable power: Buying and selling renewable power: Carbon intense power: Green gas: Time of use (TOU) and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs: Low carbon installations: Transparency and clarity:Should you switch to a renewable energy tariff?
Three of our energy Eco Providers - 100Green, Ecotricity and Good Energy - are also the only three suppliers that are exempt from Ofgem's energy price cap. This is because of how much they invest in the growth of renewable energy. It means they can charge customers more than the price cap. That means you might find their rates are a little higher than you'd pay elsewhere. But if you're committed to investing in green energy generation, it's worth looking into how they operate.
Read more:Our fourth Eco Provider, Octopus Energy, has a variable tariff that is subject to the price cap. That means your rates are likely to be similar to those you'd pay elsewhere.
There are other suppliers in our table that aren't Eco Providers but do score highly for generating or buying and selling renewable electricity.
If you're able to make use of off-peak energy, particularly for charging an electric car or operating a heat pump, it's also worth comparing suppliers' rates and set ups for their specialist time of use tariffs, which may be able to save you money on your bils.
And if you have solar panels that generate extra electricity that you sell back to the grid, it's well worth making sure you compare the available rates for SEG tariffs.
Find out more about thesource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/which-eco-provider-energy-companies-revealed-for-2023-a9TV10S2OHel