If you are concerned about the environmental effects of your energy usage and would like to ensure that at least some of the energy you use is derived from renewable sources, you may wish to choose a green energy supplier. Here is an overview of three of the top-rated green gas and electricity companies in the UK.

Good Energy

Good Energy was started by Juliet Davenport in 1999 as Unit[e]. Unit[e] launched its first share offering in 2002 and purchased Delabole wind farm in Cornwall. The company invested £11.8 million to more than double production capacity at this wind farm to 9,2 megawatts (MW). The project was completed in 2010.

Unit[e] changed its name to Good Energy in 2003. The following year, it launched its Good EnergyHomeGen programme, which pays small-scale generators of renewable electricity for the energy they produce. At present, more than 46,000 generators belong to Good Energy’s network.

Good Energy began to supply gas in 2008 and it now supplies gas to more than 8,500 households in the UK. It also has more than 32,000 electricity customers. Juliet Davenport continues to lead the company as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Good Energy plans to set up a combined solar and wind farm in Cornwall with an expected production capacity of 47 megawatts (MW). It has also received planning permission to build a new wind farm near Doncaster.

Good Energy received the highest customer satisfaction rating among 15 energy companies in a survey of 10,436 consumers carried out by the consumer organisation, Which?, in the autumn of 2012. Good Energy’s overall satisfaction rating was 85 per cent. The survey respondents were particularly pleased with Good Energy’s customer service and energy saving help and advice, giving both of these categories an overall rating of five out of five.

Ecotricity

Ecotricity was founded by Dale Vince OBE in 1996. It is a not-for-dividend company that invests all of its profits into the development of renewable energy in the UK.

In April 1996, Ecotricity became the first company to supply green electricity. It was produced from landfill gas and the Cheltenham and Gloucester College was Ecotricity’s first customer.

In 2000, Ecotricity was named as the sole supplier of electricity to the Millennium Dome in London. The building was powered by electricity produced from sewage. In the same year, Ecotricity gained another important new client – The Body Shop, supplying all of its UK outlets with green electricity. In 2001, Ecotricity built a wind turbine for the supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s, at the company’s distribution centre in Scotland.

Ecotricity began to supply homes with electricity in 2003. In 2010, Ecotricity extended its offering with the launch of its Green Gas tariff, making it possible for its customers to receive both green electricity and gas. Since then, Ecotricity’s customer base has grown to more than 74,000 customers.

Ecotricity has invested in the development of wind power, solar power and electric cars. It derives 64.3 per cent of its energy from renewable sources and 19.7 per cent from natural gas.

Ecotricity was ranked second in the Which? customer satisfaction survey with an overall rating of 80 per cent. Its customers were particularly pleased with its high level of customer care, which received a score of five out of five.

Ebico

Ebico is a not-for-profit energy company, set up in 1998. It supplies its customers with gas and electricity through a partnership with SSE. Ebico aims to make energy more affordable for UK households and works in partnership with housing organisations to help people to reduce their energy bills.

All of Ebico’s customers are charged the same rate. This is particularly helpful for people on pre-payment meters because they are often charged higher rates than those who receive bills. Ebico’s customers also do not pay standing charges or cancellation fees.

Ebico gains 49 per cent of its power from natural gas and a further 14 per cent from renewable sources.

In the Which? research, Ebico gained the third highest customer satisfaction rating of 76 percent.

When choosing a green energy supplier, it is important to take a number of factors into account. These include the proportion of energy generated from green or renewable sources, the satisfaction of current customers and the prices charged. You may also wish to consider other factors such as the company’s attitude to the development of the renewable energy industry in the UK.