Archived decisions

Contact: Tony Stephens, ext 6938

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the County Surveyor be permitted to accept a 95% brown/5% green energy mix for the unmetered electricity supply contract rather than the 99% brown/1% green mix agreed by the former Planning and Transportation Resources Sub-Committee on 15 January 2001.

2. Reason

2.1 The proposed acquisition of a higher proportion of `green' energy would be a positive move towards achieving the County Council aim of Stewardship of the Environment, as well as increasing the percentage of `green' energy towards the 2010 target.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Remaining with brown energy, although a cheaper option, is not in line with the environmental aims of the County Council.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation - Not applicable.

6. Reason for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 On 15 January 2001 the former Planning and Transportation Resources Sub-Committee resolved that the County Council would aim to achieve a 90% brown/10% green energy mix for street lighting by 2010. This would be achieved by incremental steps from April 2002, starting with a 99% brown/1% green mix followed by an increase to 2% green in April 2003.

8. Central Buying Consortium (CBC)

8.1 In the pursuit of Best Value for energy purchase it was agreed to join with CBC in its first attempt to obtain a competitive unmetered energy price for a group of local authorities, which with sufficient electrical load, ie in the order of 30 megawatts, could influence the rates offered. This was successful to a large extent and the County Council has a new energy supplier for its unmetered energy from April 2002 in Scottish and Southern Energy (S&SE). An energy mix of 99% brown/1% green can be provided over the next two financial years, as agreed by Committee, for the initial sum of £1,665,593 per annum.

8.2 However, S&SE also offered a rate, fixed for two years, to provide an energy mix of 95% brown/5% green which, at £1,638,504 per annum, would decrease the County Council's unmetered energy costs by £27,089 per annum. This would further assist the County Council in meeting its 2010 green energy target by April 2002.

6676/ALS