The Co-operative Energy

Co-operative Energy Limited
Business of an Industrial and Provident Society, registered under the Companies Acts
Industry Public Utility
Founded 2010
Products Gas and electricity supply
Parent The Midcounties Co-operative
Website www.cooperativeenergy.coop

The Co-operative Energy is a British energy supply company based in Warwick that began trading in 2010. It is an alternative to the Big Six energy firms and, given that its parent is Midcounties Co-operative, it is the only co-operative supplier in the market.[1]

History

Co-operative Energy launched in 2010 as an alternative to the Big Six energy suppliers. Any member of the Midcounties Co-operative can share in the profits from The Co-operative Energy.

The company currently has three sites with one office in Warwick and two offices in Walsall.

In 2012, Co-operative Energy was awarded the Which Positive Change Award, which recognises a company that has made significant changes to give its customers a better deal.[2]

In 2014, User Chooser was launched by Co-operative Energy to allow customers to choose where their Electricity is sourced from.[3] This service won the EU Sustainable Energy Europe Award in 2015.[4]

In November 2016 Co-operative Energy announced that it will take on all 160,000 customers of collapsed firm GB Energy on their existing price tariff. Ofgem said it had chosen Co-operative Energy after "a competitive process to get the best deal possible". All GB Energy's staff are to be transferred on the same terms to Co-operative Energy.[5]

Controversies

A problematic upgrade to its online customer service and billing system in 2015 resulted in numerous problems and a large backlog in dealing with issues.[6] By the end of 2015 it was the most complained about utility company, measured in complaints per thousand customers.[7] By the end of 2016 these issues had been resolved and the company was paying out £1.8 million pounds in compensation to customers.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ www.electricityinfo.org
  2. ↑ "Winners of the Which? Awards 2012 are revealed - June - 2012 - Which? News". www.which.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  3. ↑ "Co-operative Energy looks to future with User Chooser". 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  4. ↑ "Co-operative Energy wins European award for empowering customers - Co-operative News". 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  5. ↑ "Co-op Energy to take on GB Energy customers". BBC News. 29 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Co-op Energy faces customer backlash following bungled system upgrade". Moneysavingexpert.com. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  7. ↑ "Co-op Energy: regulator sets sights on the new worst culprit for billing bungles". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Co-operative Energy to pay £1.8 million compensation to customers over service". The Evening Express. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.