Confused about where your power comes from? It’s no wonder. Electricity companies spend millions of dollars advertising a ‘clean and green’ image to convince people like you and me that they care about a sustainable future. Unlike Europe and the US, power companies in Australia have no obligation to tell us how our power is generated. Until now, these companies have been free to promote a ‘green’ image regardless of whether their power is generated from renewable energy or fossil fuels. Today we’re exposing the truth in our new Green Electricity Guide to inform Australians about which electricity companies really are as ‘green’ as they say they are. The big polluters won’t like it one bit, but it’s about time Australians knew the facts. Among the worst greenwash offenders are AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy. The ‘Dirty Three’ go to great efforts to advertise their ‘clean and green’ credentials but invest relatively little in renewables. Much worse, they control 77% of the household energy market. The ‘Dirty Three’ are also using their political muscle to try to dismantle the Renewable Energy Target. This means locking out solar and wind, and locking in higher household bills and climate change driving coal and gas power for decades to come. But we don’t have to be a part of their monopoly. We’ve created the Green Electricity Guide because as consumers we have a right to know where our electricity retailers stand on important issues. We’ve uncovered the truth on:
- whether they have invested in renewable energy
- whether they are supporting or undermining Australia’s Renewable Energy Target
- the pollution intensity of the assets they own
- whether they are actively investing in unconventional gas mining including coal seam gas
- whether they are committed to not buying electricity generated by burning native forest timber.
We’re no longer going to be misled by our national power companies’ dirty tactics or greenwashing. The Green Electricity Guide draws a line in the sand between companies which are working towards a renewable energy future and those which are desperately clinging to Australia’s old, coal-powered legacy. Let’s show ‘The Dirty Three’ that we won’t be complacent about their attempt to weaken Australia’s Renewable Energy Target by making the switch to a greener provider. Find your new energy provider in our guide today. If we work together to choose greener electricity this will have a domino effect on power companies, with potential to change the face of the entire electricity sector in Australia.