AN ENERGY campaign group has thanked the MP for Clwyd South for his support for their bid to bring in rules that create a right to a local supply of electricity.

Power for People thanked Simon Baynes after he backed new market rules for community renewable energy at a debate in Parliament last week to enable clean community energy generation.

Mr Baynes emphasised his support for community energy schemes in Wales and underlined his support for a proposed law, the Local Electricity Bill, which would create a ‘Right to Local Supply’.

Mr Baynes said: "A Right to Local Supply will empower and enable new community energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to local people which will accelerate our transition to clean energy and help strengthen local economies.

"The Local Electricity Bill would enshrine a Right to Local Supply in law and I will do all I can to ensure it succeeds.”

Power for People say this would empower community-owned energy companies to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and businesses and would improve competition, create skilled jobs and reduce customers’ utility bills, while helping to accelerate the construction of new clean energy infrastructure.

Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities.

Power for People, organisers of the campaign behind the proposal, say this means money that people pay their energy bills with is not helping to strengthen local economies and build clean energy infrastructure.

A cross-party group of 258 MPs backs the initiative, while 70 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales also support it together with 75 national organisations, including Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy England, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB.

Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said: “We thank Mr Baynes for supporting the Local Electricity Bill and for emphasising his support for community energy schemes in Wales and across the UK in the Parliamentary debate.

"If made law, the Bill would unlock the huge potential for community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local skilled jobs and economic activity in the communities of Clwyd South and beyond.

"We call on the government to support it.”