Greens propose progressive energy tariff

Opposition party also calls for the Big Six’s “monopoly” to be broken up

Small consumers would pay less per unit than large energy users under a progressive energy tariff proposed by the Green Party in its general election manifesto.

The party’s policy platform for the general election, which also calls for the Big Six’s “monopoly’” to be broken up, was published this morning,

Under the progressive tariffs, it says small consumers would pay less per unit than large ones, people would not cut off when they cannot afford to pay, and nobody would be forced to have pre-payment meters.

The Greens echo Labour by promising to establish democratic, locally owned suppliers that would end the monopoly of the Big Six.

They would also require grid operators to give priority access to community energy projects, and help local communities to create energy and municipal heating projects in “every town and city”.

But the Greens broke ranks with the other Westminster parties by promising to cancel the contracts for Hinkley Point C and to scrap plans for all other new nuclear power stations.

The Greens would use the savings from the nuclear programme, which they estimate would be worth £37bn from not going ahead with Hinkley alone, to invest in renewable energy, a flexible grid, and interconnectors with the rest of Europe.

The Green manifesto proposes introducing new support for onshore wind and solar-photovoltaics; increasing investment in offshore wind and marine renewables and a comprehensive plan to decarbonise heat, including pilot residential and commercial projects.

The phase-out date for coal would be brought forward to 2023, all fossil fuel subsidies ended and fracking banned under Green plans.

And a new Green Investment and Innovation Centre, which would have borrowing powers to help finance the transition to a zero-carbon economy, would be set up to replace the recently privatised UK Green Investment Bank.