Energy firms urge customers to sign up to 10:10

Businesses are being urged by their energy suppliers to sign up to the high-profile 10:10 campaign, which was launched earlier today and aims to encourage individuals and firms to cut their carbon emissions by 10 per cent during 2010.

Four of the UK's largest energy firms – Centrica, EDF, E.ON and Scottish and Southern – have pledged their support to the campaign and vowed to help their domestic and corporate customers sign up to the 10:10 target.

E.ON was first out of the blocks today, launching a major new initiative that will see the company provide domestic and small business customers with a new energy-tracking service if they sign up to the 10:10 campaign.

The new Online Energy Tracker will provide users with a monthly update on their energy use and inform them whether they are on track to deliver a 10 per cent cut in emissions over the course of the year.

A spokeswoman for the company said that E.ON was also offering 30,000 free PowerDown devices capable of automatically turning off appliances left on standby to customers signing up to 10:10. In addition, customers signing up to specific tariffs would receive a free smart meter capable of tracking a building's energy use in real time.

She added that the company would provide further advice on how to deliver deeper emissions cuts to those customers that look as if they are going to miss the 10 per cent target, while larger firms interested in signing up to the 10:10 pledge would receive tailor-made support from E.ON through its business account managers.

"Delivering a 10 per cent cut in emissions within a year is a big challenge for a business, but it is doable," she said.

British Gas owner Centrica, EDF and Scottish and Southern are all expected to launch similar initiatives in the coming days as they attempt to encourage customers to sign up to the high-profile 10:10 campaign.

Meanwhile, the government also signaled its support for the new campaign, choosing today to launch the next phase of its domestic energy-efficiency programme.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said that today marked the launch of the government's Community Energy Saving Programme, which will see energy company’s invest around £350m over the next three years to deliver whole house and whole street energy makeovers to some of the UK's most deprived areas.

He added that the existing Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) scheme, which requires energy suppliers to fund household carbon reductions, had recently seen its target increased and reiterated government plans to trial a new “Pay As You Save” green home loan scheme.

Miliband also urged businesses and individuals to sign up to the 10:10 campaign, arguing that it would send a message to governments around the world that there is support for an international deal to combat climate change.

DECC said it was on track to cut its own emissions by 10 per cent by April next year based on its performance the previous year, while Miliband pointed out that under the UK's climate change bill emissions will be cut by at least a third by 2020.

However, the government has unsurprisingly stopped short of signing up wholesale to the ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 10 per cent during 2010.