Good Energy aims to boost customer uptake despite credit crunch

UK renewable energy supplier Good Energy has seen turnover increase 18 per cent in the first six months of the year from £6.3m to £7.5m, despite a slowdown in customer uptake attributed to the economic downturn.

The group saw customer numbers rise by 13 per cent from June 2007 to June 2008 – a slowdown from the 18 per cent rise in the previous year.

Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, chief executive Julie Davenport said that although the economic crisis was precipitating a short-term slowdown in the company's growth, customers looking to save money on energy bills would be attracted by new offers from the company.

"People don't tend to be as active in switching energy suppliers when the economy is bad, but our new dual fuel offering and an increase in marketing spend should help persuade more customers that we are an efficient option," she said.

The dual fuel offering - designed to take advantage of forthcoming government proposals around the Renewable Heat Obligation – will see the company paying homes for the extra heat they generate if they install biomass boilers or other micro-generation technologies.

Good Energy is market testing the offer with a view to offering it commercially in the next three months.

"Home heat generation provides security in people's energy supply as well as economy, and we're confident uptake will be strong," said Davenport. "We've already seen a 50 per cent increase in hits on that section of our web site."

The company also plans to diversify with the launch of a new online shop next Monday at www.goodenergyshop.co.uk. The shop will sell energy efficient light bulbs, energy monitors, carbon neutral hot tubs and micro-generation products.