Our green initiatives
More information about the removal of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates and how we're still supporting the environment through our other initiatives.
What are REGOs and how are they used?
If you buy 'renewable' energy from an energy supplier, the electricity that goes to your home doesn't change. For example, if you live next to a gas power station, the electricity you get from your socket will likely come from that power station via the national grid.
So how can suppliers call their products renewable? For the majority of tariffs, this is where Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates come in. When energy is generated by a renewable source, such as hydro, solar or wind, the producer is given REGO certificates for this energy.
These REGOs are then sold on the open market and traded just like commodities - like natural gas, oil or gold. Energy suppliers record how much energy their customers on renewable-backed tariffs have used and buy the right number of REGOs to cover that energy usage, allowing them to call their products renewable.
Why are we removing REGOs?
Since the beginning of the energy crisis in autumn 2021, the cost of REGO certificates has significantly increased. To allow us to offer the best value energy deals on the market,
We've taken the decision to remove renewable energy from our Double Gold tariff.We're proud to have been awarded Best Value for Money at the Uswitch Energy Awards 2023, and we want to continue offering this great value to our customers.
Will we offer green products in the future?
Yes, we are currently working on an exciting new green product offering, launching early next year.
Other ways we’re helping to do our bit
Thousands of new branches
We plant a tree for every new customer who takes all of our services.That’s over 174,000 trees in the UW Woodland, or bigger than an area the size of 73 Wembley pitches.Find out why it matters by clicking the button below.
Standing up for the natural world
Since 2020, our tree planting projects have been supporting habitat creation initiatives that support and restore biodiversity in the UK.
And through our partnership with The Wildlife Trusts we can extend that positive impact to nature much more widely - making local areas wilder.
We install free smart meters
Smart meters can help you and Great Britain control energy usage, leading to a cleaner and more efficient energy system.
If we all used one, the CO2 savings Britain could make would be equivalent to the savings made by around 70 million trees+. Now that's a lot of trees…
They've also paved the way for innovation, helping Britain introduce new technologies. Plus, smart meters are helping UW provide you with exciting new services and even more savings.
Be part of our Big Upgrade. Book a free smart meter installation today.