BIG NEWS: Local energy market rules clarification - public consultation due in July
For the last few months, we’ve been campaigning for a modification to the rules on how electricity is traded locally – and we have news! The public consultation will now be taking place in July.
The P441 modification to the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) will clarify and simplify the rules for local energy markets and enable some larger renewable generators to join these arrangements, bringing the benefits to many more communities and households.
This month, the P441 working group (convened by Elexon, which oversees the BSC) unanimously passed an initial vote on the modification, which will now go out to public consultation.
We’ll be in touch closer to the time with more details on how we’re responding to the consultation and how you can too.
In the meantime, you can read more here on why P441 matters and what difference it could make to communities, and thank you to all those who have already written to their MP about this.
Energy Local Totnes features on BBC’s The One Show
Congratulations to Energy Local Totnes in Devon whose incredible efforts were recently featured on BBC One’s The One Show.
Environmental journalist Lucy Siegle presented the report for the episode aired on 3 June 2025, which you can view here.
The Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) has worked hard to put the club in place using its hydro scheme on the River Dart. Our partner supplier 100Green is providing additional (100% green) power from elsewhere when needed, and buys any unused surplus energy from TRESOC’s hydro plant.
The club is also planning to include solar installations to generate local energy in different weather conditions and is on track to help hundreds of households enjoy cheaper electricity.
Sunniest, warmest Spring on record points to need for multiple energy sources
Many of us will have been enjoying this year’s sunny weather but there are far reaching implications.
Across the Spring season of March, April and May, according to the Met Office, sunshine hours were 43% above average, while rainfall was around 40% below the long-term norm, even with the late May showers. By mid-May, the UK was on track for its driest spring in more than 100 years and even by the end of the month, the UK had still recorded its sixth driest Spring since records began in 1836.
Putting to one side the role of climate change in more erratic weather patterns and the implications for water supplies and agriculture, this warm, dry spring has focused our minds on the need for diverse electricity sources. The sunshine has been fantastic for solar energy generation, but literally left some hydro generators high and dry.
This underscores why a balanced, flexible mix of renewable technologies — solar, wind, hydro, and beyond — is essential for energy resilience and ensuring a stable clean power supply, whatever the weather.
This is true at a national and local level. In this spirit Energy Local is supporting several developing and active clubs, including Totnes, Settle, and Corwen Glyndwr, who will be combining hydro and solar to provide lots of local power at a good ‘match’ price throughout the year.