Are Sainsbury’s mis-selling energy?
I was stopped in the bread aisle today by a nice lady who wanted me to switch my energy supply to Sainsbury’s. It’s a common thing in the UK and the energy companies are collectively known for the ethical standards they employ when selling their energy plans. It’s not a surprise so many of them sponsor weather bulletins — “Today’s weather is brought to you in association with Happy Energy, because we’re a shower of bastards.”
What’s interesting is the sales pitch that you get as you try and find a loaf. My energy supplier was recommended by Greenpeace. Generally that’s enough to persuade sales people from wasting my time. It’s growing less effective. I demurred saying that I didn’t want to sign anything because I was concerned that there was going to be a push for nuclear power and I’m not convinced it’s a good thing. Sainsbury’s, she assured me, had nothing to do with nuclear power. Sainsbury’s even sold a Green Energy plan.
Sainsbury’s don’t actually have their own power stations, they re-sell and right now they’re reselling for EDF. What was the news when I got home? French energy giant EDF has already said it plans to build four nuclear plants in the UK by 2017, without subsidies, following the government’s announcement. BBC News.
Nuclear power itself is not necessarily a deal killer for me, but being misled about it is. I’m also doubtful about the green nature of Sainsbury’s power. I’m sure they want to invest in renewable resources, but what is a renewable resource? Ask Lord Sainsbury. Lady O’Cathain offered me the opportunity of … agreeing that nuclear is a renewable source of energy — it clearly is so. The Times.
So was the nice lady mis-selling Sainsbury’s energy, or do they have a contract with EDF that the electrons they sell are driven by non-nuclear power?
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Just be grateful you’re not a Sainsbury’s chicken!