Power sharing

OLDHAM Council should supply energy to its residents, say local Liberal Democrats.

The party has written to Labour leaders to ask whether Oldham could follow in the footsteps of Plymouth and generate power from solar farms and wind turbines on council-owned land.

Last month Plymouth Council signed the first ground-breaking deal with independent supplier Ovo Energy to provide energy to local residents.

Councillor Derek Heffernan said: “The idea that our council should supply electricity and gas is one that we should wholeheartedly embrace. Not only will it generate income for the council, but such deals could cut at least £100 from a customer’s average dual-fuel bill.”

Ovo believes up to a million customers could be suppied over the next few years by councils establishing themselves as fuel middle-men.

Councillor Heffernan added: “It would be great if some of the electricity supplied could be home-grown, generated by solar farms or wind turbines on council-owned land or from solar panels on top of council buildings.”