Bristol City Council’s plan to buy renewable energy directly from local community groups has hit a legal snag, delaying its implementation and adding to costs.
The council’s ‘sleeving’ arrangement aims to cut expenses by sourcing energy generated in Bristol, which is currently sold to the National Grid and repurchased at higher prices.
Helen Reed, head of City Leap client and energy service, said: “We’ve hit a few technical roadblocks while looking at how we get through the local generation element of the sleeving arrangements. We really want that locally generated electricity.”
The issue stems from national procurement rules, which prevent councils from limiting contracts to specific local bidders. This has delayed the deal, originally set for March 2025, by at least six months and added £643,000 to energy bills.
If completed, the deal would be worth £78m but cost the council just £33m, significantly reducing its current energy spending.
