Some bad news for Australia's only member-owned electricity co-op, Cooperative Power.
Cooperative Power was set up by Friends of the Earth Melbourne, in partnership with a range of trade unions and non-profits.
The idea is that you pay a monthly membership fee to cover the co-op's running costs. In exchange you get co-ownership in the co-op, and get to buy power at wholesale price.
It also supports its members moving to renewables.
More background info about the co-op here: https://www.cooperativepower.org.au/about-us/
The wholesale power was supplied by an independent energy company called Energy Locals.
Unfortunately, Origin Energy was allowed to buy out Energy Locals, further consolidating the industry into a smaller corporate oligopoly.
Here's the statement:
"We, CoPower, are dismayed that Origin Energy has acquired Energy Locals (our energy partner that allows us to sell electricity).
"Because of this acquisition of our energy partner, we are urgently in pursuit of a new energy partner that shares our values and with which we will launch a bigger, better and more resilient CoPower 2.0. This month we are opening a tender for a new white-label product partnership.
"Please note: your energy supply will not be interrupted or changed.
"As with everything we do, it’s thanks to you and the thousands of our customer members who have joined together through our cooperative to stand up for fair energy, climate justice and a member-owned and run alternative to for-profit electricity companies. Thank you for your ongoing trust in us and in our common mission.
"The good news is that if you do nothing you will stay with CoPower and the revenue from being with us will go to help create CoPower 2.0. This support will help us make CoPower 2.0 bigger, better and more resilient and to maintain our fight for fair energy for the benefit of people and the planet, which is more important now than ever.
"We are asking you, our community, to pledge your support and help us build momentum for CoPower 2.0 and show that you support us, our values and mission of fighting to take the power back for fair energy that benefits people and planet."
https://www.cooperativepower.org.au/take-our-pledge-mobile/
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