I am both a County Councillor and a Community Councillor.
Recently an organisation Power for People have asked our Community Council to support the Local Electricity Bill. This would enable Parish, Town or Community Councils to set up their own energy companies to sell locally generated renewable energy to local people. http://www.hawardencommunitycouncil.gov.uk/Hawarden-CC/UserFiles/Files/Item%209%20Local%20Electricity%20Bill.pdf
Whilst I can accept and understand that if our Community Council wished to install solar panels on our office (it is based in a small bungalow) we could sell the surplus electricity produced. However that would be into the network. It would, no doubt, be an interesting calculation to prove that this surplus electricity was actually consumed locally. The only other option would be to have our own network of distribution cables !
Or has the Director of the organisation who sent the email misunderstood how surplus electricity is sold? Certainly a council could sell waste heat. in the form of steam or hot water produced by a waste incinerator for local housing or perhaps a sports complex (I am thinking of a swimming pool etc) but for either there would have to be arrangements if no heat or too much available.
Clive
