A similar website service for household and business energy now helps people compare energy prices and features allowing them to decide which is the most appropriate service or product for them.

Establishing which is the cheapest, greenest or most suitable energy provider has always been tricky – particularly given the frequent rate of price change and the difficulty for example in establishing precisely how green an energy supplier is. The website uSwitch allows people to compare energy prices by entering their postcode and answering a few questions about their energy use. The website does not take an email address so it cannot spam you.

uSwitch uses data provided directly by suppliers. The prices are continuously monitored so they are up to date. The results table sets out more information than price. There is a ‘Green and Environmental Electricity’ column which tells you the environmental credentials of the product whilst at the same time allowing you to compare the product prices. The environmental policies or actions are set out in the table e.g. “all the electricity comes from the company’s own wind turbines“. There is also a customer rating column and consumer reviews which helps particularly when considering a less well know energy provider.

uSwitch have deals in place with some of the suppliers and get a commission if you sign up to a new supplier via their website. All of the information that goes into the website is based on up to date information though and they say the commercial relationships have no impact on the ranking on the results table.

This comment struck me as odd given the huge number of people living in the townships risking their lives by illegally hooking up to the electricity network and those struggling to find ways to cook food. The situation in rural areas is in many places much worse with little, if any access to electricity.

I was left pondering perceptions of renewable and decentralised energy. Many clearly believe that green energy is something for the wealthy – something to spend your money on when you have nothing else to spend it on. The reality of course is that the people whom effective renewable and decentralised energy would help the most are those in extreme fuel poverty – in Africa and in the UK.

With nearly 1 billion people, Africa accounts for a sixth of the world’s population, but generates only 4% of global electricity.

There are however organisations trying to change these perceptions and give practical help. The work of charity AfricaConnect is to promote the economic security and social well-being of Africa’s people through ensuring that they have access to adequate energy services. They believe that economic self-sufficiency and the eradication of poverty, hunger and disease are unattainable without the provision of a modern energy infrastructure that will provide affordable, reliable and, where possible, clean power supplies to all sectors of the community.

AfricaConnect proposes to direct attention on the electricity deficiency in Africa by nominating 2010 as ‘The Year of Electrifying Africa‘. The Electrify Africa campaign aims to help countries that need special assistance in meeting their power requirements.

If you have any information on specific villages and towns in sub-Saharan Africa, which are in need of electrification, get in touch with AfricaConnect. Clearly helping to make some of the world’s poorest places energy self sufficient will make a huge difference to their inhabitants lives.