Our history
The birth
Whilst working for British Energy, Managing Director Phil Levermore was tasked with working up a business case for the company to enter the newly liberalising domestic gas and electricity market. During this research, Phil discovered that target markets for the industry would have to focus on wealthy customers, paying on direct debits and using a high amount of energy, to make the most money. Critically, this would mean that there would be lots of competition for these types of customers; hence they would be offered the best deals. Whereas, there would be little competition, if any at all, for customers who are forced to, or chose to, budget for their home energy use by paying via prepayment meter. In light of this research, Phil decided to set up The Equitable Billing Company and so Ebico, as we’re more commonly known, was born in 1999.
Childhood
The launch of EquiGas meant that, for the first time, UK domestic energy customers were offered a tariff by a not-for-profit company. Ebico have spent the last 10 years providing fair flat rates to all customers, regardless of payment method.
After striking a deal with partners Scottish and Southern Electric to supply EquiGas to consumers in the UK, we were able to offer unique, flat-rate, fair pricing, nationwide, using our partner’s award-winning customer support and supply services. Whereas traditional energy supply companies charge cash (pre-payment meter) customers more, to service their payment method, EquiGas evens-out the expense of differing payment methods. As a result, nobody is penalised because of his or her budget or circumstances. Everybody pays at the same fair rate and there are no standing charges. In 2002 we extended these services by launching EquiPower; an electricity tariff, working on the very same principles.
By 2005, everyone was talking about climate change, and effective ways to curb the amount of CO2 being produced. Our answer was EquiClimate, the innovative carbon offsetting service, that uses the new Europe-wide market in CO2 allowances to offset the emissions from homes, travel and businesses.
Growth
We wanted to ensure that all potential groups were aware of what we could offer. By the end of 2006, we had begun working in affiliation with Cambridge Housing Association to offer their tenants a better deal for their prepaid meter services. By the end of 2006, we reached almost 25,000 customers, and were growing ever still.
Over the last few years we have been working with a number of organisations to promote the message of fairness in the energy industry, whilst also attempting to assist those customers deemed to be ‘fuel poor’. At the beginning of 2009 our customer numbers had more than doubled, and we were now working with nearly 40 housing associations. Our work helping those in fuel poverty broadened with the launch of The Ebico Trust for Sustainable Development; our charitable trust fund set up to enable any Company surpluses to be used to support sustainable fuel poverty initiatives.
In July 2009 we launched Ebico i-measure, in association with Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. I-measure is a tool which helps to encourage customers to be responsible with their home energy usage, in turn cutting their carbon footprint, and the size of their bills.
We are continuing to grow, and expanding the work that we do.
- If you would like to follow our progress, please visit our Press Releases.
- If you would like to become a customer, call us now on 0845 4560 170 or fill in the online application form.
- Finally if you would like to work in affiliation with us, please call us on 0845 4560 170.