Municipal energy companies in the UK: Motivations and barriers

Municipal energy companies have the potential to contribute to low-carbon transition but could also deliver a wider range of benefits, such as fuel poverty reduction and economic growth. There are myriad ways that municipalities could engage in energy provision, however, local authorities face challenges related to matching their motivations to appropriate business models which are exacerbated by unsupportive policy and regulation. More effective decision support tools are required, in addition to changes in policy and regulation, to exploit the potential social and environmental benefits offered by municipal energy companies. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to take this initial work forward to explore business models that match actor motivations and a more complex definition of value.