marie buchsenschutz
Adèle Gaveau
Toulouse Business School
Delphine GIBASSIER
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Enercoop distributes electricity 100% from renewable sources (62% hydro, 25% from wind power, 2% biomass and 11% of photovoltaic). Via its network of cooperatives, it maintains a direct and close relationship with its producers of electricity: a hundred small local producers, SME's and forty local authorities.
How does it work? Each time its customer uses energy at his home, Enercoop puts back "green energy" in the distribution process. So, there is an increase in the share of green energy, of energy used.
In 2004, a work group of twenty actors came together to invent a new energy model. These individuals spanned various horizons such as renewable energies, citizen associations, and social and solidarity economies. The latter is based on an energy mix which promotes renewable energies and their development. Ten years later, Enercoop has extended its coverage to the Midi-Pyrénées region and provides more than 110 GWh of green electricity via its network of 100 cooperative producers. More and more people are convinced by the policy of Enercoop and 25,000 consumers are currently being served today.
As citizens face the question of energy, Enercoop spans territorially across regions or local authorities. Faced with climatic urgency and the progressive disappearance of public service in France, this new player has decided to confront the French giant, pro-nuclear power producer and distributor EDF. The project of Enercoop is to shift from a large-scale electricity over-consumption to a moderate production and 100% renewable, locally. Moreover, it aims at involving citizens in the decision making process regarding energy.
Its structure of SCIC (cooperative community-oriented enterprise) allows it to innovate in terms of organization: it holds membership meetings with all stakeholders of the structure: employees, producers and consumers of energy, with the principle 1 person = 1 vote. Since the creation of Enercoop, 51% of the capital belongs to employees and 100% of the profits are reinvested in the structure.
Enercoop separates from any possible speculation on the quoted energy market prices, because of its cooperative status. The price offered to its consumers are still steady since the last 10 years; unlike the energy market which currently fluctuates, with EDF prices going up slowly but regularly. The proposed price is a fair price for the consumer who pays correctly the producer and the distributor.
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Loïc Blanc, Enercoop
