StarHub to sell electricity plans to consumers in April

It will offer consumers two clean energy subscription plans as the power market readies for liberalisation.

Households will be able to switch out of their existing electricity retailer into solar power without having to own panels. A collaboration between StarHub and solar energy firm Sunseap is entering Singapore’s Open Electricity Market, starting with the Energy Market Authority’s soft launch in Jurong and culminating in the full liberalisation of the retail electricity market in the second half of 2018.

According to a statement, households will be able to switch out of their existing electricity retailers and go solar. “Consumers will be free to choose their desired electricity retailers according to their usage patterns and the prices offered. Switching electricity retailers will be seamless; there will be no disruption and customers can continue to enjoy the same quality and reliability of electricity supply,” the two said.

Starting next month, the two companies will offer customers a choice of two clean energy subscription plans named Green Life and Green Save.

The first plan named Green Life allows customers to receive electricity fully produced by Sunseap’s solar systems at no additional cost. Electricity will be charged at the usually regulated electricity tariff. The second plan, Green Save, allows customers to receive 5% clean energy and enjoy 20% discount off the regulated tariff.

More companies that are either focused on or are interested in electricity are entering the Open Electricity Market. Another player, Senoko Energy previously said it had launched its retail brand for households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), giving them access to energy packages tailored to their needs when the market opens up later this month.

StarHub and Sunseap are also collaborating on various fronts which include customer service and billing & sales. “Both companies are also exploring opportunities in smart energy and Internet of Things solutions to bring continued benefits to customers,” the firms said.

About 5% of StarHub’s profits out of this business in the first three years will also be channelled into the StarHub Clean Energy Fund. “The fund will be used to drive environmental conservation initiatives including clean energy and efficiencies,” StarHub said.

According to the statement, Sunseap is Singapore’s largest sustainable energy provider. The solar energy is harvested from its rooftop solar systems across more than 1,000 buildings in Singapore, including public housing estates as well as commercial and industrial buildings, which convert sunlight into solar energy.