Havering Council has cut its energy costs by almost £949,000 for the year 2024/25 compared to the previous year 2023/24, thanks to smart buying and energy-saving measures.
This means lower bills and a big step towards supporting the Council’s aims to reduce net zero emissions.
The Council buys its electricity and gas through LASER, a public sector energy buying group.
By locking in good prices and planning ahead, Havering has managed to keep costs down even as energy markets remain unpredictable.
What’s changed?
- Lower bills: Electricity costs are down by £635,000 (20 percent reduction) and gas costs by £313,000 (23 percent reduction).
- Smart meters: Almost all Council buildings now have meters that track energy use accurately, helping to spot problems early.
- Solar power: Ten Council sites already have solar panels producing enough energy to save about £76,000 a year and cut carbon emissions by 175 tonnes.
- Future plans: Additional solar panel Installations will be added at Central Depot, Romford Town Hall and Upminster library, bringing the total Solar PV Energy saving costs to more than £100,000 a year.
- LED lighting: Old lights will be replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, cutting lighting costs by more than 50 percent.
The Council will also continue working on energy-saving projects in 2025 and 2026 as part of its commitment to net-zero and reducing fuel poverty for council housing stock and council tenants, including finishing smart meter installations, adding more solar panels, and rolling out LED lighting across its buildings.
The aim is to promote solar energy and move away from gas to electricity for heating and hot water.
Under the government-funded Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (SHF) Wave 3, Havering became the first London borough to complete the initial phase of these improvements.
This included external wall insulation, loft insulation, and enhanced ventilation.
Looking ahead, Havering Council has committed to an £8 million investment, including £2 million from national grant funding and £5 million from its own budget, to extend retrofit works across a further 205 homes, aiming to bring them up to EPC C by the end of 2030.
This proactive approach supports the Council’s long-term housing strategy and plays a key role in alleviating fuel poverty while advancing local sustainability goals.
Councillor Natasha Summers, Cabinet Member for Housing Need and Climate Change, said:
"This is great news for Havering. We’re saving money and reducing our carbon footprint at the same time.
“These changes will benefit residents and the environment for years to come."