Green Energy Republic's series, 'In The Sunlight', interviews members of the Good Energy team about their role in the company, why they support the Good Energy vision and how they personally contribute to achieving a greener environment. This week we spoke to Commercial Director Chris Welby.
Can you explain a little bit about your role at Good Energy?
My role within Good Energy is pretty wide-ranging. I am responsible for both regulatory compliance and policy. On the regulation side I make sure we act in accordance with all the rules and regulations of being an energy supplier as well as the usual stuff that goes with being in business. This is quite a broad brief, especially in an ethically minded organisation – things can be within the rules whilst being unethical. Crucially, my role is about finding solutions to situations that we face rather than just vetoing things. This often requires going back to the core of the issue and helping other team members use their imagination to find solutions they haven’t considered. They are an amazing bunch once their imaginations let rip.
On the policy side I spend a lot of time in London driving forward our mission. I have spent my life in the energy industry, as did my father before me. My first visit to a power station (yes, coal) was at the age of five. These days health and safety would never allow a five year old into a turbine hall, but hey, it was the 70s! As a result I know the energy industry inside out and spend my time trying to facilitate change to drive forward our vision of a 100% renewable energy society. Not so much the grand ideas, but getting into the detail of proposals and ensuring they work. I have been working with the Government on Feed in Tariffs, Smart Metering and many of the other proposals. I am particularly proud of the Green Tariff Certification Scheme where I was chair of the working group that developed it.
Why do you support Good Energy’s vision?
Principally because I care. I care about the planet, I care about the people on it, and I care about the future generations. Previous generations can claim ignorance of the damage they did to the environment. We, however, cannot. Working at Good Energy allows me to make a difference in the area I know best – energy. I truly believe we can have a 100% renewable future, and I think many in our industry aspire to it, but dogma, inertia and plain vested-interest makes them believe it cannot be done. I spend a lot of time in meeting rooms thrashing out petty details and can get frustrated with the lack of progress, but sometimes I get the joy of seeing the light go on in the head of the industry old guards. Watching an adversary become a supporter is so inspiring and reminds me why I do this.
How do you personally contribute to achieving a greener environment?
I believe that making many small changes is greater than grand gestures. My wife and I consciously think about where things we buy come from, we try and minimise waste (composting is great fun, although finding snakes resting in the bin can be off putting) and grow some of our own food. Our house is cooler than most – although we crank it up a bit when guests come round. And of course our electricity is from Good Energy. We live in a village off the gas grid so we are forced to use oil for heating. This bugs me and I will find a practical solution. I am not of the “hair-shirt” brigade of environmentalism; I believe we can live in harmony with our environment and have a great standard of living too.

