Some residents of the Ogwen Valley in Gwynedd are cutting down on their energy bills by up to 25% through the use of green technology. Since 2016, people from Bethesda joined an energy club called Energy Local, which uses a hydro-power scheme.
While the increasing cost of energy bills is a huge concern for many, some residents of the Ogwen Valley are paying 8p per unit of electricity at certain times of day, rather than 34p a unit. Meanwhile, a separate scheme sells excess power back to the grid, which as a result funds grants for local charities and fitting solar panels in the area.
According to the BBC, around 140 homes in the area are part of the scheme along with the National Trust, which owns a hydro-electric turbine nearby. Although the houses are not directly plugged into the turbine and get their power from the National Grid like everyone else, the energy scheme members use is matched to the amount of power the turbine is generating.
