WINCHESTER City Council's new gas and electric contract is cheaper and better for the environment.

The current supplier agreement is due to expire in September. On June 24, cabinet members agreed to pass a new deal which will reduce the district's net carbon by 19 per cent.

This was initially questioned by Cllr Frank Pearson, who did not like the idea of Npower supplying energy.

He said: "I like the idea of joining the gas and electric together to reduce costs, but looking on Npower's website I have to question the contract.

"The most up to date stats show that Npower's fuel is only 26.2 per cent renewable materials. So how can this green energy?

"I urge you to look closer – this is a game, an illusion."

This was meant with a response from Cllr Kelsie Learney.

She said: "Don't confuse the company with the product we are actually buying. This product is separately certified – looking at the company itself can be very misleading.

"This package comes with the REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) certificates."

Cllr Pearson added that although Npower plant trees to offset carbon emissions, this will not be in the Winchester district.

He described this as "paying for carbon to be reduced somewhere else".

"Unfortunately, it is just not possible to buy fully green energy in the local area as of yet," replied Geoff Coe, corporate head of asset management.

The new contract was unanimously approved by cabinet members with no debate.