MP Fiona Bruce has backed a bill that supports the rights of people to tap into local energy supplies.

The Local Electricity Bill, which is supported by a cross-party group of 238 MP's would see communities in Middlewich and Holmes Chapel to sell locally generated electricity directly to local households and businesses.

Fiona Bruce has spoken out in favour of the bill that would also increase clean energy generation, whilst helping regenerate the local economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton said: "I am pleased to support the Local Electricity Bill which will empower community energy companies to sell energy that they generate directly to local people.

"Residents in Congleton would be able to buy clean energy generated from local renewable sources, such as solar panels on community facilities like churches, schools and community clubs, helping to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

"More of the money from residents’ electricity bills would circulate in the local economy too, meaning more local jobs and more investment into local services and facilities.

"This is urgently needed given the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic."

Currently customers can only purchase electricity from nationally licensed utilities. The Bill’s supporters say this means money people use to pay their energy bills is not helping to rebuild local economies and local clean energy infrastructure.

The bill was recently debated in Parliament, with the Energy Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, making several positive points.

He said: "Local community participation has to be on the agenda.

"It is certainly something that I as the Energy Minister will be willing to engage with."

Campaigning group, Power for People, are calling for MPs and the government to make the Bill law and are leading a supportive coalition of organisations

including Community Energy England, Community Energy Wales, Community Energy Scotland, Good Energy, WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and

the RSPB.

66 local authorities have also pledged their support.

Power for People’s Director, Steve Shaw, said: "We thank Fiona Bruce for supporting the Local Electricity Bill.

"If made law, the bill would unleash the huge potential for new community-owned clean energy infrastructure and for this to boost local economies, jobs,

services, and facilities in communities in Congleton and across the country."