Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO reports Scope 1 and 2 emissions using GHG Protocol methodology with location-based reporting. In 2023, Scope 1 and 2 totalled approximately 3,434 tonnes CO₂e per DitchCarbon. The company publishes a detailed basis of preparation document covering organisational boundary, estimation methods, and emission factors. Multi-year data is available from their Annual Report and Plan Zero reports. Fleet emissions (98% EV by 2024) and office energy are granularly broken down. However, third-party verif

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO reports Scope 3 emissions of approximately 9.78 million tonnes CO₂e (2023), dominated by Category 3 (fuel and energy-related activities) and Category 11 (use of sold products — customer gas combustion). The company uses location-based methodology and explicitly states it does not use market-based accounting because it does not reflect atmospheric decarbonisation. Multiple Scope 3 categories are quantified with methodology. However, Scope 3 targets for sold electricity are intensity-based (pe

Emissions Trajectory: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO claims a 38% reduction in total carbon footprint from a 2018 baseline and a 50% reduction in operational emissions as of FY2024 reporting. However, the 76.8% Scope 3 target for sold electricity is intensity-based (per MWh), not absolute. The dominant Scope 3 emissions from gas supplied to ~4 million customers remain enormous at ~9.8Mt. Scope 1 and 2 location-based emissions increased 7% in one reported period even while market-based fell 8%. The overall trajectory is mixed: operational impro

Energy Source: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO offices use 100% renewable electricity as stated in FY24 reporting. 98% of its engineering van fleet is fully electric. However, the energy OVO supplies to customers is predominantly from gas and grid electricity — only about 30% was sourced from renewable generators in 2023. OVO moved away from REGO certificates in 2023, acknowledging they are a form of greenwashing, and has signed PPAs with Ørsted (Barrow Wind Farm) and Eneco (Crystal Rig) and a 2025 PPA for North Angle Solar Farm. The shi

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO has a substantial nature programme: 5 million trees planted since 2015 through partnerships with The Conservation Volunteers and the Woodland Trust (1 million per year). The OVO Foundation with Earthwatch Europe funded 12 Tiny Forests using the Miyawaki technique across urban UK locations. OVO was a founding member of DEFRA's Get Nature Positive campaign. The FY24 Annual Report includes a Nature section. However, there is no formal TNFD-aligned disclosure or quantified nature footprint. The

Resource Use & Waste: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO is primarily a service company (energy retail) so material footprint is limited to offices, fleet vehicles, and smart meter installations. The company has an Environment Policy that commits to minimising waste, pollution, and use of natural resources. LED installations and A-rated appliances are used in offices. The shift to 98% EV fleet reduces fossil fuel consumption. However, no quantified waste targets, circular economy metrics, or detailed waste reporting was found in available sources.

Water Impact: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO is an energy retailer, not a generator, so its direct water consumption is limited to office and depot use. The company's Environment Policy references minimising impact on water alongside other environmental areas. However, no quantified water consumption data, water bills, or water reduction targets were found. As an energy retailer with no generation assets or manufacturing, direct water impact is low, but OVO does not report on it. The indirect water impact of the gas and electricity sup

Targets & Commitments: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO has SBTi-aligned targets: 64.1% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030 (2018 baseline), 50.4% absolute Scope 3 reduction in fuel/energy activities and use of sold products, and a net-zero by 2035 commitment (a 90% reduction target). OVO has moved away from carbon offsets, pledging to limit offsets to 10% of total emissions and only for residual cases. This reduction-first approach is credible. The Scope 3 sold electricity target is intensity-based (76.8% per MWh), which is a limitation.

Transparency & Accountability: How does OVO Energy score?

OVO publishes an annual combined Annual Report and Sustainability Report (FY23 and FY24 published). A separate Scope 1/2/3 basis of preparation document is published. Climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD-aligned) are included in the FY24 Annual Report. OVO has a dedicated Head of Sustainability and a Plan Zero steering committee. The company published a Climate Transition Plan in 2025. OVO is a private company so is not subject to public company governance standards. The 2024 report inclu

Controversies & Red Flags: How does OVO Energy score?

Starting at 8. OVO has faced multiple Ofgem regulatory actions: £2.37M fine for customer complaint handling failures (2025), £2.7M fine for Warm Home Discount failures (Jan 2026), £8.9M voluntary redress payment (2020) for billing issues affecting 500,000+ customers, and a £10K redress for overcharging under the Energy Price Guarantee (2023). Good Energy published a detailed critique accusing OVO of greenwashing through REGO-backed green tariffs (2022), though OVO subsequently moved away from RE

OVO Energy Sustainability Score: 42/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

OVO Energy·Energy Supply / Utilities·Bristol, UK·Founded 2009·Last verified 25 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

OVO Energy reports comprehensively on operational emissions but masks its core problem: 9.8 million tonnes of Scope 3 from gas supplied to 4 million customers. Intensity-based renewable targets, repeated regulatory fines for customer harm, and historical greenwashing through REGOs undermine credibility despite recent corrections.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Energy Supply / Utilities sector ceiling.

55 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

49 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 55) + (0.7 × 49) = 50.8

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

42 / 100

The ten questions

Where OVO Energy is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Resource Use & Waste (3/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

18 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Third-party verified

DitchCarbon – OVO Energy Profile

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q3Q8

Every score shows its working.

Where OVO Energy is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where OVO Energy sits among energy supply / utilities peers.

OVO Energy's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.