Everything we do depends on the support of our membership, which has grown over the years to around 2,000 people
Our structure
Bristol Energy Cooperative is a Community Benefit Society, which means we exist to serve the community
Each shareholder investor in BEC becomes a member of the co-op. Members contribute to key decisions on a one-member one-vote basis, irrespective of the size of their investment. For those that want a more active role, members can stand for our Board as Non-Executive Directors, elected by the membership as a whole, or volunteer for the panel that allocates our Megawatt Community Energy Fund.
Our Board of Directors are responsible for our strategic direction and oversight. Most of our board members are also co-op members, elected by members.
We have adopted a set of Rules which we are bound by. They include our legal structure, how we are governed and how we make decisions.
What inspired our members to join BEC?
Kelly, BEC Investor Member
“I invested because I wanted my spare money to make a difference to the community I live in. I want a better, cleaner future for our city.”
Dave, BEC Investor Member
“I joined BEC originally as I was looking for ways to ‘ethically invest’ but it’s so much more than that. Community energy gives you the
opportunity to make a genuine difference to the environment and support your local community at the same time.”
Jessica, BEC Investor Member & Non-Executive Director
“I was delighted to invest in BEC to bring energy provision closer to the communities that use it. I believe that there is a great opportunity to change the balance of power, from the centralised major corporations to generation and supply at source, giving people the opportunity to change and influence. BEC is actively working towards this and I want to be part of that solution.”
2025 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 23rd October 2025
7pm
- Welcome
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2024 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2024-25
- Receipt of the accounts for 2024-25
- Community Benefit update 2024-25
- Introduction to the resolutions
- Presentations of director candidates
- Community energy sector policy developments and outlook
- BEC strategy update
- Voting closes
- Strategy update Q&A
- Announcement of voting results
AGM Documents and Links
2024 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 24th October 2024
7pm
- Welcome
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2023 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2023-24
- Receipt of the accounts for 2023-24
- Community Benefit update 2023-24
- Introduction to the resolutions
- Presentations of director candidates
- Community energy sector policy developments and outlook
- BEC strategy update
- Voting closes
- Strategy update Q&A
- Announcement of voting results
At this year’s BEC AGM, we provided a Speech-to-Text-Interpretation captioning service. Using the Streamtext service and real-life human captioner, accurate captions were available on attendees’ main screens, or they could choose to view them on a second device screen. Attendees could also set their own font size and colours. If you have any feedback on this set up, please do get in touch with us.
AGM Documents and Links
- BEC 2024 AGM Recording – Please note the recording begins during the Chair’s update due to a technical glitch. All presentations are available below.
- BEC 2023 AGM minutes
- Role of Director
- BEC 2024 Director nomination form
- BEC 2024 Election Policy
- BEC 2024 AGM Resolutions
- BEC Annual Accounts for the year ending 30 April 2024
- BEC 2024 AGM Candidates Statements
- BEC AGM 2024 Presentations
2023 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 26th October 2023
By Zoom
7pm
- Welcome
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2023
- Receipt of the accounts for 2022-23
- Introduction to the resolutions
- Presentations by director candidates
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors (members only)
- Guest presentations
- Announcement of voting results
- Plans and strategy for the coming year
2022 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 20th October 2022
By Zoom
7pm
- Welcome
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2021 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2022
- Receipt of the accounts for 2021-22
- Introduction to the resolutions
- Presentations by director candidates
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors (members only)
- Guest presentations
- Announcement of voting results
- Plans and strategy for the coming year
AGM Documents and Links
- AGM Recording
- 2021 AGM Minutes
- 2021-22 Chair’s Report
- Annual accounts for the year ending 30 April 2022
- 2022 Finance Report
- 2022 AGM Resolutions
- Bristol Energy Network presentation
- 2022 AGM Candidate Statements
- Community Benefit presentation
- Member and Supporter Survey 2022
- Film from our Members’ Mingle
- Plans for the upcoming year
- Election Policy
- Role of a Director
- Director Nomination Form
2021 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 21st October 2021
By Zoom
7pm
- Welcome
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2020 AGM.
- Chair’s report for 2020-21.
- Receipt of the accounts for 2020-21.
- Introduction to the formal resolutions.
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors (members only).
- Guest presentations.
- Announcement of voting results.
- Plans and strategy for the coming year.
AGM Documents and Links
- Zoom recording
- BEC 2020 AGM minutes
- Chair’s 2021 report
- Annual accounts for the year ending 30 April 2021
- 2021 finance report
- BEC 2021 AGM resolutions
- BEC 2021 AGM candidate statements
- Community Benefit presentation
- Update on microgrid projects
- Plans and strategy for the coming year
- Election Policy
- Role of a Director
- Director nomination form
2020 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 22nd October 2020
By Zoom
5–6pm
Optional Finance Workshop for members & potential investors.
6pm
Welcome, Statutory business:
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2019 AGM.
- Chair’s report for 2019-20.
- Receipt of the accounts for 2019-20.
- Introduction to the formal resolutions.
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors (members only).
- Guest presentations.
- Announcement of voting results.
AGM Documents and Links
- BEC 2019 AGM Minutes
- Chair’s Report (PDF)
- Annual Accounts for the year ending 30 April 2020
- BEC 2020 AGM Resolutions
- BEC 2020 AGM Candidate Statements
- Community Benefit presentation
- Presentation on Microfoundry (community microgrids)
- AGM hydro presentation
2019 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 17th October 2019
The Harbourside Pavilion, 1 Hannover Quay, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5EJ
5 – 6pm
Finance Workshop for members & potential investors.
6pm
Registration. Tea & coffee available.
6:30pm
Welcome, Statutory business:
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2018 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2018-19
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheets for 2018-19 (consolidated)
- Introduction to the formal resolutions
- Presentations by director candidates
- Voting on the above resolutions and the new directors (members only)
- Announcement of voting results
8pm
Social – please join us for soft drinks and a buffet
AGM Documents and Links
- Minutes of the 2018 Additional General Meeting
- Chair’s Report
- Resolutions Proposed
- Candidate Statements
- Charity Donation
- Annual accounts for year ending 30 April 2019:
- Consolidated accounts for Bristol Community Energy Ltd
Further Links - Becoming a Director – Further information
- Election Policy
- Director Nomination Form
- BEC Primary Rules
2018 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 18 October 2018
The Station, Silver Street, Bristol, BS1 2AG
5 – 6pm
Finance Workshop for members & potential investors.
6pm
Registration. Tea & coffee available.
6:30pm
Welcome, Statutory business:
- Presentation of the Minutes of the 2017 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2017-18
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheets for 2017-18 (consolidated).
Introduction to the formal resolutions
These are that: - The minutes of the 2017 AGM are approved.
- The annual accounts for the financial year ended 30 April 2018 are received.
- A return of 5% is paid to members on their investment for the year 2017-18.
- That a minimum of £25,000 be paid in community benefit for the year 2017-18.
7.15pm
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the above resolutions and the new directors (members only)
- Presentation on the Community Fund
- Presentation of questionnaire results
- Presentation of BEC Strategy 2018-19
- Announcement of voting results.
8pm
Social – please join us for soft drinks and a buffet
AGM Documents and Links
- Minutes of the 2017 Annual General Meeting
- Chair’s Report
- Resolutions Proposed
- Candidate Statements
- BEC Strategy 2018-19
Annual accounts for year ending 30 April 2018:
Further Links:
- Becoming a Director – Further information
- Election Policy
- BEC Primary Rules
2017 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 12 October 2017
Location: Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, Bristol, BS1 3HY.
6pm
Tea & Coffee
6:30pm
Statutory business:
- Minutes of the 2016 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2016-17
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheets for 2016-17 (consolidated).
Introduction to the formal resolutions. These are that: - The minutes of the 2016 AGM are approved.
- The annual accounts for the financial year ended 30 April 2017 are received.
- A return of 5% is paid to members on their investment for the year 2016-17.
Presentations by director candidates.
Voting on the above resolutions and the new directors (members only)
7:45pm
Presentation on the Community Fund
Announcement of voting results.
8.15pm
Social – please join us for soft drinks and a buffet
AGM Documents and Links
- Minutes of the 2016 Annual General Meeting
- Chair’s Report
- Becoming a Director – Further information
- Director Nomination Form
- Election Policy
- BEC Primary Rules
Annual accounts for year ending 30 April 2017:
Accounts for individual schemes:
2016 Annual General Meeting
Our 2016 AGM was held at Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, Bristol, BS1 3HY.
The agenda was:
6.30pm
Tea & Coffee
7.00pm
Film of Lawrence Weston Community Solar Farm.
7:15pm
Statutory business:
- Minutes of the 2015 AGM
- Chair’s report for 2015-16
- Receipt of the annual accounts and balance sheet for 2015-16
- Introduction to the formal resolutions. These are that:
a) The minutes of the 2015 AGM are approved.
b) The annual accounts for the financial year ended 30 April 2016 are received.
c) A return of 5% is paid to members on their investment for the year 2015-16.
d) The size and composition of the board of directors is amended. - Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the above resolutions and the new directors
8:00pm
Short presentations from working groups.
8:10pm
Announcement of voting results.
8:15pm
Guest speaker – Mark Kenber, Mongoose Energy
8:45pm
Buffet & Drinks
All the resolutions were passed. David Bunker, Andy O’Brien, Daniella Radice and Chris Speller were appointed as directors.
2015 Annual General Meeting
Our 2015 AGM was held at Hamilton House.
The agenda was:
6:45pm
Arrivals and registration
7:00pm
Welcome and introductions
7:10pm
Statutory business:
- Minutes of the 2014 AGM.
- Chair’s report for 2014-15.
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheet for 2014-15.
- Introduction to the formal resolutions.
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors.
8.00pm
Presentations from working groups and resulting discussion.
8:30pm
Announcement of voting results.
8:35pm
Feedback from groups/closing plenary.
9:00pm
Social time
All resolutions were approved, and Peter Thompson and Eric Booth were appointed as director.
AGM Documents and Links
2014 Annual General Meeting
23 October 2014
Our 2014 AGM was at 7pm on Thursday 23rd October at Easton Community Centre.
The agenda was:
6:45pm
Arrivals and registration
7:00pm
Welcome and introductions
7:10pm
Statutory business:
- Minutes of the 2013 AGM.
- Chair’s report for 2013-14.
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheet for 2013-14.
- Introduction to the formal resolutions.
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors.
8:00pm
Presentations from working groups and resulting discussion.
8:30pm
Announcement of voting results.
8:35pm
Small group discussions – priorities for future projects etc.
8:50pm
Feedback from groups/closing plenary.
9:00pm
Social time – Join us for further discussion over a drink.
All resolutions were approved.
AGM Documents and Links
2013 Annual General Meeting
12 October 2013
- Minutes of the 2012 AGM.
- Chair’s report for 2012-13.
- Receipt of the accounts and balance sheet for 2012-13.
- Discussion on the application of profits to members – this year and future years.
- Introduction to the formal resolutions.
- Presentations by director candidates.
- Voting on the resolutions and the new directors.
The directors’ recommendation that a return of 4% be made to investors for the first year of investment was approved. All the other resolutions were also approved.
Two BEC directors stood down this year (one by rotation), and two candidates stood for election.
As the number of director candidates was fewer than the number of positions available (10 directors can be elected by members), the candidates were deemed elected, and an affirmative ballot confirmed them in post.
Following a bring-and-share lunch, the afternoon session focussed on the coming year (presentations given can be downloaded on the right). A social in the bar followed.
AGM Documents and Links
- Minutes of 2012 AGM
- Director candidates’ statements
- Resolutions to be voted on
- 2013 draft annual accounts
- Solar PV working report
- Wind group AGM report
- Energy efficiency AGM report
- Fundraising report
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