As part of the European project SCEPA, the City of Liège continues its initiatives to combat energy poverty. Following the renovation train and the RenoVan mobile service, the city is launching Cocipass, a scheme designed to provide citizens with renewable, local, and cooperative electricity.
Amidst energy price instability and difficulties in anticipating regularization bills, Cocipass offers a concrete solution for households not eligible for the social tariff but seeking better control over their energy expenses. The program involves pre-financing membership in a citizen cooperative.
To become a customer of cociter, a cooperative provider of renewable electricity, individuals must acquire three shares at 100 euros each, totaling 300 euros. Cocipass pre-finances this amount. Households then progressively repay their shares, in installments of 5 or 10 euros per month. Once all three shares are acquired, the pre-financing can be reused for another household.
Through a short supply chain and reduced exposure to market fluctuations, cociter aims to provide transparency, stability, and predictability rather than the lowest price. The provider notably implemented a temporary price shield during the 2022-2023 energy crisis.
Cocipass is intended for residents of Liège living in postal codes 4000, 4020, 4030, 4031, and 4032, who do not benefit from the social tariff. More information is available at www.cocipass.be or during information sessions.
This project is supported by European FEDER funds (INTERREG VI program for North-West Europe 2021-2027), the Wallonia region, and the City of Liège.
