Belgian pensioner Bernadette Vandercammen is one of an increasing number of Europeans paying less for energy because she belongs to one of Belgium local energy cooperatives. Cooperatives have become increasingly popular as the energy crunch hits consumers.

Vandercammen’s provider, Ecopower, supplies households at production cost topped up by grid fees and taxes, as well as the cost of running itself, Reuters reports. Set up in 1991, Ecopower is now Belgium’s biggest energy cooperative, with wind turbines and solar panels producing 80 million kWh last year and providing electricity to some 55,000 households.