Campaign to drive down energy bills

Collective Energy Switching Campaign 140

Residents are being urged to beat the energy price rises by joining the Collective Energy Switching campaign which launches today, giving people a better deal on their household energy bills.

With energy bills continually on the rise, and more people suffering fuel poverty, the Collective Energy Switching campaign aims to help tackle the problem.

Households are being urged to sign up, for free, before April 8th, and the more people who do, the better deal they will receive. Cheshire East is hoping to smash its target of getting 7,000 households to sign up.

Cheshire East Council will hold an online auction on April 9th, and the energy companies who make the lowest bid will win your custom. People are not obliged to commit at this stage.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member in charge of prosperity and economic regeneration, said: "This campaign is open to everyone and the more people we get to sign up, the bigger buying power we will have to drive down energy bills.

"Cheshire East Council is committed to helping people who are finding it increasingly hard to heat their homes during the harsh winters.

"Collective Energy Switching is an innovative scheme designed to place power in the hands of the consumer rather than power companies.

"It works by encouraging people to sign up to their local Collective Energy Switching scheme so that power companies can bid for their business during an on-line auction.

"The provider offering the best value will win the business and the more people who sign up to the scheme, the better buying power and lower prices we can get.

"Some people are afraid to switch and don't know what is involved, but believe me this is very simple - and it's free - and there's support for those who are unsure. There's no obligation to switch until you are completely confident.

"Everyone is feeling the effects of rising energy bills on their household budgets, so it makes sense."

It is estimated that around 28,000 people in Cheshire East are in 'fuel poverty'.

To sign up log on to: www.energytogether.co.uk and fill out a short on-line application or call 0300 123 5035. As well as registering yourself you can register up to four other households.

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Cheshire East Council
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Andrew Backhouse
Tuesday 26th February 2013 at 9:21 pm
It seems rare for our council to be innovative (well, copy something other councils have already done well) or to do something that could help all residents in a useful way - so for once I would like to say "Well done". It's not houses on green belt, it's something that anyone whose energy bills feel too high might take up and save lots of money. It's not as good as insulating, turning down thermometers, hanging washing outside, or any of the loads of things Transition Wilmslow has discovered could help (invite us to come round your house with our thermal imaging camera), but it could save £2-300/year. We talked about this to visitors to our stall at the Artisan Market and it looks a potential winner. So talk to us about cutting costs, and sign up to the council's collective switching to cut the bills further.