Big switch could slash energy bills

A NEW scheme which could save Warrington residents more than £100-a-year on their energy bills has been launched.
“Collective switching” is a way for communities to club together to use their collective strength to negotiate better deals from energy suppliers.
It is saving people money all over the country – so Warrington Borough Council is launching the initiative here.
Cllr Russ Bowden (pictured), a member of Warrington Borough Council’s executive board, said: “It’s a question of strength in numbers, so we want as many Warrington households as possible to join this scheme. The more thousands of people sign up to our scheme, the better the deal we can hope to make.
“Over 100,000 British households have saved £10 million a year through collective switching. But government research shows that only one in five British households are on the lowest possible tariff. So there’s plenty of scope for thousands of Warrington families to save money if we work together.
“And this scheme run by the council will take some of the hassle out of switching to the cheapest supplier. Let’s make Warrington a winner by working together on the big switch.”
The UK’s first collective switch was organised by Which? magazine last year and led to 37,000 people switching energy suppliers with an average household saving of £223.
In Peterborough, two rounds of collective switching organised by the local council were joined by hundreds of households, with average savings of £122 and £126 per household respectively – with some household savings of up to £400 reported.
Those who paid by direct debit for dual fuel deals tended to save the most, averaging £149 per household in the first round, and £163 in the second.
In a collective switch in Greater Manchester, 35,000 people signed up, with an average saving of over £120 a year – but with one dual fuel customer being offered a saving of £892.
Residents can sign up online by visiting www.warrington.gov.uk/thebigswitch.
Anyone who doesn’t have an email address can ask a friend, relative or neighbour to sign up on their behalf. Up to five households can register using one email address.
Alternatively residents can sign up by telephoning 01925 442919.