Local residents and organisations on domestic energy tariffs have only a few days left to register for the next collective energy switch.
Designed to try to get people a better deal on their gas and electricity, the first collective energy switch held in January 2013 offered 75 per cent of people who registered a cheaper deal, with average annual savings of £122 per property.
The deadline to register for the next collective energy switch is Monday 8 April. The scheme is being run jointly by Calderdale Council and other local authorities from Greater Manchester. Over 17,600 people have already registered, and local residents are being reminded not to miss out on this potential opportunity to save money on their energy bills.
Daniella Condon of Ripponden was delighted with her offer from the last energy switch. She said:
“I’d never really thought of shopping around to save money on my energy bills. I registered for the collective energy switch to give it a go and couldn’t believe it when my offer said I could save £480 a year on my bills!”
It takes less than five minutes to sign up online following links on the Council’s website: Calderdale Housing. Alternatively, households that dont have the internet and an email address can register on the telephone on 0800 009 3363 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (lines close at 5pm on Monday 8 April). To register, people need information from their latest electricity and gas bills.
The information provided on energy usage is then used to search the market for the best energy deal. It’s important to register with accurate information on actual energy use if bill payers have this information, as it will form the basis of the personal offers to be sent out later in April. People who register online should also keep checking their junk or spam email folder just in case their email provider directs the offer there instead of their email inbox.
Personal offers should be checked carefully, along with the information that was used to register for the collective energy switch. If the offer is not right for any reason, there’s no obligation to take it.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, Cllr Barry Collins, said:
“Shopping around for the best energy deal is just one way that people can keep their heating costs down, along with other energy efficiency work such as fitting insulation and effective heating in their properties. Collective energy switching is easy and convenient, and we know that it can help some people make really good savings on their bills.”
Calderdale Council’s Scrutiny Chair for Economy and Environment, Cllr David Hardy, added:
“Rising energy costs are putting more pressure on household expenditure. Regularly checking the market and changing supplier can help ensure that people are on the best energy deal possible.”