Bury residents urged to sign up and slash bills

Bury residents are being urged to sign up for an energy saving scheme which will give them a range of choices to slash their bills.

Residents are being encouraged to use join a collective energy switching scheme that could mean massive reductions to the cost of heating their homes. 

Everyone who registers an interest will be given a range of different options to save money, but it is thought residents will be able to save up to £250 a year by switching energy suppliers through the scheme.

This is the third energy bulk-buy scheme launched by all ten Greater Manchester councils after major suppliers announced they were increasing their bills.

Residents keen to save money should go to betterenergydeals.org.uk or call 0800 988 2426.

Two similar energy switching schemes held last year led to 4,577 households across Greater Manchester cutting more than half a million pounds off their bills, but it is hoped even greater savings can be made this year.

Residents need to provide basic information, such as which gas and electricity suppliers they use and how much they pay a month, to register an interest.

The organisers will hold a ‘reverse auction’ on 4 March, in which energy suppliers will bid for their business by offering their best prices.

However, residents don’t have to accept this offer – and they will also be given a range of alternative offers based on how much energy they use.

Although the scheme will be targeted directly at people living in Greater Manchester, it will be open to anyone in the UK to join.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “We all know that times are hard and household budgets are under pressure. This scheme gives residents a real chance to save money on what are essentials, and I would urge Bury people to take advantage of it – the more people who sign up, the better the deals that will be available.

“There’s no obligation to accept the auction offer, and anyone who registers will be given a range of alternative offers. It only takes a minute, but it could save you a fortune.”

·  Michelle Stott, an energy officer from Bury Council, will be in Bury Indoor Market on the morning of Wednesday 29 January and the afternoon of Friday 31 January with representatives from the Citizen's Advice Bureau as part of their Big Energy Week campaign to promote the scheme.

ENDS

Press release issued: 21 January 2014.