Council helps people sign up for energy switch to save cash

Officers from Bury Council will be out in force across the borough on 9 January helping residents sign up for the Manchester-wide energy switch scheme which aims to slash energy bills for residents by as much as £150 a year.

The new joint initiative from councils across Greater Manchester has seen ten local authorities establish a dedicated Collective Energy Switching programme on an initial one-year basis, to get people to join together in a collective bulk-buying group.

In the Mill Gate shopping centre on 9 January officers will be taking iPads and signing people up on the spot (you’ll need to bring an energy bill which shows how much you used over the year), if the queue becomes too big there will also be officers placed within the library to cope with the demand. Residents who are working during the day or not able to make the journey in to Bury can either sign up over the phone on freephone 0800 009 3363 or visit www.gmfairenergy.com to sign up from the comfort of their armchair. People will need a recent energy bill, an annual statement is best. Anyone can sign up to save but, there’s no obligation to go ahead. Once the auction is completed everybody will be informed of how much they could save. If it turns out you are one of the very few who are already on a lower tariff you simply don’t swap.

At the end of January, the group of councils will go to auction with details of those wanting a cheaper deal on electricity and gas from energy companies.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) programme will build upon work undertaken by Oldham and Rochdale Councils’ Power to the People scheme which signed up 8000 residents for an auction on November 26. The average saving from that auction was £171 with one lucky household seeing a reduction of over £700 per year!

The news comes after surging energy costs have led to calls from charities, consumer groups and local authorities to urge Greater Manchester residents to take control of their fuel bills.

Councillor Mike Connolly said; “This is a great step forward and will show the people of Bury that when we work together we can make a difference to their lives. This scheme will directly benefit every single person that signs up, giving them extra cash in their wallets.”

Councillor Gill Campbell Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration said; “We recognise that right now everything seems to be going up whilst jobs are being lost and wage increases are at a standstill. It’s not an easy time for anyone right now and this collective energy deal won’t change the world overnight but may just ease things a little for those struggling to make ends meet.”