Solihull Council is launching a second round of Solihull Switch ‘n’ Save, a scheme aimed at finding residents cheaper gas and electricity bills.
Residents who signed up to the first round of the scheme in October were offered average savings on their energy bills of £265, leading to total savings of £65,435 for households in the borough. The highest average saving was for those who registered online and have a monthly direct debit dual-fuel paper billing. These customers saved £375 on average.
The registration period for the next round begins on 22 March 2016. All residents need to do is have a recent energy bill to hand and visit www.solihull.gov.uk/switching to register before the deadline of 22 May 2016.
A reverse auction will then be held where energy suppliers will bid for the opportunity to offer participants a cheaper deal. At no point are any personal details released to utility companies.
Residents who have registered will then receive an email or letter containing details of the new energy offer and the estimated annual savings available. It’s then up to the participant whether to switch and save. There are no obligations and it’s completely free.
This type of scheme is known as collective switching, which uses the collective bargaining power of groups of people to secure better prices from energy suppliers. Although it’s designed to save money for residents, the scheme is open to everyone in the UK to participate.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, said: “It’s fantastic that this scheme has been successful as it really is a force for good in offering a simpler way for our residents to make sure they’re not overpaying on their energy bills.
“This scheme means you won’t need to negotiate the often confusing world of energy suppliers and tariffs; instead the Council will do the hard work for you. You’ve got nothing to lose by registering your details and you may end up having some extra cash in your pocket at the end of it.”
For more information call 0121 704 6000 or visit a Solihull Connect walk-in centre where one-to-one support in registering for the scheme is available.
