Greater Manchester’s Energy Switching Scheme is being organised by the ten councils within Greater Manchester (Manchester, Bury, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Wigan, Bolton, Rochdale, Tameside and Trafford). The scheme brings together a number of people who want to switch providers into one ‘auction’. Energy providers then bid for their business by offering the best available prices.
The more people join the collective scheme, the better a deal everybody gets. On average it is expected residents will save up to £250 a year by switching energy suppliers through this scheme. The £250 figure is based on previous auctions.
January's Greater Manchester Energy Switch scheme was the largest of its kind in the UK with over 35,000 residents registering and they collectively saved more than £3m.
How does the scheme work?
Residents can sign up free and with no obligation to tell their Council that they are interested in switching suppliers to save money. Businesses currently on a domestic tariff are also eligible to sign up.
The more people sign up, the better deal everyone gets.
Anyone can sign up from now to 8 April 2013.
On 9 April iChoosr (the company which has been selected to facilitate the switching process) will run an auction asking energy suppliers to bid for the collective business of everyone who signs up.
After 9 April iChoosr will contact everyone who has signed up individually with an offer of an energy tariff based on their usage. This will outline how much you will save by switching to the winning energy provider.
Residents then choose whether or not to sign up to the new supplier. There is no obligation to change if residents choose not to, but they have a few weeks to accept the offer. They will be then be contacted by the new supplier to arrange switching.
For further information and to register, visit: www.gmfairenergy.com, or contact 0800 009 3363.