Householders from across the region are invited to join the 2,000 people who have already signed up to the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Collective Switch to save on their energy bills.

Organised by Wirral-based charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the Liverpool City Region local authorities, the scheme aims to reduce people’s energy bills by using collective buying power to negotiate cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers.

Anyone can join the LCR Collective Switch, regardless of current supplier or payment methods – you don’t even have to live in the Liverpool City Region. Those who have never switched their energy supplier or who haven’t switched in the last 12 months are likely to benefit most. The scheme aims to make it safer and easier to switch supplier and householders could typically save £189 per year on their energy bills.

The period of registration, when people can opt to join the collective switch, closes on the 3rd June 2013. By registering their details, householders will help give weight to the scheme by increasing its bulk buying power. They also need to register in order to receive information about, and benefit from, the tariffs that have been negotiated through the collective switch.

The LCR Collective Switch is backed by Halton Council, Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and Wirral Council. It’s free to join and householders will be able to see how much they would save before they decide if they want to switch suppliers.

The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, who leads on low carbon issues for the City Region, said: “We’re so pleased that 2,000 people have already joined the Liverpool City Region Collective Switch to save money on their energy bills. People in our region are concerned by rising fuel prices and this scheme could help people save hundreds of pounds a year simply by switching to a cheaper tariff. There’s nothing to lose and the more people that join, the better the deal we’ll be able to negotiate, so I would encourage everyone to join in and see how much they could save.”

Householders can join the collective switch by registering online at www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk  or by calling the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where residents can also get free and impartial help and advice about saving energy at home.