A new service has been launched in Wirral to help people in fuel debt.

The Wirral Fuel Debt Advice Service is being delivered by local charity Energy Projects Plus in partnership with Wirral Citizens Advice Bureau. The charity has received funding from the British Gas Energy Trust to help those in financial hardship.

Wirral residents are invited to apply to the service if they are in arrears to their gas or electricity supplier and are unable to pay off the debt.

The service is free and confidential and you don’t have to be a British Gas customer to apply.

Christine Tate, Head of Corporate Responsibility at British Gas said: “The British Gas Energy Trust funds a network of centres across the county to provide specialist advice and help with energy bills for those who need it most.  We are looking forward to seeing the difference this service makes to the many people struggling with their energy bills.”

The service was officially launched at an event in Wallasey Town Hall on Thursday 17th April.

Peter Owen, Chief Executive at Energy Projects Plus said “We are pleased to have secured access to this funding from the British Gas Energy Trust Fund, and to be working in partnership with the CAB. This will enable us to extend our current services to include fuel debt advice and improve the package of support we can offer to Wirral residents facing financial hardship.”

For further information about the Wirral Fuel Debt Advice Service, or to book a confidential appointment with an advisor call Energy Projects Plus on 0800 043 0151 or email fueldebtadvice@epplus.org.uk

Over 4,200 people took part in the Merseyside Collective Switch which has saved local residents a total of £205,000 on their energy bills.

Those who switched saved an average of £212 a year. The highest saving was £933, and a significant number of people were able to save over £500 a year.

The Switch Together, Save Together scheme was organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the six Merseyside local authorities. It worked by inviting people to register their interest in the scheme, then using collective buying power to negotiate cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers.

Special tariffs were offered by British Gas, Npower and Scottish Power, and included the cheapest fixed British Gas tariff which protects against any price rises until June 2015. These tariffs were only available through the scheme for a limited time. Householders were also able to switch to other existing tariffs through the scheme.

Ellie Abernethy, Project Manager at Energy Projects Plus said, “We are really pleased with the results of the collective switch. It’s great that so many people took part and are making such significant savings at a time when household budgets are under increasing pressure. The £205,000 total savings is money put back into the local economy, so it’s a good thing for Merseyside too”.

Energy Projects Plus and the six partnering local authorities will be running another Collective Switch later in the year.

In the meantime, householders can still explore how much they could save by switching by visiting www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or calling the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151.