As we enter autumn winter fuel bills can become a worry for many Merseyside residents, with many having to make sacrifices in order to pay their energy bills. Last week we visited Mrs Dorothy Spencer, a Magenta tenant who was kind enough to share her experiences of taking part in the last Merseyside Collective Switch.

Following an accident which left Dorothy wheelchair bound she was struggling to balance paying for her carer and keeping herself warm in her home. She became aware of the switch through her carer and found it quick, easy and worthwhile.

Ms Spencer said ”I was so made up when I switched, the savings were brilliant. With all the cuts I was worrying where to save money, the savings have covered the cuts I had.”

We’ve currently saved over £600,000 for Merseyside residents but we want to save more.

Find out how much you could save by calling the Save Energy Advice Line 0800 043 0151 or alternatively visit http://www.lcrenergyswitch.co.uk/

Back the bid for solar panels on Pensby Library

Fledging Wirral community energy group ‘Wirral Community Renewables’ needs your support for its bid to install solar panels on Pensby library. We at Energy Projects Plus are pleased to support the only Wirral project shortlisted in the M&S community energy fund competition.

To win the funds the project needs to top its category in the on-line public vote which runs to the end of September. You can back the ‘Solar Enlightenment’ bid by voting at: www.mandsenergyfund.com/project/28393

The bid is to install 4KWp solar panels on Pensby Library. It has been developed in partnership with Wirral Council and local charity Energy Projects Plus.

If you’d like to get involved in the new Wirral Community Renewables group please email: advisor@epplus.org

Following the most successful collective switch yet, a new round is being launched for Merseyside. Residents are invited to be a part of it and see how they could make their energy bills more affordable.

Over 10,000 Merseyside households have taken part so far and over £600,000 has been saved collectively by those who switched.

The Switch Together, Save Together scheme is organized by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, alongside the six Merseyside local authorities and Vidris.

Collective switching works by asking people to register their interest then uses collective buying power to negotiate an exclusive tariff from energy suppliers. The exclusive tariffs are only available to those who register for the collective switch. Previous rounds of the switch have attracted exclusive offers from both the large and smaller suppliers.

Participants are welcome to switch to any tariff on the market to find the deal that’s right for them, with tariffs shown against each other for comparison.

The scheme aims to make it easier and safer to switch supplier, and advisors are on hand to offer free and impartial help every step of the way.

The last Merseyside Collective Switch saved residents an average of £202.86 with one resident saving £825.06 and many households saving over £500.

Mrs Dorothy Hardcastle from Liverpool took part in the collective switch and saved £348 a year on her energy bills. She said: “I had put off switching my tariff, but the collective switch made it really easy. I was provided with support every step of the way, and I am delighted to be saving such a large amount on my energy bills”.

Residents are invited to register their interest in the collective switch in order to receive information about the negotiated tariffs. Registration is open until the 19^th October it’s free to join and there is no obligation to switch once the offers are released.

You 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.