Pat phoned Energy Project Plus’ Save Energy Advice Line after her boiler broke down and couldn’t be repaired. Her health conditions meant that she had to have constant heat in her property, but the large cost of a heating replacement made this impossible. We organised for Linda, our LEAP advisor, to visit Pat. Linda helped Pat to organise her fuel bills and switch her energy tariff. She also referred her on to Merseyside Health Through Warmth, who were able to replace her boiler with a fully-funded grant in less than 2 weeks.

Pat said: “Linda came to see me and was wonderful. Not only did she help with my boiler, but she put me on a tariff which can’t go up but which can come down. She organised several other things with my supplier and gave me free LED bulbs. The support was very, very good – they didn’t mess about. I can’t say how great I thought all of you were!”

Energy Projects Plus is currently offering free home energy visits to residents across Merseyside and Cheshire as part of the nationwide LEAP (Local Energy Advice Programme).

The visits aim to help residents to keep warm and reduce the amount they spend on energy, maximise their income and keep them affordably warm in their homes though the provision of advice, personalised support and the installation of energy saving improvements.

The visits are delivered by our team of expert advisors and include:

• Help switching to a better energy tariff
• Referrals for benefits checks, fuel debt advice and income maximisation support
• Support with Warm Home Discount applications and Priority Service Register
• Advice about avoiding damp and condensation and the most effective way to use their current heating system
• Funding for larger measures including heating systems and insulation.

Free energy saving measures can also be installed during the visit. These include:

• LED lightbulbs
• Draught-proofing for windows, doors and letterboxes
• Radiator panels
• Hot water cylinder jackets
• Chimney balloons
• TV standby savers.

Our advisors are ready to offer their support.

To apply to LEAP or to refer someone in to the scheme call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151 or email advice:epplus.org

Energy Projects Plus are thrilled to have won the Vulnerable Customer Support Campaigner of the Year Award.

The North West Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards were held in St Helens and aim to recognise the work being undertaken in the Energy Efficiency Sector in our region.

Organiser Gary Braybrooke, said “The Vulnerable Customer Support Award is the reason why we started these awards. It recognises outstanding work and dedication to supporting fuel poor and vulnerable people in the North West. Energy Projects Plus are deserved winners.”

The award follows Energy Project Plus’ commendation at the National Energy Efficiency Awards in September, where they were recognised under the Fuel Poverty Campaigner of the Year category.

Energy Projects Plus has supported over 7,000 vulnerable customers across Merseyside and Cheshire in the last year through various projects including The Merseyside Collective Switch, Merseyside Health Through Warmth, Warm & Healthy Homes, LEAP, Wirral Fuel Debt Advice Service and Warmth 4 All.

To get in touch, or for free impartial advice about saving energy at home call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151

We all need gas and electricity to run our homes and to keep ourselves warm, yet some of us are paying more than others for the exact same product.

The price of energy varies by region, and Merseyside, along with North Wales, have the highest average cost in the country.

The average default bill in our region is £1,197. As we also have one of the lowest average incomes in the country, people in Merseyside and North Wales are paying a whopping 7.7% of their average income on energy – the highest in Britain.

The reason given for the variation in price is the varying cost in transporting energy from the power station or gas rigs, to the home. So what can we do about it?

The main thing you can do is check your gas and electricity tariff to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to.

According to Ofgem, around 66% of households are on standard variable tariffs, which are typically more expensive than fixed deals. If you don’t switch regularly, you are likely to be moved on to your supplier’s standard tariff, and will therefore be paying more than you need to.

Merseyside’s local authorities are working with a local charity called Energy Projects Plus to help people switch to a cheaper tariff.

The Merseyside Collective Switch uses the collective buying power of those who register to take part, to negotiate exclusive tariffs from energy suppliers. The tariffs negotiated in previous rounds have often been the cheapest on the market and exclusive to the Collective Switch.

Mr Andy Hall switched his tariff through the last round and will save £327 a year. He also helped his elderly mother to switch and she will save £445 a year on her energy bills. Andy said: “Switching was easy and cost effective for both me and my mother. I would definitely recommend the Merseyside Collective Switch to others.”

Mrs Lynne Melarangi also switched in the last round in November. She said “The last time we switched was around 15 years ago, so we were probably overpaying. I saw the Collective Switch advertised in the local paper. It was really easy to switch and we should be saving around £425 a year on our energy bills”.

To date, the scheme has helped local people save in excess of £1million on their energy bills through switching to a cheaper energy tariff.

Previous rounds of the switch have attracted exclusive offers from both the large and smaller suppliers, including British Gas, E.on, EDF Energy and Ovo, and have included offers for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill.

In addition to the Collective Switch offer, 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 service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

Registration is now open for the current round. By registering, you will add to the buying power of the group and you will have access to the exclusive offers.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “The Merseyside Collective Switch is a great scheme that is putting money back into the pockets of local people. It demonstrates that by joining together, we can get a fairer deal from energy providers. I hope many more people join this round.”

Registration closes at midnight on Monday 13^th February.

To join the Collective Switch visit  or call 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.

Offers are now in for the Merseyside Collective Switch with an exclusive offer being negotiated for those who registered to take part.

Over 10,000 people have now registered for the Merseyside Collective Switch to get a better deal on their energy bills, which has led to an attractive offer being secured.

The winning tariff is from EDF Energy and is a 1 year fixed tariff, with average savings of £256 a year for the average direct debit customer. It is currently the cheapest on the market.

Those who have registered for this, or previous rounds of the Merseyside Collective Switch can access the exclusive offer tariff.

This winning tariff is available as part of a full market comparison, so participants can compare how much they could save and switch to any tariff on the market to find the deal that’s right for them. The scheme’s switching partner, energyhelpline, are on hand to make the switching process easy.

So far, the Merseyside Collective Switch has helped local people save over £1 million on their energy bills. The last Collective took place in March with those who switched benefiting from average savings of £311 a year on their energy bills.

The scheme is organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the six Merseyside local authorities. It aims to reduce people’s energy bills through negotiating cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers and making it easier for people to switch.

The exclusive tariff is only available until midnight on Tuesday 29^th November, so if you have registered for this round or any of our previous switching rounds, don’t delay switch today.

If you didn’t register in time, you can still do a full market comparison at www.energyhelpline.com/lcrcollectiveswitch, or call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151 for information on other support available to help reduce your energy bills.

A special event is being held in the Garden Quarter, Chester, to help residents find out how they could save money on their energy bills this winter.

The Save Energy, Save Money event will provide residents with an opportunity to meet with experts and discuss ways in which they can reduce their energy bills and keep their home warm during the colder months.

There will be advice stands from a variety of organisations covering everything from fire safety, debt and benefit advice to a range of interactive workshops and exhibits demonstrating simple actions you can take to reduce your energy bills.

Local environmental charity Energy Projects Plus will also be on hand to offer Garden Quarter residents a free home energy check which includes:

• Funding for new heating systems, heating repairs, insulation, draught proofing or new heating controls.
• Help to switch to a cheaper energy tariff, with average savings of £220 a year.
• Advice about avoiding damp and condensation, and the most cost effective way to use your heating.
• Benefits checks, support with Warm Homes Discount applications (a £140 credit from your energy supplier) and Priority Service Register support.

The home energy check service and the Save Energy, Save Money event have been promoted to Garden Quarter residents through a mailing in partnership with the Garden Quarter Association and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Paul Brand has had his energy check and said: “Following the visit we were surprised but very grateful to learn that we were eligible for a grant of £600 towards a new boiler and heating controls, plus support installing loft insulation.”

Arnold Wilkes of the Garden Quarter Association and Transition Chester, has undertaken energy efficiency improvements to his home, improving its warmth and reducing his energy bills. He said: “After reducing my own energy bills, I thought I would try and help others improve the energy efficiency of their living accommodation. If you want to reduce your energy costs then come along to our energy exhibition on 29^th October to find out what you can do”.

Councillor Bob Rudd for the Garden Quarter said: “I am pleased to have helped the residents develop the Garden Quarter Community Plan which highlighted the high number of properties in the area with fuel poverty. We hope that local residents will take advantage of the help that can be provided and through the Save Energy Save Money event.”

The Save Energy, Save Money event takes place on Saturday 29th October 2016, 10am to 1:00pm at Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School, Walpole Street, Chester, CH1 4HG

The registration deadline for the Merseyside Collective Switch has now been extended to the 31^st October.

The scheme has saved local people in excess of £1million on their energy bills through switching to a cheaper energy tariff, with average savings of £311.

Collective switching works by asking people to register their interest then uses collective buying power to negotiate exclusive tariffs from energy suppliers.

Residents will need to register before midnight on the 31^st October in order to access the exclusive collective switch offers tariffs negotiated for the group.

Over 7,000 people took part in the last round in March. Exclusive, market beating tariffs were negotiated for Merseyside residents including a fixed tariff from E.on, an offer for ‘payment on receipt of bill’ customers and a special deal for prepayment meter customers. Previous rounds of the switch have attracted exclusive offers from both the large and smaller suppliers, including British Gas, E.on, and Ovo.

In addition to the Collective Switch offer, 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 to switch supplier, and advisors are on hand to offer free and impartial help every step of the way.

It’s free to join, and there is no obligation to switch once the offers are released.

Mr David Bailey registered for the last round of the Collective Switch on behalf of his 87 year old Mother, Margaret, who saved £1,067 through switching.

He said “I’m thrilled with the big savings made for my mother and think it’s great we are coming together as a community to get a cheaper deal on our energy bills. It was so simple and quick to do, I would recommend it to anyone.’’

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “The Merseyside Collective Switch is a great scheme that is putting money back into the pockets of local people. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone figure of £1 million collectively saved so far. It demonstrates that by joining together, we can get a fairer deal from energy providers. I hope many more people join this round. If just 1 in 10 of you joined us we could have over £20m staying in local people’s pockets.”

Ellie Abernethy has managed the project since its launch three years ago. She said “One of the main aims of the Collective Switch is to make switching easier, especially for people who are nervous about switching, and those who don’t have internet access and can’t compare prices online. If you haven’t switched for more than 12 months, you may be on your supplier’s most expensive tariff. Even if you are a regular switcher, our winning tariffs are often market beating and therefore cheaper than you can find elsewhere. I hope everyone registers to find out how much they could save”.

In order to access the collective switch offers, residents must register before midnight on Monday 31st October.

To join the Collective Switch visit  or call 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.

Make sure you’re a part of the Merseyside Collective Switch

The Merseyside Collective Switch has saved local people in excess of £1million on their energy bills through switching to a cheaper energy tariff.

The next round launches today. Residents will need to register before midnight on the 16^th October in order to access the exclusive collective switch offers tariffs.

Organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, in partnership with six Merseyside local authorities, the Merseyside Collective Switch was set up in 2013 to help local people to save money on their energy bills.

Collective switching works by asking people to register their interest then uses collective buying power to negotiate exclusive tariffs from energy suppliers.

To date, the scheme has delivered six rounds of collective switching. The last collective was the biggest yet, with over 7,000 people taking part and average savings of £311 a year.

Exclusive, market beating tariffs were negotiated for Merseyside residents including a fixed tariff from E.on, an offer for ‘payment on receipt of bill’ customers and a special deal for prepayment meter customers. Previous rounds of the switch have attracted exclusive offers from both the large and smaller suppliers, including British Gas, E.on, and Ovo.

In addition to the Collective Switch offer, 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.

It’s free to join, and there is no obligation to switch once the offers are released.

Mr David Bailey registered for the last round of the Collective Switch on behalf of his 87 year old Mother, Margaret, who saved £1,067 through switching.

He said “I’m thrilled with the big savings made for my mother and think it’s great we are coming together as a community to get a cheaper deal on our energy bills. It was so simple and quick to do, I would recommend it to anyone.’’

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “The Merseyside Collective Switch is a great scheme that is putting money back into the pockets of local people. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone figure of £1 million collectively saved so far. It demonstrates that by joining together, we can get a fairer deal from energy providers. I hope many more people join this round. If just 1 in 10 of you joined us we could have over £20m staying in local people’s pockets.”

Ellie Abernethy has managed the project since its launch three years ago. She said “One of the main aims of the Collective Switch is to make switching easier, especially for people who are nervous about switching, and those who don’t have internet access and can’t compare prices online. If you haven’t switched for more than 12 months, you may be on your supplier’s most expensive tariff. Even if you are a regular switcher, our winning tariffs are often market beating and therefore cheaper than you can find elsewhere. I hope everyone registers to find out how much they could save”.

In order to access the collective switch offers, residents must register before midnight on Sunday 16^th October.

To join the Collective Switch visit  or call 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.

Read the latest Warmth 4 All newsletter here:

Newsletter – Warmth 4 All

Beechwood Scouts, along with their families, have been out promoting the Warm and Healthy Homes scheme, as part of a campaign aiming to reduce energy costs for residents on the Beechwood estate.

       Pictured: Beechwood Scout Group

The team have been out publicising the British Gas Energy Trust Warm and Healthy Homes scheme which offers free home energy visits to residents.

The home energy visits include advice from an expert energy advisor on how to use heating systems effectively, how to avoid damp and condensation, help with switching to a cheaper energy tariff, help with benefits maximisation, applications to the priority service register and Warm Homes Discount and access to other support.

The project can also help fund energy efficient measures in some homes, such as replacement boilers, draught proofing and insulation and there are free LED lightbulbs, water saver packs and energy monitors available.

Free home energy visits are available to eligible householders across Wirral, Halton, St Helens, Sefton and Cheshire. In particular, people who have a health condition affected by cold, the elderly, and families with young children, could benefit most.

Wallasey based charity, Energy Projects Plus, manages the project and is working alongside Liverpool Housing Trust to bring this offer to homes in Beechwood.

To find out more about what’s on offer in Beechwood, come along to the Beechwood Community Event at Beechwood Chapel on Friday 15^th April from 1pm to 3pm.

To find out more about free home energy visits through the Warm and Healthy Homes scheme, call the Save Energy Advice Line on Freephone 0800 043 0151.