New research released today reveals people in Wirral are unlikely to seek help if they’re struggling to pay their energy bills, British Gas is urging residents who need help to access the support and services available in the city to assist them.
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Time is running out for pre-payment customers to redeem their £12 Government Electricity Rebate Voucher. Customers are being urged to check they have received the voucher, which must be used by 28th February.
There is just one week left to join the energy switching scheme that aims to cut household bills across Merseyside, before the offers are announced. Householders are urged to register before the deadline and see how much they could save.
Local infrastructure organisation, Community Action Wirral, has registered Team ‘Cool Wirral’ to compete in a national energy saving competition – the Big Energy Race. 
The community led national initiative aims to help organisations and individuals take control of their energy bills.
A new round of collective switching is being launched for Merseyside. Householders are invited to be a part of it and see how much they could save on their energy bills.
The Switch Together, Save Together scheme is organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, alongside the six Merseyside local authorities.
The last Merseyside Collective Switch took place in September and saved residents an average of £203 a year, with one resident saving £825 a year and many saving over £500.
Collective switching works by asking people to register their interest, then using collective buying power to negotiate an exclusive tariff from energy suppliers. The exclusive tariff is only available to those who register for the collective switch.
Previous rounds of the Merseyside Collective Switch have attracted exclusive offers from E.on, British Gas, Npower, Scottish Power, The Co-operative Energy and Good Energy and have included tariffs for direct debit, payment on receipt of bill and prepayment customers. The last two collectives have included deals that were the cheapest on the market and only available to those who registered.
The winning tariffs are shown against other tariffs on the market, so householders can clearly see if it’s a good deal for them. They can switch to any of these tariffs through the scheme. If they don’t find a better tariff they don’t have to switch, there’s no obligation. The scheme aims to make it safer and easier to switch supplier, and expert advisors are on hand to offer free and impartial help every step of the way.
Mr Martin Doughty from Moreton, Wirral took part in the collective switch and saved £677 a year on his energy bills. He said, “I would definitely recommend the collective switch to others. It only took a few minutes to register, the information about the tariffs was clear and switching was quick and easy. I’m really glad that I took part because the savings are so great! If you’re not sure about switching or haven’t switched for a while, this is a good way to do it.”
So far, over £424,000 has been saved by Merseyside householders switching their tariff through the Merseyside Collective Switch.
Ellie Abernethy, Project Manager of the scheme at Energy Projects Plus said “We’re all feeling the pinch at this time of year, and the rising cost of energy can be a real strain on household budgets. This is a great opportunity for the people of Merseyside to join together and collectively benefit from reduced energy bills. This collective switch hopes to be the biggest yet, and we’re aiming to get some great deals for the people of Merseyside. It’s free and easy to join, we’ll let you know how much you could save before you switch and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to. There’s nothing to lose. I would encourage everyone to join in and see how much they could save by switching.”
The offers will be announced on 2nd March and you need to register before then in order to find out about the exclusive deals.
You can join the collective switch at 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.
A free event offering help and advice about keeping warm and staying healthy during the winter is being held at St George’s Hall.
Our advisors will be on hand to offer help with fuel debt, switching energy supplier and replacement heating systems, as well as offering general energy efficiency advice to help people keep warm this winter.
The Winter Survival Community Event takes place on Wednesday 12 November (10am-2.30pm). It is part of a campaign aimed at reducing excess deaths during the winter months.
The event will have 50 exhibitors, from a wide range of organisations, providing information and advice on a number of issues including:
- Fuel Poverty
- Debt
- Energy efficiency
- Financial assistance
- Healthy living
- Keeping Active
- Social inclusion
There will be entertainment and demonstrations throughout the day including a guest appearance from radio celebrity Pete Price who will be to demonstrate some chair –based keep-fit activities.
Live music will be provided by the NW Charity singers and Reiki healing sessions by Ursui System.
There will also be a free prize draw and a hot drink on arrival. Free bags of vegetables to make soup will also be handed out while stocks last.
The event will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Erica Kemp. She said: “This event is very important in providing information and advice to help people keep warm and safe. Hundreds of people have attended in previous years and have found it extremely helpful. It is a key part of the Winter Survival campaign which is aimed at cutting excessive winter deaths. Although we have seen the number of excess deaths in the coldest months reduced significantly in recent years there have still been more than 200 in recent years, so the chance to meet experts on a whole range of subjects to help you survive winter is one not to be missed.”
The third round of the Merseyside Collective Switch has just closed and organisers are thrilled to announce that a further £143,054 has been saved by local residents switching to a better energy tariff through the scheme.
This latest round brings the total saved by Merseyside householders to £424,416.
Over 2,400 people took part in the latest Collective Switch. Those who switched saved an average of £203 a year on their energy bills. One Merseyside resident saved £825 and a significant number of people were able to save over £500 a year.
The Switch Together, Save Together scheme is organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the six Merseyside local authorities. It works by inviting people to register their interest in the scheme, then using collective buying power to negotiate cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers.
E.on offered two tariffs exclusive to the collective switch, which were the cheapest on the market for both Monthly Direct Debit and Payment on Receipt of Bill customers. The offers tariffs were both fixed, protecting customers from any price rises until September 2015. Householders were also able to switch to other existing tariffs through the scheme.
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”.
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 £424,000 total savings is money put back into the local economy, so it’s a good thing for Merseyside too”.
Energy Projects Plus are currently running a ‘Switch Now’ campaign in partnership with the six Merseyside local authorities. The campaign encourages householders to explore if switching tariffs could save them money now, rather than waiting for the next collective switch. The same level of help and advice is available as during the collective switch to help make switching easier.
Householders can find out more about switching supplier by visiting or by calling the local Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151.
Energy Projects Plus hosted its 2nd annual Merseyside Fuel Poverty Conference at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday 1st October 2014.
The conference was attended by 70 delegates who heard from a mix of great speakers, experts in their respective fields:
- Alan Clifford, Fuel Poverty Strategy Lead, Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
- Rachel Wookey, Environmental Public Health Scientist, Public Health England
- Steve Lauri, Business Development Account Manager, Energy Efficiency, E.ON UK
- Ed Matthew, Director, Energy Bill Revolution
- Ed Kingsley, Principal Housing Strategy Officer, Wirral Council
The primary aim of the conference was to bring together key stakeholders in the fight against fuel poverty, which continues to be a significant issue across Merseyside, creating the opportunity to influence local and national plans as they are being developed.
The conference was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders that included local authorities, utilities, housing providers, health sector, charities, social enterprises, and private businesses.
Alan Clifford, from DECC, said
“It was great to be invited and meet so many people clearly concerned about fuel poverty, and wanting to help make a difference. It was also good to hear so many ideas being generated and nuggets of insight and expertise being shared. As I said, the forthcoming Strategy is just one step in the process, and we look forward to continuing to work with you – formally and informally – as we shape the next generation of fuel poverty policies.”
Following the morning plenary session, delegates participated in highly interactive discussions to share opinions on a response to some key questions asked by the Government’s consultation on their proposed fuel poverty strategy.
Feedback from delegates has been extremely positive with overwhelming confirmation of the value of the conference. One delegate commented,
“It brings expertise together and allows us to meet others and share ideas and information”
Building on the positive feedback from the conference we intend hosting the 3rd annual conference in early Autumn 2015, enabling us to build it around emerging themes of the new Government and the published fuel poverty strategy.
For more information on the event contact:
Ellie Abernethy
Project Manager 0151 637 3686
ellie.abernethy@epplus.org
Energy Projects Plus’ CEO, Peter Owen, opened the conference, which was attended by over
70 delegates from local authorities, utilities, housing providers, health sector, charities, social enterprises, and private businesses.
First to speak was Rachel Wookey, Environmental Public Health Scientist from Public Health England,
who spoke about the link between Public Health and Fuel Poverty.
Rachel Wookey presentation
Alan Clifford, Fuel Poverty Strategy Lead, Department of Energy & Climate Change spoke on
“Cutting the cost of keeping warm: preparing for a Government Strategy for fuel poverty”
Alan Clifford presentation
Ed Kingsley from Wirral Borough Council spoke
on the “The developing role of Local Authorities”
Ed Kingsley presentation
Ed Matthew, Director of the Energy Bill Revolution spoke
on the work of the Energy Bill Revolution campaign.
Ed Matthew presentation
Steve Lauri from E.ON spoke on
“ECO Obligated suppliers: part of the solution”
Steve Lauri presentation
Question and Answer session with all guest speakers.
The Merseyside Collective Switch exclusive energy deals have now been extended until midnight Monday 29th September.
Hundreds of Merseyside residents have already switched through the scheme and are now saving an average of £202 a year on their energy bills.
The Switch Together, Save Together scheme is organised by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the six Merseyside local authorities. It aims to reduce people’s energy bills by collective buying power to negotiate cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers and making it easier for people to switch.
E.on has offered two exclusive tariffs for the collective switch, which are the cheapest on the market for both Monthly Direct Debit and Payment on Receipt of Bill customers. The offers tariffs are both fixed, protecting customers from any price rises until September 2015.
To benefit from these exclusive tariffs, householders need to register with the Merseyside Collective Switch. To register visit or call freephone 0800 043 0151 to speak to an advisor.
Ellie Abernethy, Project Manager at Energy Projects Plus said, “It’s great that people are making such significant savings through switching. Now the offers have been extended even more local people have the opportunity to benefit from the scheme and save on their bills”.
You can see the offers as part of a full market comparison, and generate a personalised quotation to see how much you could save, by visiting Alternatively, you can call freephone 0800 043 0151 to speak to an advisor.