Flint urges need for collective switching

Local Government is ready to commence its largest collective energy switch project with approximately 26 Councils being in talks to join the initiative. Greater Manchester Combined Authority is part of the discussions.

The GMCA Councils include the Manchester City Council, Salford MBC and Wigan MBC who will make a definitive decision on their membership of the scheme at their upcoming meeting on 26 October.

The scheme is open to UK households and aims to make savings of £150 per year on individual energy bills. This would be a local constituency of 1.2 million households.

Oldham’s leader, Jim McMahon anticipates an agreement would “hopefully be made next month. A further 17 Councils have expressed an interest in joining the scheme”.

It has also been announced that the scheme has secured cross-party support in Parliament. Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey together with Conservative Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles are already backing the campaign and they have now been joined by Shadow Energy Secretary, Caroline Flint.

Flint said:

“Too many people pay over the odds for their energy because buying gas and electricity is too complicated. We are reaching out to people who pay too much, but alone, cannot change that. Together we can make a difference.”