Member Article

North Tyneside Council supports scheme to help residents reduce energy bills

Supported by North Tyneside Council, national contractor iChoosr is running a scheme to allow North East residents to reduce their gas and electricity bills.

From early next month, residents will be able to register for the initiative, free of charge, which brings customers together to bid for the most competitive deal for their fuel bills.

Through the initiative, iChoosr presents all the registered households to energy providers who will compete for their businesses during an auction, to offer the best energy tariffs to households.

Cllr John Stirling, cabinet member for Sustainable Development, said: “This is such an important initiative – soaring energy costs have had an effect in the borough, with an estimated 10,000 homes living in fuel poverty.

“Many people haven’t ever switched energy supplier either, meaning they have potentially lost out on savings which could have been made by changing over to another company.

“By joining a group auction, iChoosr can hopefully secure a much better deal for gas and electricity – the more people who join, the better deal you’re offered. They compare the costs on your behalf, making it much more straightforward for households to switch providers.

“This scheme is open to everyone and I would urge people to sign up and see if there’s a better deal out there. There’s no obligation to take out the deal once it’s offered, so you’ve really got nothing to lose.”

While the auction doesn’t take place until September 23, those interested in being part of it must sign up beforehand.

Registration opens on Tuesday (August 5) and closes a day before the auction, on Monday, September 22.

The scheme is just one way in which North Tyneside Council is helping households reduce their fuel bills. Working on behalf of the local authority, Warm Zone CIC is continuing to offer full and partial grants to residents for the installation of loft and cavity wall insulation and help towards central heating improvements.

Through a previous contract held with the local authority, Warm Zone has already helped over 16,000 homes across the borough with their energy efficiency, amounting to £1.5m saved on residents’ fuel bills.

To sign up, or for more information about the scheme or Warm Zone, visit www.northtyneside.gov.uk, alternatively, call 0345 2000 101.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .