A LITTLE-KNOWN free scheme could slash over £230 from your energy bill this winter – and it takes just minutes to sign up.
The Switch Together Energy initiative, which is run through local councils, allows households to team-up to negotiate better rates with energy suppliers.
It’s open to millions of families around the country, and is a low-effort way to secure a cheaper energy tariff, with households that sign up saving an average of £237 on their annual bill.
Many local councils have opened registrations for residents this winter, with the deadline to sign up normally in January or February, depending on your council.
After the deadline closes, energy suppliers, such as British Gas and Octopus Energy, compete in an auction to offer the most competitive fixed-rate deal for your household.
You’ll then receive an offer through the scheme showing you how much you can save by switching.
It’s similar to using a price comparison website, but because of the extra buying power of being in a large group, you get offered exclusive tariffs that are often not available on the open market.
Once your receive your offer, you can decide if you want to take it, with councils promising there are no hidden fees and “no pressure” if you decide not to switch.
Councils in Surrey, Solihull, Stockton-on-Tees, Leicestershire, Kent and Berkshire are among those taking part this year.
The scheme began in 2012, and was known as the Big Community Switch up until last year.
Many families will be looking to cut costs this winter, as energy bills are set to rise to £1,758 a year from January for a typical household under Ofgem’s price cap.
But the government also announced a package of measures in the recent Budget that would help households cut £150 from their bills next year.