Ofgem have announced an increase to the energy price cap of £139 from 1 October.

Around 15 million households are currently covered by the price cap, which will see their typical bill increase from £1,138 to £1,277. Prepayment customers will see a larger increase of £153.

The increase is due to a 50% rise in wholesale energy costs over the last six months, with gas prices at a record high.

If you are on your supplier’s standard variable tariff, or if your fixed tariff is coming to an end and you haven’t switched, you can expect your bills to be affected.

The good news is, the Merseyside Collective Switch is here to help.

Set up in 2013, the Merseyside Collective Switch is one of the longest running local authority Collective Switches in the country. Delivered by local charity Energy Projects Plus, in partnership with the six local authorities in the Liverpool City Region, it has so far, helped local people save over £1.5 million on their energy bills.

Collective switching works by using the power of the group to negotiate cheaper energy tariffs from suppliers. The Merseyside Collective Switch winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market and are available exclusively to its members. Anyone can join, it’s completely free and there is no obligation to switch if you don’t want to.

Previous winning deals have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as Ovo and Green Energy.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

As exclusive offers are only available to members, you will need to register by 8 September to be eligible. Once you’ve registered, you will be able to access exclusive offers time and time again, and can make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Registration is completely free and your data will only be used to provide you with information about the winning energy tariffs.

Plus, by switching with the Merseyside Collective Switch, you will be helping to support local charity, Energy Projects Plus, who provide vital support to local people who are living in fuel poverty.

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could prevent you from overpaying hundreds of pounds a year.

The next set of winning offers will be available from 9 September, providing time for you to compare and fix your energy tariff ahead of the price rises.

Peter Owen, CEO at Energy Projects Plus said; “We are proud to have been offering this free switching service, which is specifically designed to benefit people across the Liverpool City Region, for eight years now. The Merseyside Collective Switch is here to support everyone through the switching process to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to. With the price cap increase looming, and more energy price hikes on their way, it’s now more important than ever to make sure you’re not paying more than you should be for your gas and electricity”.

Registration for this round closes on 8 September.

Members will then be contacted with the deals that have been negotiated for the group.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.lcrenergyswitch.co.uk/join-the-switch

or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get other free and impartial support to help reduce your energy bills.

This past year has seen a huge change in the way many of us live and work. With more people working from home, there has been a significant increase in energy bills, and many are struggling.

The Merseyside Collective Switch helps local people find cheaper energy tariffs, and reduce their energy bills.

Set up in 2013, the Merseyside Collective Switch is one of the longest running Local Authority Collective Switches in the country. Together, we’ve helped people across the Liverpool City Region save over £1.5 million on their energy bills.

Run by local charity Energy Projects Plus, in partnership with your local authority, the Merseyside Collective Switch uses the power of the group to negotiate cheap energy tariffs, available exclusively to its members. Anyone can join and it’s completely free.

The winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market. Previous winners have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as Ovo and Green Energy.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

Once you’ve registered, you will be able to access exclusive offers time and time again, and can make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Plus, by switching with the Merseyside Collective Switch, you will be helping to support Energy Projects Plus, who provide vital support to local people who are living in fuel poverty.

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Peter Owen, CEO at Energy Projects Plus said “We are proud to have been offering this switching service, which is specifically designed to benefit people across the Liverpool City Region, for eight years now. The Merseyside Collective Switch is here to support everyone, including those working from home, through the switching process to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to, particularly at this challenging time”.

As exclusive deals are only available to members, you will need to register to be eligible. Registration is completely free and your data will only be used to provide you with information about the winning energy tariffs.

Registration for this round closes on 16^th February.  

You will be contacted with about the deals that have been negotiated for the group.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.lcrenergyswitch.co.uk

or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get other free and impartial support to help reduce your energy bills.

To celebrate the Liverpool City Region’s Year of Environment, we’re asking you to Go Green! and switch to a green energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch.

Run by local charity Energy Projects Plus, in partnership with your local authority, the Merseyside Collective Switch uses the power of the group to negotiate cheap energy tariffs, available exclusively to its members. Anyone can join and it’s completely free.

If the winning tariffs aren’t right for you, we will help you find one that is. Plus, by switching with the Merseyside Collective Switch, you will be helping to support charity Energy Projects Plus, who work with local people who are vulnerable to the cold or living in fuel poverty.

The Merseyside Collective Switch has been running since 2013. Together, we’ve helped local people save £1.5 million on their energy bills.

This year, we’re asking you to think about going green. Most of the larger suppliers now offer green tariffs, which means they use renewable energy sources such as wind power, rather than fossil fuels.

Alan Jemmett, Director, Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service said:

“Collective switching is a great opportunity for securing a greener energy supplier and giving communities an opportunity to save on bills and avoid fuel poverty.

Year of Environmental Action for the Liverpool City Region is delighted to partner this initiative. Sustainable Energy is one of our themes for 2019. By switching energy and using it wisely you can make a personal contribution to climate emergencies.

Why not, as part of YOE2019LCR pledge to switch to a sustainable energy supplier? #iwill4yoe at yoe2019lcr.org.uk”

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Whether you’re a savvy or reluctant switcher, it’s always worth shopping around to check if you’re on the best deal. If you haven’t switched recently you may be on your suppliers most expensive standard tariff. You may find a better deal elsewhere or even with your existing supplier.

The winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market. Previous winners have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as Ovo and Green Energy.
Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill customers, so there’s something for everyone.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.
The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

Registration for this round closes on 10th October. We will then contact you to let you know about the deals that have been negotiated for the group.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.lcrenergyswitch.co.uk/join-the-switch/
or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get other free and impartial support to help you save energy at home.

The Merseyside Collective Switch aims to help you take control of your energy bills by making switching simple.

A lot of things are changing in the energy market at the moment. With the rise of wholesale prices, the introduction of energy price caps and the appearance of new suppliers, it can seem like a minefield. The Collective Switch is here to help.

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Run by local charity Energy Project Plus, in partnership with your local authority, the Merseyside Collective Switch aims to negotiate the cheapest energy tariff on the market, available exclusively to its members.

Once you’ve registered, you will be able to access exclusive offers and make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Two of the Big Six suppliers have already announced price hikes this year, with others expected to follow. If you haven’t switched recently you may be on your suppliers most expensive tariff. There are savings to be made by shopping around, and you may find a better deal with your existing supplier with no disruption to your service or billing.

The Collective Switch winning tariffs have often been market-beating, so better than you could get elsewhere. Previous winners have included Big Six suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as smaller suppliers such as Ovo and Green Energy.

Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill customers, so there’s something for everyone.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

It only takes 15 minutes to switch and members saved an average of £279 a year on their energy bills in our last Spring Collective.

Registration for this round closes at midnight on 5^th March.  

We will then contact you to let you know about the deals that have been negotiated for the group.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get other free and impartial support to help you save energy at home.

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Run by local charity Energy Project Plus, in partnership with your local authority, the Merseyside Collective Switch aims to negotiate the cheapest energy tariff on the market, available exclusively to its members.

Once you’ve registered, you will be able to access exclusive offers and can make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Most of the big suppliers have increased their prices this year. If you haven’t switched recently you may be on your suppliers most expensive tariff. There are savings to be made by shopping around, and you may find a better deal with your existing supplier with no disruption to your service or billing.

The winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market, so better than you could get elsewhere. Previous winners have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as smaller suppliers such as Ovo and Green Energy.

Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill customers, so there’s something for everyone.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

It only takes 15 minutes to switch and members saved an average of £260 a year on their energy bills in our last Autumn Collective.

Registration for this round closes on 23^rd October.  We will then contact you to let you know about the deals that have been negotiated for the group.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get other free and impartial support to help you save energy at home.

Registration is now open and the winning offers will be announced after the 14^th February.

Two thirds of UK households are on their energy supplier’s standard (and often most expensive) tariff. There are savings to be made by shopping around, and you may find a better deal with your existing supplier with no disruption to your service or billing.

Delivered by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, and the six Merseyside local authorities, the Merseyside Collective Switch has saved local people over £1.3 million on their energy bills so far.

Previous winning tariffs have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as smaller suppliers such as Ovo and Green Energy.

Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill customers, so there’s something for everyone.

The winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market, so better than you could get elsewhere and exclusive to members.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

Ellie Abernethy, Energy Projects Plus said: “We’re all feeling the pinch at this time of year. Switching your energy tariff is a really easy way to make big savings, especially if you haven’t switched for over a year. The Merseyside Collective Switch has a track record of securing the top offers in the market, so if it’s time for you to switch it really is worth registering to see how much you could save.”

The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

Help and support is available from Energy Advisors who can guide you through your top offers and help you complete your switch.

It only takes 15 minutes to switch and members saved an average of £260 a year on their energy bills in our last round.

By registering, you will have access to the exclusive offers and can make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Registration closes at midnight on 13^th February.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get free and impartial advice about saving energy at home.

Today sees the launch of the 10^th Merseyside Collective Switch.

With the majority of people still on their energy suppliers standard (and often most expensive) tariff, we urge Merseysiders to get involved and find yourself a better deal.

Collective Switching works by using the collective buying power of its members to negotiate exclusive cheaper tariffs from energy suppliers.

The Merseyside Collective Switch aims to negotiate the cheapest energy tariff on the market, which will only be available to its members.

Delivered by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, and the six Merseyside local authorities, the Merseyside Collective Switch has saved local people over £1.2 million on their energy bills so far.

Previous winning tariffs have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on and EDF Energy as well as smaller suppliers such as Ovo and Green Energy.

Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill, so there’s something for everyone.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

Help and support is also available from Energy Advisors who can guide you through your top offers and help you complete your switch.

It only takes 15 minutes to switch and members saved an average of £235 a year on their energy bills in our last Autumn switch.

Jo Dowson saved £450

Jo Dowson switched in our last round. She said:

 

“I’ve saved £450 switching through the Merseyside Collective Switch. I’m going to put the extra money towards a family holiday!”

Janice Lee-Williams saved £329

Janice Lee-Williams from Liverpool switched in June and is due to save £329. She said:

 

“I couldn’t believe how straightforward and stress-free the switch was. A bit of data from my last bill and a couple of clicks and it was all done. I feel empowered, having taken a bit of control back about something I didn’t feel I had any control over. 

 

I will certainly be shopping around for my energy in future and am cursing myself for not doing so much sooner. You wouldn’t think twice about shopping around for anything else so why not with your energy provider? I would recommend the collective switch to anyone. It’s nowhere near as daunting as you think”.

If you want to make sure you’re not paying any more than you need to for gas and electricity, join the Collective Switch today.

Registration closes at midnight on Monday 16^th October.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get free and impartial advice about saving energy at home.

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 www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk 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.

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 www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk 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.