MP urges residents to join council's energy scheme and save up to £300 on bills

Tim Farron has backed South Lakeland District Council's scheme to bring down household bills for residents. The council is a nationwide pioneer in bringing in a collective energy scheme open to all UK residents.

1,669 local people signed up to the scheme in the last round of applications in September. The scheme gets household bills down by negotiating with the energy companies on behalf of everyone signed up to the scheme to get the lowest tariff possible. Early indications show that people signed up to the scheme are estimated to make savings of £60 to £300 per year.

So far from the first scheme, 517 people have accepted their offer, representing a switching rate of 31%, which has exceeded all expectations for the council's first community energy collective switching scheme.

Another attribute to the scheme is that the switching fee received by SLDC is ploughed back into local community projects that help people who are struggling to pay for fuel to keep warm, helping to combat 'fuel poverty' in the district.

The next deadline for registration is February 25 which will then lead on to an auction on February 26 when energy companies will bid for the custom of those registered. People can sign up either online, by telephone or by visiting one of the council's offices in Kendal, Ulverston and Windermere to give their current usage figures of gas and electricity.

Commenting, Tim said: "The council is keeping household bills down, tackling fuel poverty and protecting the environment through this scheme. I am delighted to have raised our council's scheme in Parliament, all of us are really proud that our council are being trailblazers for lower energy bills. Being able to cut residents bills by up to £300 pounds is fantastic and I hope that people throughout our area will take advantage of the scheme by signing up before the 25th."

Councillor Clare Feeney Johnson SLDC deputy leader and portfolio holder for the environment, added: "Don't worry if you have never switched before, we can help you through the process either by phone or in person. There is absolutely no obligation to switch, register your details and just see if you could save some of your hard earned cash."

"Residents can sign up for free with no obligation and the only thing they need to do is visit www.southlakeland.gov.uk or call 0845 050 4434 to register their interest."