YORSwitch, the cheaper energy switchover scheme is looking for new households to register for the scheme and potentially save money on their energy bills..
Many residents are still paying too much for their energy. Yet quite often people don’t have the ability to switch suppliers, don’t know how to switch, simply don’t have the time or think that it’s just too much hassle.
YORSwitch aims to make the switching process as simple as possible.
Backed by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, YORSwitch works by households collectively signing up to take part in an online auction held between energy suppliers, with the winning supplier’s best offer made available to residents.
YORSwitch launched last year (in 2013) and probably got off to a less-than satisfactory start with only 8% of the 16,000 that signed up actually switching; the benefits from that first energy auction were not as good as expected offering only marginally improved tariffs.
But since then things have got much better, as Romney Clayton, YORSwitch Promotions Coordinator, explained to a Hedon Town Council meeting in September:
“3,000 took part in the second round with average savings of £100+, and the third round saw offers of £200 – £300+ savings being made.” Since then a fourth round has taken place and a fifth is now under way. “…registration beginning Tuesday 2nd December 2014 until Monday 2nd February 2015, with the auction between suppliers being held on Tuesday 3rd February.”
Personal offer letters in the current round will be sent out after the auction and you will have until Monday 16th March 2015 to consider whether to accept the offer or not. The letter will tell you who the winning supplier is and their rate for your annual energy consumption. It will show your current annual usage when registering for the scheme, so that you are able to compare how much money you would save by switching.
If you switch, the YORswitch scheme will fix your energy prices for a 12 months period after which you can take part in the process again. If you are currently tied into a contract with a supplier then penalty charges will apply if you switch, but this could still result in savings being made.
YORSwitch is a council backed scheme paid for out of Government funding. There is no cost to register or to switch.
The closing date for registrations is Monday 2nd February 2015, with the auction between energy suppliers taking place on Tuesday, 3rd February.
Those interested in finding out more about YORSwitch should visit the East Riding of Yorkshire website (see below) or can come to the special YORSwitch event at Hedon Customer service Centre, New Road on Wednesday 28th January 2015, 9am – 3pm where you can ask questions, sign up to YORSwitch or discuss other energy options.
All the information you will need to be able to get involved with YORswitch can be found on your most recent energy bill, so have this to hand when registering or attending the customer service centre.
Visit: www.eastriding.gov.uk/yorswitch
PS: The Hedon Blogger made an annual saving of £83 in the last round of YORSwitch.
