London,
21
March
2013
|
23:00
Europe/London

Residents urged to sign up to the Big London Energy Switch

HACKNEY residents are being urged to sign up for the Big London Energy Switch - a new way to cut gas and electricity bills.
 
By joining other Londoners residents could get cheaper gas and electricity bills. All they need to do is sign up at www.biglondonenergyswitch.org.uk  by 8 April.

To register residents will need:
•    information on their current energy company for gas and electricity, the full name of the tariff they are currently on.
•    their annual consumption of gas and electricity either in kilowatt hours (kWh) or pounds (£)
•    how they currently pay their bill; direct debit, prepayment card or quarterly bill with a cash or cheque.

All this can be found on their annual statement from their energy provider or they can them call to request it.

Residents without internet access can go to their local library, theHackney Service Centre or call 020 8356 4422 and a member of staff canhelp with registration.
.
With an estimated 10% of people in Hackney are living in fuel poverty,the Big London Energy Switch offers to make a real difference tofamilies struggling to pay bills. Anyone can sign up to get an offer of acheaper bill, which they can choose to take or not. The contract thatthey enter into will be with the chosen energy company.
 
Councillor Sophie Linden, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Crime,Sustainability and Customer Services said: "The Big London Energy Switchis a simple idea that could mean real savings for local people. Anyonecan sign up to this new way to change energy suppliers to try and get abetter deal. With thousands of people in Hackney in fuel poverty, everypenny saved would make a real difference to the lives of local peopleand their families.”
 
Information on Hackney libraries and opening times at: www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries  
 
Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman
Street, London E8 1DY, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
 
Hackney Council is supporting the initiative together with 19 otherLondon boroughs and London Councils, the organisation which representsLondon local authorities.
 
The scheme was given £686,655 by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) from its Cheaper Energy Together fund.
 
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Notes to editors