An energy switching scheme to save people money on their monthly energy bills has been launched in Derbyshire, after extended talks over the last few months.
The county council, which has been urging people to sign up to Derbyshire Big Deals, has announced it is working with consumer watchdog Which? in order to negotiate with energy companies so they can get the best deal for residents in the area.
This comes as all of the big six suppliers in the UK have increased their prices in the last few months, leaving more and more people out of pocket.
Big Deals is a bulk-buying scheme that works by bringing people together to get the best price on their gas and electricity bills.
The authority set up the scheme upon learning that 60 per cent of people have never switched their energy supplier, the Derby Telegraph reports.
Each household that registers with the scheme will also be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win free energy for a year, up to a maximum value of £1,500 up for grabs.
Of course, there are other ways to save energy besides switching your energy supplier.
Indeed, an increasing number of consumers and businesses are looking towards installing energy efficient ceiling spotlights.
They are generally more expensive to purchase but they use much less energy than traditional incandescents, meaning that savings can be made on bills in the long run.
LED lights are also brighter than their incandescent counterparts.
County council leader Andrew Lewer told the news provider: "We all know we should shop around but sometimes it seems too complicated to switch your gas and electricity company.
"We are really pleased to be working with Which? - a trusted consumer brand - to help local people come together to save money as well as making it easy to switch."
