A new option for your energy or gas supplier
If your energy or gas contract is up for renewal before the end of March 2012, you might like to know about a new option for buying these utilities.
Currently there are two not-for-profit organisations trailing a new scheme which people can join to have their energy and gas bought as part of a collective on the wholesale market.
What this means is that the collective buying power of the not-for-profit company could result in cheaper energy and gas bills for the people signed up to the scheme.
To find out more, visit either of the two websites offering this scheme: www.thepeoplespower.co.uk and www.whichbigswitch.co.uk.
The sites will ask you for your current account information and then send you their quote. Once you have the new quote, make sure you check it against your current energy bill- your annual charge should always be listed on the bottom of bill. You should also compare your new quote against both the standard and unit charges for your current energy and gas supplier. And remember, if your contract is not up for renewal, your current provider may charge you fee in order to swap to a new provider.
If this trial is successful the scheme could be rolled out wider in the coming years.
* To sign up for thePeoplesPower, go to www.thepeoplespower.co.uk. The not-for-profit company hopes to be ready to negotiate with energy firms from the beginning of April.
* To sign up for the Big Switch, the new collective switching campaign launched by Which? and 38 Degrees, go to www.whichbigswitch.co.uk before 31 March.
