South Holland residents will have more cash in their pockets and could provide a £250,000 boost to the local economy if they save on their gas and electricity bills.
Council leader Gary Porter says the quarter-million boost will come if the 1,200-plus people signed up so far to The Great South Holland Energy Switch each saves £200 on their current bills.
South Holland is tapping in to the mighty purchasing power of 20,7000 people who have registered with a consortium of councils led by Oldham for a “reverse auction” that will be conducted on their behalf by the successful Dutch-Belgian firm iChoosr.
Cornwall had 10,000 people in its mass switch and that is producing yearly savings of £150 for 90 per cent of homes.
South Holland District Council expects residents here will save between £50 and £200 a year.
The clock is ticking for those who want to register an interest – only those who have registered before Sunday will be able to opt for the iChoosr offer price.
But people who register are not committed to take up the offer.
Coun Porter said: “If 20,000 people think it’s worth registering, then perhaps everybody should consider registering unless you have got a deal that’s fantastic – if you have got a deal that’s fantastic, then tell us about it and we can get other people on it.”
He said all councils in the Oldham-led scheme will be paid a small commission, but that still means those who register are going to make big savings.
Almost all of the money paid to South Holland District Council will go into ward budgets to be spent in the community and a fraction will be used towards officer time spent publicising the scheme to local households.
Coun Porter said the Local Government Association has checked out iChoosr at national and European levels and is satisfied it is a good company.
The Oldham and Peterborough led groups of councils have also done their own checks.
He said the three main political parties are involved in iChoosr switch-overs as is the public service union, Unison.
n To register visit www.sholland.gov.uk and click on “The Great South Holland Energy Switch” on the front page. You can also go to the council offices in Priory Road, Spalding, or see your ward councillor. Have your bills handy because you will be asked to give your current energy usage.