North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has added his support to ‘The Big Switch’ campaign which seeks to get a better deal for consumers by bargaining with the energy companies as a group.
People can register their interest in taking part in the Big Switch.
Expert negotiators from Which? will then bargain with the energy companies using a ‘reverse auction’. Companies will compete to provide the cheapest electricity and gas. Those who have signed up to the campaign can then choose whether or not to accept it.
Commenting, Sir Menzies said:
“There are so many energy providers offering so many different tariffs that it can be difficult for the consumer to work out if they are on the one that’s best for them.
“I’d encourage everyone to sign up to The Big Switch to see whether they can get a cheaper deal on their gas and electricity. The more people who sign up to the campaign the more muscle the organisers will have when negotiating with energy companies. This really is a case of strength in numbers!”
People can register their interest in The Big Switch at http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/the-big-switch#petition
Sir Menzies has also signed EDM 2755, The Big Switch. The text of which is:
“That this House welcomes The Big Switch initiative, led by Which? and 38 Degrees, that aims to help people struggling with rising energy prices using the combined switching power of thousands of consumers to negotiate a market-leading deal; regrets that 60 per cent. of consumers have never switched energy supplier and that 75 per cent. are currently on their suppliers’ standard tariff; notes that consumers, for whom energy prices are the number one financial concern, are baffled by the array of tariffs and offers in the marketplace and often find themselves on more expensive deals when switching; further notes that the more people who sign up to The Big Switch, the better the bargaining position of consumers will be and urges people to sign up before 31 March; and, acknowledging the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change’s previous work on collective purchasing at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, urges him to be supportive of this and similar schemes.”
