Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council are changing the way we buy our electricity and gas to help address the rising cost of energy bills.
With winter fast approaching, heating our homes and running our businesses will become an increasing concern as utility bills continue to rise. That is why Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council have been working to develop the “Cyd Cymru / Wales Together” collective energy buying scheme.
Cardiff Council cabinet member for Environment, Cllr Ashley Govier said, ‘The idea behind collective energy buying is that consumers band together providing an opportunity to negotiate with energy suppliers to get the best rate on the market for consumers. The more people that get involved, the greater the potential to gain a better deal.’
Vale of Glamorgan cabinet member for Environment and Visible Services, Cllr Rob Curtis said, ‘With energy costs going up its important we do everything we can to help people keep their costs down. By buying energy together through the Cyd Cymru/Wales Together initiative, people can not only potentially save money but also learn more about the opportunities to make their homes warmer and more efficient.’
Similar schemes are now available across the UK. A scheme undertaken in Cornwall in 2012 helped more than 1,000 people save an average of £133 on their annual energy bills – with some households saving over £700. Greater Manchester councils are also running a scheme with over 22,000 registered and the aim of saving customers £250 a year so more and more people are exploring the potential to stabilise their energy bills and get a fairer deal.
How the scheme will work:
- Registration: The first step is to register interest, with the resident providing as much detail about their energy use as possible. This information will be used to estimate the savings the resident could make with accuracy key to fully understanding the savings that can be made.
- Forming a collective: The registration period for the first Cyd Cymru switch will open in a few weeks. The registration period will be open for approximately 6 weeks to gather details from everyone wishing to participate in the scheme and collect the necessary details. After the registration period closes all of the data from those who’ve registered will be collated and presented for an energy auction
- Energy Auction: An energy auction will then take place, with a variety of energy companies offering their best prices to the people who have registered their interest
- New tariff offered: A personal offer will be made to those registered and projected savings will be calculated based on the information provided in the registration phase.
- You decide? If the offer is accepted the scheme will show how to accept and switch, as easily as possible. If the decision is made not to switch the information about the next opportunity to switch will be provided.
Cllr Govier added, ‘This is an important scheme that can help people across Wales make savings and halt increases on their energy bills, heat their homes and make a positive contribution to the environment. Cardiff Council and its partners will be working hard in communities across Cardiff and the Vale to help people get involved, simplify their bills and secure a good market rate in the process.’
The scheme will go live on the 21st October, for more information, please access the web pages at www.cydcymru-energy.com
