Scottish switching scheme launched in Highland
27th February 2013
Households across Highland have an opportunity to save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills as part of a collective buying initiative. Highland residents have until Sunday 17 March to join in to secure a better deal from energy companies by buying energy together.
Scots Together is a collective purchasing collaboration. Rather than leaving individuals to buy their power on a house by house basis, the project will negotiate with power companies on behalf of all the people who register to take part.
The more people that take part, the better the deal will become and the more potential there is for the scheme to save householders cash. People who join up at the start will still be able to benefit from the price achieved by the total number of people switching at the end. There is no obligation to switch.
It is free and it is easy. Those interested are asked to visit the website - Scotstogether.com - with a recent energy bill to register their details.
For those who would rather talk to an advisor the Freephone number is – 0800 408 0155.
Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Finance Housing and Resources Committee, said: “Given that over one in three Highland households are considered to be in fuel poverty and this number is increasing, largely due to rising fuel costs and falling welfare payments, this scheme could provide people with a welcome opportunity to save some cash.
“The scheme may be particularly attractive to Highland residents, as it can be very expensive to improve the energy efficiency of older, solid-stone walled properties. We would like to encourage people to pass the news of this offer on to their family and friends. The more people that sign up, the better the deal for everyone.”
Changeworks is co-ordinating the initiative in Scotland. Changeworks’ Chief Executive, Teresa Bray said: “Changeworks is delighted to have successfully co-ordinated the application for the local authority partners. Building on the expertise and experience of Cornwall Together, we will make it easier for householders in Scotland to get a better deal. We are pleased to be at the forefront of this Scottish project."
Scots Together, part of UK Together, is currently the only Scottish pilot to be funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.UK Together was pioneered in Cornwall as Cornwall Together which successfully signed up 10,000 people to negotiate cheaper gas, electricity and oil deals with energy companies.`
To register interest in the scheme and find out more go to the Scots Together website: http://www.scotstogether.com
Changeworks is a leading environmental charity and social enterprise, which gives people and organisations practical support to live and work more sustainably. www.changeworks.org.uk
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 19 - Inverness South on The Highland Council has been won by Duncan Cameron McDonald - Independent who was one of the eight candidates who contested the vacancy. Voters in the ward went to the poll yesterday (Thursday 11 April) and the by-election count was held this morning in The Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness.
The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate. The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate.
Following the success of its Business Digital Grant scheme launched last year, The Highland Council is delighted to announce further funding. This is to help Highland companies access digital support alongside other business growth support.
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen. The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation. The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme. Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan. The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy. They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024. The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.
A draft Delivery Plan sets out a roadmap which will ensure the delivery of £54.6m savings and over £100m investment agreed by Council over the next 3 years. The report is a difficult to follow series looing at areas but does not specify where the cuts to jobs will come over the next three years.
