Thousands to save on household fuel costs

Around 7,000 homes in Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Bradford and York signed up for a scheme which saw their local councils work with consumer organisation Which? and Community Energy Direct to find the cheapest deal.

The scheme closed on May 1 and means 1,354 Leeds residents now stand to collectively save £136,564 a year.

In Wakefield, 1,191 residents signed up, saving a collective £142,088 a year. Kirklees saw 1,582 homes join in, who stand to save £163,513 a year.

Across Yorkshire, that means households will save an average of £137 a year.

Councillor Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “There’s no doubt that by clubbing together we’ve been able to negotiate a great deal for our residents. People power has definitely paid off, with many householders now saving a significant amount of money at a time when energy bills are spiralling out of control.

“Even if people didn’t want to join the collective on this occasion there is still merit in shopping around for the best energy deal or even switching payment method. And once on the best deal for you, you can capitalise on savings even further by using energy wisely.”

Hugh Goulbourne, a director of Community Energy Direct, added: “Some homes will be making an annual saving of more than £500 on their energy costs simply by switching from a cash account to a quarterly direct debit account.

“We are very pleased to be making these significant savings which will ease the pressures on so many households, especially those people living on fixed incomes who were finding it such a struggle to make ends meet.”