20 July 2017: Citizens Advice LeicesterShire continues to help people in Harborough to save money on their energy bills
In June 2017, Citizens Advice LeicesterShire took its Switch & Save Roadshow to Harborough. These Roadshows are pop-up outreach events in local communities that help people to find out if they could save money on energy bills by switching their supplier.
In June 2017, Citizens Advice LeicesterShire took its Switch & Save Roadshow to Harborough. These Roadshows are pop-up outreach events in local communities that help people to find out if they could save money on energy bills by switching their supplier.
This is a dedicated campaign funded by national Citizens Advice and supported by the energy regulator Ofgem, who also give general advice on issues including debt, benefits, housing, family issues, discrimination, employment and immigration, as well as specialist money and pensions advice and advice on welfare benefits for cancer patients and their families.
During the Roadshows, we met 25 local residents at events in Broughton Astley, Lutterworth, Kibworth and Great Glen. The average saving was around £150 per year, although one man was told he could save over £800.
Last week, the Leicester Mercury reported that national Citizens Advice are calling for every household in the UK to get a rebate of £285 to rectify the “unjustified” profits made by the energy industry.
Tony Wells, Service Leader of Citizens Advice LeicesterShire, Harborough branch, said:
“We are beginning to get the message out that you can save a noticeable amount of money every month by switching your energy supplier.
“Suppliers don’t reward loyalty, and we now know that consumers have been subsidising £7.5bn in unjustified profits over the past 8 years.
“As budgets continue to tighten in Harborough and across Leicestershire, getting a better deal on energy gives households more money to spend on other things.
“Many of the best deals are now online-only, which means people who do not have access to the internet are forced to pay more.
“By bringing these Switch & Save Roadshows to local communities, we are working hard to reach the people who could benefit most from switching, many of whom are older or not online. Some have been with their supplier for years, meaning they are very likely to make a saving.
“The average saving is around £150 per year, so it really is worth doing.”
A member of the public, who attended the Roadshow in Broughton Astley, said:
“I found the whole process very, very helpful. The advisor took the time to understand my situation and tell me, not only the different tariffs available, but also things like my usage and how I prefer to pay.
“It was also really useful to talk about the new smaller suppliers on the market, not just the big six.
“I was with my previous supplier for many years, as my father was before me. But as time went on and the company changed hands I found it more and more difficult to actually talk to anyone about my bill.
“They have now lost us as loyal customers.
“I would recommend people go to one of the Citizens Advice Roadshows if you can, because change really is to your advantage. I saved £150 and now have a supplier that I am happy with.”
Citizens Advice LeicesterShire’s Switch & Save Roadshow will return to Harborough later in the year.
We will next visit the following venues in Blaby in September:
- Braunstone Civic Centre on Wednesday 13 September, 10am – 1pm.
- Blaby Civic Centre on Wednesday 20 September, 10am – 1pm
- Sapcote Library on Wednesday 27 September, 10am – 1pm
- Glenfield Parish Council on Thursday 28 September, 10am – 1pm