Great news! The online registration period for the Big Community Switch has now been extended until 27 November, so if you thought you’d missed out you still have time to sign up and save.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is once again participating in the Big Community Switch this autumn. Saving money on your gas and electricity bills is simple, safe and hassle-free by signing up and taking part. Last year our residents who switched saved on average £222.

What is the Big Community Switch?

The Big Community Switch draws residents from across Stockton Borough together to form a powerful buying unit to secure cheaper energy. An auction will be organised to take place on Tuesday 11 October 2016 and the energy suppliers taking part will bid to offer the most competitive tariff. National energy suppliers are invited to participate in the auction.

After the auction you will receive a personal offer and will be able to see clearly how much money you might save. You can then decide whether or not to accept the offer, at no obligation and no cost.

Are you eligible to join the Big Community Switch?

The Big Community Switch is available to all householders, including people living in rented accommodation. The energy bill must be in your name or your partners.

The scheme is also open to householders with a prepayment meter. The main six suppliers have agreed with Ofgem (the independent energy regulator) that prepayment meter consumers with a debt of up to £500 can switch if they choose to swap suppliers.

The outcome of the auction is based on the personal usage you provide and is compared with the tariff you are currently on. You can decide whether the offer is interesting enough to switch, and there is no charge, even if you decide not to accept the offer.

 How much will I save?

The amount you could save depends on your gas and electricity usage. In the previous four Big Community Switch auctions Stockton residents have collectively saved over £99,000 on their gas and electricity bills, with the average saving per household via the October 2015 switch of £222.

There is no charge for switching your energy supplier through the Big Community Switch, however, if you have signed up to a specific contract period with your current supplier they may charge you an early termination fee to switch, if this is the case it will be explicit in your offer letter.

 Take part in the Big Community Switch

Follow the link below to sign up now, and having a recent fuel bill beside you makes this simple process even easier.

• Stockton’s Big Community Switch 2016

The Big Community Switch makes the process of changing energy supplier extremely simple and can and does produce significant savings for customers. We try to ensure that anyone who wants to take part can, so even if you are not that confident about using the internet we will endeavour to ensure that there is help and practical support for you to take part in this excellent initiative.

If you would like free help and support to register for the Big Community Switch call Stockton District Advice and Information Service on 01642 633877.

Saving money on your business energy bills

It’s not just households that can switch to a better value energy tariff – businesses can do the same. We have teamed up with ‘iChoosr’ and ‘Make It Cheaper’ to help your business or community group secure a better energy deal.

The process works a little differently, but if you've never switched your business gas or electricity then you could cut your bills by as much as 30%.

Make It Cheaper can compare prices from different suppliers, help you choose the right tariff and set up your contract, saving your business time and reducing your energy costs.

Find out more about Make it Cheaper.

Please note: The process of switching your business gas or electricity isn't quite the same as switching your home energy, so this isn’t directly part of the Big Community Switch.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SAVING MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS, RESOLVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SUPPLIER OR SWITCHING SUPPLIER PLEASE VISIT OUR PAGES ON ENERGY