Bulk Buying - Oil, Electricity etc

Buying energy in bulk can help residents save money on their fuel bills. Many people living in the rural areas of the Moorlands have to rely on electricity and oil to heat their homes, and It is possible to make savings on both of these fuels.

Heating Oil

The Community Council of Staffordshire has set up a new scheme that could reduce the cost of domestic heating oil each time you place an order. All you need do to take advantage of the scheme is to pay an annual membership fee, which will cover as many oil orders as you need during the course of the year. Find out more from their website.

Other ways of reducing your oil bills:

Buy larger volumes - suppliers usually charge less per litre if you order more than 1000 litres per delivery.

Buy when demand is less, in the spring or summer, when prices are often cheaper.

Both these options can involve a considerable outlay of money. Local Liberal Democrats are investigating whether Credit Unions can help residents who have difficulty budgetting in this way.

Electricity and Gas

It is always worth finding out if you can reduce your bills by switching suppliers, tariffs or looking at a different way of paying (e.g. by Direct Debit). Soon the bewildering array of tariffs will be simplified, thanks to Liberal Democrats in government, and suppliers will be forced to move consumers to the cheapest tariff if OfGem's reforms fail to have the desired effect. However, price comparison sites - such as www.which.co.uk/switch - will still provide a useful service.

Cheaper Energy Together

Working together, communities can reduce their energy costs through collective switching. Already over 50,000 households have switched in this way, saving up to £200 a year each. There are one or two local schemes that are delivering savings, but local Liberal Democrats are seeking to encourage the setting up of a scheme for householders in the Moorlands. If you are interested contact Henry Jebb.