New local energy partnership Your Energy Sussex says it aims to save customers across the county £300 a year and tackle fuel poverty.
Led by West Sussex County Council, the not-for-profit venture with Nottingham City Council-backed Robin Hood Energy says it will offer residents who switch a competitive, fairer deal on gas and electricity whilst distributing money to help those struggling to pay their bills.
It says it will also strive to ensure customers remain on the cheapest Your Energy Sussex tariff.
Currently supported by 12 of the 15 local authorities in Sussex, Brighton & Hove City Council will decide in March on whether to support the scheme, launched on 13 February.
According to figures from Ofgem, only 25% of households in the county compared their energy costs and switched supplier in the past year, meaning more than 500,000 households in Sussex could be paying too much for their gas and electricity.
Your Energy Sussex is also working with Robin Hood Energy to provide Sussex-produced green energy from West Sussex County Council solar panels directly to customers through the launch of a green energy tariff later this year.
David Edwards, senior adviser of partnerships at West Sussex County Council, said: “For many consumers, having a council-supported, not-for-profit alternative that offers consistently competitive prices and excellent customer service will help them to take the first step towards becoming a regular energy switcher.”
Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for Environment, said: “We want to help people across Sussex to get the best deal from the energy market by comparing costs regularly and switching suppliers to get the best deal.”
Nick Bennett, East Sussex County Council lead member for Transport and Environment, said: “We’re delighted to be working with our partners to support a local initiative that will not only help our residents to save money on their energy bills but will also support ways to tackle fuel poverty.”
Other councils around the UK have also launched their own local energy suppliers, including Doncaster and Nottingham.
Ofgem confirmed that switching is still the main method of saving money for consumers. The energy regulator recently announced it will be a launching a ‘simplified collective switch’ aimed at helping customers get a better deal whilst protecting those that do not change providers.