Doncaster Council has announced plans to launch a new municipal energy supplier called Great North Energy on 7 November.
The local authority has begun the countdown by inviting residents to register their interest in switching to the not-for-profit company.
“Today is an exciting day for Doncaster as we reveal the identity of a brand new local energy provider,” said Doncaster mayor Ros Jones at a launch event on Monday (16 October).
“Reducing the cost of living for people has long been a priority of mine so this is our opportunity to ensure that the people of Doncaster are getting a fair deal on gas and electricity.”
Jones said the council has already had some “great success” in lowering bills through its collective switching scheme, the Big Power Switch, which has saved residents nearly half a million pounds since launching in 2014.
“However, we see the launch of Great North Energy as an opportunity to achieve more still,” she added. “This is the next step in making sure as many homes in Doncaster have the choice of a competitive tariff and is part of our commitment to supporting residents in difficult times, to help offset the impact of austerity.”
The new supplier will focus on selling energy to local residents, in particular those living in fuel poverty or using prepayment meters.
It will be operated in partnership with Robin Hood Energy – the local energy company created by Nottingham County Council in 2015 – which will provide “white labelled” tariffs and customer services.
Great North Energy will become the fifth company to be set up with the help of Robin Hood Energy under the white label model, following LECCY in Liverpool, White Rose Energy in Leeds, Ram Energy in Derby and earlier this week Angelic Energy in London.
Robin Hood Energy chief executive Gail Scholes said: “We are delighted to be working with Doncaster Council and want to help to make a difference here in the same way that we have done in other parts of the country.”
“Evidence suggests that a large proportion of households either never switch or rarely switch energy deals so there are many local residents who will benefit from the scheme, along with the savviest of switchers who we know still aren’t always getting the best deal with profit driven companies.”