People power can pay off if we all switch

SHOWING the way forward . . . (from left) MP Ed Davey, College Principal Alun Francis and Andrew Louth, of Groundtherm

THE Oldham College was praised for its commitment to raising awareness of renewable energy and providing training opportunities for those working for “green” companies by the country’s Energy and Climate Change Secretary.

Edward Davey MP also praised the work of Oldham Council as Oldham’s Collective Energy Switching Scheme, Power to the People was backed by the 10 neighbouring authorities in Greater Manchester yesterday.

Visiting Oldham as part of a regional tour to sign the unique agreement between the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Mr Davey was taken on a tour of the college’s Green Technology Centre where he had the opportunity to speak to local businessmen keen to implement green energy training among their staff.

He was also given a demonstration of how the energy switching scheme website worked, where people can sign up to register their interest in combining their purchasing power as a group and bulk-buying energy.

After the opportunity to sign up ends in November, the group will auction the purchasing power to get a cheaper fuel deal. More than 800 residents have already signed up.

Mr Davey said: “With high energy bills a real worry, we need to be looking at ways to help —whether that is through collective switching, as is being posed across the whole of Greater Manchester, with Oldham having led the way, or whether it’s through green deals to insulate homes.”


Chronicle leading the way
ENERGY and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey was impressed that Oldham’s local evening newspaper was taking the “Power to the People” message to its readers.

Editor David Whaley lives in the borough and agreed to sign up to the Oldham Council-led scheme during his visit.

Said Mr Davey: “It is excellent news that the local newspaper is publicising this scheme.

“I am talking to some of the national newspaper editors to get behind this and the Chronicle is already doing it.”

Editor David Whaley said: “This scheme really does offer people the chance to make significant savings and we want to encourage our readers to add their weight to numbers signing up and make this a massive success for all concerned.

To sign up go to www.oldham.gov.uk/fairenergy.


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