Council switch and save campaign

Jack_Griffin

I live in Coventry and today got a letter from the Council, presumably delivered to every household about a switch and save campaign. It is being run by a marketing company called iChoosr.

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/65/home_energy_and_warmth/2863/switch_and_save_scheme

While the intention is laudable I really have to question whether this is actually a waste of tax payers money. How much are they paying this company and how many households will save money as a result of the campaign?

Frankly I think a Martin Lewis roadshow in the city centre would achieve more but I doubt the council have the initiative to invite him and his team.

I think a FOI request is in order.

Does anyone have any information on this or similar campaigns?

Farway

I'm in Hampshire, our council does similar, but no payment to company, I assume your council works like the MSE switching site by splitting the switching commissions


No cost to tax payer and maybe some income to help the rates

pooch

I would like to think the Council are not paying iChoosr anything at all for managing this collective switch.

(Edit: Farway posted whilst I was composing this response, confirming that occurs in their county)

iChoosr will make typically £50 commission for every dual fuel switch that results, and hopefully they may be inclined to pass some of this to the council.

Why not contact your councillor if you are that concerned about the arrangement, and the possible expenditure of your hard earned cash you pay the council in council tax.

Would be cheaper than an FOI request, which would be funded from your council tax payments.

Nick_C

Switch and Save, and similar schemes, were seeded with Central Government Funding from DECC. As others have said, I would hope that these schemes are not being funded by the Councils.

You could of course submit a FOI request to CCC, but if you really care about your local council minimising unnecessary costs then presumably you won't!

Jack_Griffin

While the marketing company may get commission terms it cost money to print and deliver a letter to every household and run the 'affordable warmth team' it mentions. The letter was delivered in an envelope with the council logo on it and the material inside has the council logo all over it, so I presume it is paid for by the council.

Jack_Griffin

Nick_C

Jack_Griffin wrote: »

While the marketing company may get commission terms it costs money to print and deliver a letter to every household and run the 'affordable warmth team' it mentions.

I guess it does.

Is it something the Council should be spending money on? Well that's a matter of opinion.

Why are they doing it?

A household is said to be in fuel poverty if their fuel costs are above average, and when having paid for fuel, they are left with an income below the official poverty line.

In the latest figures, released from 2016, Coventry was one of the worst affected authorities in the country, with 15.3% of households in fuel poverty. Some areas of Coventry have fuel poverty rates of over 30%.

The main factors contributing to fuel poverty are:

high energy costs
poorly insulated and inefficient housing
low household income

Fuel poverty is most keenly felt by certain groups of people. The elderly, the very young and those with existing respiratory, heart and mental health conditions are particularly affected as their symptoms are made worse by living in cold homes. These people may also be at home more often and need to heat their homes more to keep warm, increasing their energy bills further.

Those on low incomes will also be more at risk of fuel poverty due to having to spend a greater percentage of their income to heat their homes.

What are we doing to help tackle Fuel Poverty?

Our Affordable Warmth Team are committed to helping those in fuel poverty within the resources available. We work in partnership with several other organisations to secure funding and support to help tackle fuel poverty in Coventry.

We also provide advice and information to owner occupiers, tenants and private landlords on a range of energy efficiency related topics including, grants, switching tariffs, bill and debt queries, energy saving advice and energy efficiency measures.

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/65/home_energy_and_warmth/2139/fuel_poverty_in_coventry