Residents have until April 8 to sign up to energy price bargaining scheme

Redbridge residents have until midnight on April 8 to sign up to a scheme which could provide them with cheaper energy.

Redbridge Council is joining up with other local authorities across the capital for The Big London Energy Switch, a no obligation collective energy switching scheme.

It works by using the buying power of many residents to attract lower prices from energy companies, according to a council spokesman.

People signing up on the website are not obliged to switch energy supplier, they register an interest and will decide later whether they wish to switch companies. An auction will take place after April 8 in which energy companies bid to provide the most competitive prices for gas and electricity to the group.

Participants are then contacted with information about the offer and can decide if they want to take it.

No third parties are involved once a switch has taken place, the spokesman said.

In a joint statement Cllr Keith Prince, the council leader and Cllr Ian Bond, deputy leader, said: “This scheme really is simple and using the bargaining power of many, the prices are really competitive.”

For info and to register visit www.biglondonenergyswitch.org.uk