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A collective switching campaign that includes renewable energy, pre-payment and energy efficiency kit launches in Cornwall today.
The Cornwall Together project, run by Uswitch and Energy Share, could later wrap in social obligations under Cert and Cesp, the Green Deal and microgeneration systems. Cornwall Council and the Eden Project are behind the scheme.
Matt Hastings, energy manager at the Eden Project and project director for Cornwall Together said the aim is to offer a “trusted third party to sit between suppliers and consumers” with “free loft and cavity wall insulation offered as a starter”.
The aim is to unlock the inertia of disengaged customers who have the most to save from switching to a more competitive deal. That means taking a broader approach than an online campaign.
NHS trusts in the region will promote the scheme, as will Unison and the St Austell Brewery, via its 1,000 pubs. The initial aim is to collect comprehensive data from between 10,000 to 20,000 members for a switch in September.
Energy director Lucy Darch said Uswitch was negotiating with suppliers as to how it could package the scheme in order for them to bid. PPM customers could be offered cashback, she said, and there may be six different category winners. Profits will be split three ways with 10 per cent going to a Cornish fuel poverty fund.
Around 50 per cent of Cornwall is off the gas grid, so the scheme later plans to look at helping those households.
Cornwall Together also plans to provide a route for more people to invest in community renewable energy schemes.
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