Cheaper energy on the way under Shropshire Council partnership with SSE
Shropshire residents can now take advantage of lower energy prices – and energy-saving advice – thanks to a partnership between Shropshire Council and energy company SSE.
Shropshire Council and SSE are working together to offer a new energy tariff: the Shropshire Community Energy tariff, which is being launched today, Tuesday 25 April 2017.
The new Shropshire Community Energy tariff is cheaper than SSE’s Standard tariff. It’s exclusively available to Shropshire residents, Shropshire Council staff and those working for the council’s partner organisations, such as charities that Shropshire Council supports. It allows customers to fix their energy prices for two years at this reduced rate, protecting them against price rises.
Shropshire residents who are currently on SSE’s standard tariff will be able to transfer to the new Shropshire tariff and benefit from the reduced rate with no exit fees applied.
For everyone who switches to the new Shropshire Community Energy tariff, SSE will pay Shropshire Council a fee, and the council will put this money towards the cost of running museums and other cultural assets – services identified as priorities in the council’s ‘Big Conversation’ consultation.
Under the partnership, people will also be able to access advice and support about ways to save money through energy-saving measures, such as loft insulation and boiler maintenance cover.
Tim Smith, head of business, enterprise and commercial services with Shropshire Council said:
“This partnership is great news for Shropshire residents.
“As we’re continually facing reductions in our own budgets, we recognise that we need to be more commercial and find other opportunities to raise income.
“The deal put forward by SSE offers a discounted rate to residents from a well-known and established brand, and will generate valuable income for the council that can be put into the services that people value most.
“Through this partnership with SSE we will receive a fee for each referral to them that results in a contract take up. We hope to raise tens of thousands of pounds over the next year. This money will be used to support our museums and cultural assets – which were previously noted as at risk due to cuts in funding.
“If we raise more than amount required for our cultural assets we’ll be really pleased with the support that Shropshire’s residents have shown – and we’ll then work with the people of Shropshire to identify what the additional money should be spent on.
“This partnership with SSE will also enable us to provide people with valuable help and advice about how they can save money through a range of energy-saving measures.”
Lee Maher, head of partnerships at SSE said:
“We’re very happy to be working with Shropshire Council, creating more options for energy customers in the county. The energy market is evolving and at SSE we’re always looking out for new and exciting ways to engage with customers. We hope this new partnership with do just that.”
For more information about the tariff, who is eligible, and how to switch, click here.
To read a series of ‘frequently asked questions’ about the new tariff and the Shropshire Council/SSE partnership, click here.
This is the first of hopefully many projects that deliver benefits for the people of Shropshire by working closely with private businesses.
Further information
SSE is one of the UK’s leading energy companies, with around 8 million energy and home services customers in Great Britain and Ireland. SSE provides gas and electricity, phone and broadband, and home services (such as boiler breakdown cover).
The Big Conversation launched in 2015 to better understand which services people value most and where the council should prioritise its budget. The Big Conversation survey resumed in December 2016 and asks residents questions about their community, health and the local economy – the three main priorities in the council’s draft Corporate Plan.
