What’s described as a ‘ground breaking’ scheme bringing energy bill savings of up to 20% to Cornish households was launched today (23rd July 2012) at the 
Eden Project by Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change. It will also address some of the fuel poverty issues.
Called Cornwall Together, it is a new collective switching scheme claiming to remove around £240m from household energy bills in the county.
In a keynote speech, Ed Davey spoke of his vision for energy collective purchasing and praised the Cornwall Together initiative. He says: “I want the benefits of collective switching to be open to all communities. That’s why Cornwall Together is such a fantastic initiative.
“Not just because this is the first time a county has joined together to help people save. Not just because it’s coming from a new angle, by working with big employers in Cornwall, across sectors. Not just because it encourages people to think about more sustainable energy options. But also because this is the first collective switching scheme I’ve heard of that will actively target the hard-to-reach households who most need help. And one pound out of every 10 generated will go into a fund for Cornish communities.”
Ed Davey said, this scheme really was the first of its kind. And he sincerely hoped was the first of many.
Building on the Cornwall Together initiative, he has written to local authority chief executives encouraging them to consider how they might lead and facilitate community energy switching and bulk buying schemes.
More information: www.decc.gov.uk
Right: part of the Eden Project which boasts “impeccable” low-carbon credentials