Alison Seabeck MP

Working hard for you

Don’t miss your chance to make the switch

Alison is encouraging people to sign up to the “Big Switch” campaign.  The campaign run by Which? asks people to register on their web site https://www.whichbigswitch.co.uk/ so that they can negotiate a cheaper bill for their gas and electricity.

When people come together, they’ll have more power to negotiate cheaper energy bills with the big energy companies. It sets an exciting precedent which organisations such as local authorities and housing associations could take up to negotiate better energy deals on behalf of their residents.

Alison said “I am extremely concerned that in trying to cut too far and too fast the Government is making things worse, not better, for millions of hardworking families. Pensioners have seen their winter fuel payments cut, hundreds of thousands of families will miss out on help with their bills this year, and grants to support people to insulate their homes and make them more energy efficient have been cut’.

‘At a time when families are facing record fuel bills and energy companies are enjoying huge profits, government needs to step in and support families.  We have to take on the powerful vested interests in the energy industry and to develop plans to provide real help now, as well as reform the way our energy market works for the long-term and so apart from supporting the “Big Switch” Labour would:-

•    Provide real help now by making the energy companies ensure that all vulnerable pensioners and low-income families with children at risk of fuel poverty, and who receive the Cold Weather Payment, automatically receive the Warm Homes Discount.

•    We would get tough with the energy companies by requiring them to check all pensioners over 75 are on the cheapest possible tariff.

•    We would reform the energy market by increasing transparency and breaking the dominance of the Big Six by requiring them to sell power into a pool, allowing new businesses to enter the market, increasing competition and driving down energy bills for families and businesses.

•    We would help families make their homes more energy efficient by ensuring the Green Deal is offered on fair terms to consumers so it can contribute to reducing bills and keeping people warmer.

•    We would investigate mis-selling and ensure that consumers are properly compensated where it has occurred”.