Energy Secretary Ed Davey Switches His Own Energy Supplier With the Big Deal

• Energy Secretary Ed Davey joins over a thousand people who have so far switched their energy supply using the Big Deal collective switch
• The Big Deal is the first collective switch to create a new market beating tariff benefiting people who have been let down for too long
• Over 60% of Big Deal members have never or hardly ever switched before, 60% are aged over 55 and 30% aged over 65

Today collective bargaining campaign The Big Deal can announce that the Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Davey, not only joined The Big Deal when it first launched but has now switched his own energy supply to The Big Deal's new market beating energy tariff.

Thanks to the bargaining power of its 10,000 members The Big Deal created the best 2 year tariff available anywhere. It's with leading independent supplier Green Star Energy and isn't on price comparison sites. It's the first time a collective switch has created a new market beating tariff. The tariff will protect customers from price rises for 2 years. Energy UK, the trade body for energy companies, has said energy bills will rise by 50% by 2020 - the equivalent of nearly £100 a year.

The Big Deal has over 10,000 members and it is reaching people who pay too much and are traditionally let down by the energy market. 63% of its members have never or hardly ever switched before. Over 60% are aged over 55 and 30% are aged over 65.

People are saving hundreds of pounds per year by taking The Big Deal's new tariff with one family saving over £700 per year.

Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Davey, said:

“Thanks to this Government collective switches across the country have saved people hundreds of pounds. Bargaining together to get better deals is working particularly for those who have been let down for too long. The whole process was simple and anyone who hasn't switched recently should look out for the next collective switch and sign up.”

Co-founder of The Big Deal, Henry de Zoete, said:

“The Big Deal has shown that people power delivers. We're delighted the Energy Secretary has not only helped create this new market beating deal by throwing his weight behind the campaign but actually switched himself. The Big Deal is putting hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of people who have been ripped off for too long.”

Joanne Thornton, General Manager of Green Star Energy, said:

“The Big Deal has brought together a group of people who don't often switch and have been paying high bills for far too long. We're delighted to be able to offer them a brand new exclusive market leading two year deal that will put money back into their pockets.”

Here are some examples of people who have taken the deal.

Lynne Langshaw, aged 63 from Rochdale, is delighted to be saving over £200 per year. She said:

"This is my first switch. I have a serious medical condition and need extra heat in the very cold months. I had no problem switching and I recommend The Big Deal to anyone who want to ditch the greedy big six companies.”

Rob Morton, a pensioner from Herefordshire, saved £350 per year. He said:

"The Big Deal concept of people power is superb. I am retired and pensioners everywhere should not miss this deal. It hit the spot for me, switching was easy and I am delighted with it.”

Chris and Andrea Goldsmith (retired transport manager and teacher respectively), both aged 61 from Chorley, saved £200 per year. They said:

“We've both retired early so every penny counts. Being able to save so much while protecting ourselves from price rises was brilliant. We've never switched before so teaming up with 10,000 others gave us piece of mind and meant we knew we were getting a good deal. We'll be spending our saving on our granddaughter.”

Mr Platt, aged 76 from Southport, has saved £180 per year. He said:

“Switching was was very easy and I'm delighted with the saving.”

Jean Hopkins, 63, from Basingstoke in Hampshire, is saving £153 a year. She said:

"I'm no longer fearing that I'll be facing extra expensive bills in the coming winters. It's a big worry off my mind.”

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

Details of the deal:

The Green Star Big Deal tariff will cost on average £1,055 per year. The energy regulator Ofgem estimates that the average annual dual bill for the next year will be £1,346. Our offer is £291 a year cheaper than that. So even if - and it's a big if - prices don't rise next year, the average person will still save £582 over two years. Ofgem's estimate is for the period May 2014 - April 2015. Ofgem, Supply Market Indicator data. This saving is an estimate based on average consumption. The amount of money each person will save will depend on how much energy their household uses. They will receive a personalised quote prior to entering in to any contract with Green Star Energy.

Like nearly all 2 year contracts there are termination fees if you leave Green Star Energy deal before the end of 2 years - £30 per fuel.

This deal is open to customers who wish to pay by Direct Debit, or Cash / Cheque, and receive online or paper bills. Paying by Cash/Cheque will lose the direct debit discount of £32+VAT per fuel per year.

The deal is available for Big Deal members to take until midnight on Tuesday 15th July.

The Direct debit discount of £33.60 per year for gas and £33.60 per year for electricity included in the standing charge. The rates given below do not include an online discount of £5.25 per fuel per year, and a Dual Fuel discount of £15.75 per year.

The Big Deal's Green Star Energy deal is over £20 cheaper over two years than the best 2 year tariff currently available on price comparison websites.

Better price security than a one year fix

- When customers reach the end of their one year fixed tariffs, they are automatically rolled onto their supplier's standard variable tariff – which is always more expensive. That means that after two years, you will be worse off than if you choose to take the security of our two year deal. The attached table shows how much you save with The Big Deal's tariff versus the cheapest 1 year deal.

- When the suppliers raise their prices at the end of this year, those who are on one year tariffs will get hit by the higher prices when they switch next year. Meanwhile, those who take The Big Deal's offer will pay the same low price – with no increases – for the next two years.

- The current use of one year tariffs to measure value for money is representative of the dangerous short term thinking in the UK energy market.

About The Big Deal

The Big Deal is a national campaign for cheaper energy bills. It brings people together to harness their collective buying power and deliver lower bills. It launched three months ago and in total over 10,000 people signed up, over 60% of whom have never or hardly ever switched before. It was possible to sign up either online or over the phone for those who didn't have the internet. People can still register for future offers from The Big Deal at www.thisisthebigdeal.com.

About Green Star Energy

A fast-growing independent supplier Green Star Energy joined the British energy market in 2013. As an independent supplier, it is small and agile enough to offer extremely competitive prices and personalised customer service with a UK-based call centre. Green Star Energy is a member of the Just Energy Group, a well-established North American-based energy supplier that serves close to 2 million customers across Canada, the U.S. and the UK. Green Star's sister company, Hudson Energy, has been serving thousands of business customers up and down the UK for the past two years.

For more information, please contact:

Henry de Zoete

T: 07970323112

E: henry@thisisthebigdeal.com

Twitter: @BigDealEnergy