EDEN PROJECT RESEARCH REPORT CORNWALL TOGETHER ...

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EDEN PROJECT RESEARCH REPORT

CORNWALL TOGETHER PHASE 2 RESEARCH REPORT Incorporating Elements of UK Together

July 2013

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CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

Summary of Research Results ................................................................................................................................ 6

Method ................................................................................................................................................................... 7

The Basics: .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Metrics on performance marketing plan ............................................................................................................ 7

Reach of the campaign ................................................................................................................................... 7

Awareness of the campaign: .......................................................................................................................... 9

Numbers of participants (Web, Telephone and Events)............................................................................... 11

Events ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

Community engagement events .................................................................................................................. 11

Road shows: .................................................................................................................................................. 13

Pub events .................................................................................................................................................... 13

Tracking the performance of the programme: ..................................................................................................... 13

Sign Ups, switchers and average savings .......................................................................................................... 13

Average saving .............................................................................................................................................. 14

Response to the programme ............................................................................................................................ 15

Switcher and non-switcher surveys ...................................................................................................................... 16

Results .................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Sample size and response rates: ....................................................................................................................... 17

Confidence limits and response rates: ......................................................................................................... 17

Performance and Who responded? ................................................................................................................. 18

Demographics of Respondents ......................................................................................................................... 19

Had respondents explored switching before? .................................................................................................. 23

Fuel Poverty and areas of high indices of multiple deprivation. ...................................................................... 24

What brought people to the Cornwall Together programme? ........................................................................ 29

Why did people switch? ................................................................................................................................... 30

How important was it that the partners were trusted ..................................................................................... 30

Barriers to switching ......................................................................................................................................... 31

Comments on Barriers ...................................................................................................................................... 33

Quality issues: ................................................................................................................................................... 34

Overall rating ................................................................................................................................................ 34

Recommendation to friends and relations ................................................................................................... 35

Cornwall specific barriers to switching are presented below: ...................................................................... 35

Thermal imaging project:...................................................................................................................................... 37

Summary conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 39

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Appendix 1A.......................................................................................................................................................... 40

Events – Community Engagement ............................................................................................................... 40

Interview Sheet ............................................................................................................................................ 42

Events – Road-shows and pubs ................................................................................................................... 43

Example Survey – Survey A: Switcher Survey ............................................................................................. 45

Example Survey: Survey B: Non-switcher Survey ......................................................................................... 52

Appendix 1B Thermal Imaging Cornwall 2013 Interim Report ............................................................................. 57

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 57

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 58

Background ....................................................................................................................................................... 58

Thermal Imaging Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 59

Preliminary Results ........................................................................................................................................... 59

Further Analysis to be completed ..................................................................................................................... 63

Future Work ...................................................................................................................................................... 63

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 63

Cornwall Together ................................................................................................................................................ 65

Building Thermograph Report .............................................................................................................................. 65

Example report 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 65

Cornwall Together ................................................................................................................................................ 71

Building Thermograph Report .............................................................................................................................. 71

Example report 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 71

Research Plan Diagram ..................................................................................................................................... 77

Appendix 2 Data tables ......................................................................................................................................... 78

How did you hear about the Together programme?........................................................................................ 78

Cornwall Together ............................................................................................................................................ 78

Exeter Together ................................................................................................................................................ 78

Scots Together .................................................................................................................................................. 79

Birmingham and Solihull Together ................................................................................................................... 80

Appendix 3 Free text Comments ...................................................................................................................... 81

All Regions – Comments Analysis. ................................................................................................................ 81

Comments on Barriers .................................................................................................................................. 81

Comments on reasons to switch .................................................................................................................. 82

If you would recommend to friends and relatives, what would you say? .................................................... 82

Why wouldn’t you tell your friend and relatives about this? ....................................................................... 84

Any other comments .................................................................................................................................... 85

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Appendix 4 Regional data ..................................................................................................................................... 86

Birmingham and Solihull ............................................................................................................................... 86

Exeter ............................................................................................................................................................ 86

Scotland ........................................................................................................................................................ 86

UK Together .................................................................................................................................................. 87

Other organisations which directed to Birmingham and Solihull Together from (Region Specific): ............ 87

Any other reason not above? (Barriers) ....................................................................................................... 88

If you would recommend x Together to friends and family, what would you say to them? ...................... 102

If you wouldn’t recommend to friends and family, tell us why: ................................................................. 122

Any other comments: ................................................................................................................................. 137

Appendix 5 Correlation tests .............................................................................................................................. 154

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INTRODUCTION

Cornwall Together was the first regional collective switching scheme to launch in the UK. It collectively

purchased electricity, gas and heating oil using an accessible, inclusive and open approach. It worked with

cross-sector partners to alleviate fuel poverty and improve public health. But ultimately, it was about

showcasing a collective model for engagement that can be used to create change.

“This scheme really is the first of its kind. And I sincerely hope it’s the first of many.”

Ed Davey (July 2012), Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

The DECC-funded second round of Cornwall Together was a focused, intensive collective energy switching

campaign that ran from January to March 2013. It built on the first round that ran from July to November

2012. It was managed by the Eden Project, an educational charity and visitor attraction which attracts around

one million people per year to its famous biomes based near St Austell in Cornwall.

The project delivered a comprehensive awareness-raising campaign that targeted the most hard to reach, fuel

poor and vulnerable households in Cornwall working in partnership with a wide range of cross sector

organisations including Cornwall Council, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Community Energy Plus, St Austell

Brewery and many others.

This network of organisations formed the backbone of the project. They acted as trusted, apolitical

intermediaries, many of which were associated with putting people before profit. The marketing campaign

utilised compelling community messaging and employed a mix of broadcast and press advertising that

achieved 100% awareness in the Cornish population. This was then backed up by an engagement programme

that used techniques based on Eden’s unique style of communication, targeting hard to reach communities in

both housing estates and village halls. There was also a county wide tour with a ‘shed on wheels’, a Cornwall

Together campervan and a series of events in local pubs.

Cornwall Together Round Two was part of UK Together (an Eden Project managed by energyshare), a national

switching pilot that took place around the country, in Birmingham, Solihull, Exeter and Scotland.

UK Together ran an up front auction to negotiate group prices for a variety of different tariffs and payment

methods. The auction was done at the start of the process, so members knew the group price from the start.

The direct debit was won by First Utility, prepayment and pay on receipt of bill were won by British Gas. Whole

of market comparisons were provided for both fixed and variable rates to ensure members of the schemes

received the best value. A green tariff was also included.

THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Applied research projects were developed for Cornwall Together to monitor performance, measure reach of

the campaign and explore barriers to engaging with switching as well as an additional standalone thermal

imaging project which aimed to educate residents through the discovery of common issues found during a

thermal assessment of the housing stock in Cornwall. This element of the project was also used as a

compelling way to increase engagement in collective purchasing.

This report presents the findings of these studies. There were three core elements of research which formed

the evaluation process in addition to the ‘thermal imaging’ study. Monitoring the basics, track performance

and gauge how people who signed up and switched, responded to the offers presented.

In the course of the project we identified an approach that could engage the disengaged (17% of members had

never switched before, 15% of switches were made offline), reach the hard to reach (28% of switchers were in

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fuel poverty, 50% more than were present in the general population), and use the concept of ‘Togetherness’ to

drive change (75% of members wanted to be part of something bigger, 65% of non switchers would

recommend to friends and family).

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH RESULTS

The campaign achieved the following:

• The equivalent of ten per cent of Cornish households had visited the website

• 28,888 unique web visits

• 8,366 people registered

• 7,192 quotes were given

• 1,174 customers switched

• Two thirds of the Cornish population were aware of the campaign

• Average savings of £112 per household were achieved

• More than £130,000 went back into the pockets of Cornish householders

• 452 facebook likes

• 690 Twitter followers

• 190 press cuttings, 270,000 readers

• 54 events in 4 weeks (3000 people directly engaged)

• 620 households took part in one of the largest thermal image surveys in the UK

The post campaign evaluation also highlighted the following key findings:

• 18% of households that switched and 6.5% of those who engaged but chose not to switch responded

to the evaluation, significantly higher than expected for online surveys of this type (which typically see

a 4-5% response rate)

• The 4 key barriers to switching were all financial, and included the potential savings not being large

enough (74% for those new to switching), finding a cheaper deal elsewhere (49% for those who had

explored switching before), being offered a better deal by current supplier (31% for those who were

new to switching) and high cancellation charges from fixed price plans (31% of respondents).

• Campaign switchers were made up of 50% more people in fuel poverty than were present in the

general population; one of the key aims of the project

• 65% of switchers felt that their home was ‘hard to heat’

• 53% struggled to pay their energy bills however only 28% of switchers were officially classed as being

in fuel poverty

• 21% of households that switched had occupants with a long term illness or disability; a useful proxy

for vulnerable households who are more at risk of fuel poverty

• 8% of switchers were living with children under 5

• Of those who didn’t switch, 18% of households had never switched before

• Over 90% of households switching were owner occupiers, with the highest number of switches

occurring in pre-1919 detached homes; both consistent with the stock profile of the county

• The average age of people who switched was 49. Two thirds of switchers were over 45 highlighting

challenges with younger people and energy switching

• 96% of all households had explored switching energy supplier previously

• The two most recorded channels for hearing about the project were newspapers and e-mail

newsletters

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• 100% of the households who switched listed financial savings as the only or main reason that they

switched through Exeter Together, with further high scores (67-76% of total respondents) for being

part of the collective and a project focused on their local area

• 35% of households switched because it gave them the opportunity to select a greener tariff, showing

that the project had financial, social and environmental benefits

• 95% would have recommended Cornwall Together to family or friends.

METHOD

Data was collected throughout a mix of research techniques. This included, tracking advertising range and

reach, monitoring distribution, user surveys, sign in sheets, observations, face to face interviews and simple

clicker counts at core events. Where appropriate, data was collected at point of first contact, at point of sign

up, at point of switching and also after the project had closed to assess what happened. Additionally data was

collected by the University of Plymouth when a household expressed an interest in taking part of the thermal

imaging project. At all points the research framework was designed to monitor how the project attracted

people who were in fuel poverty, were living in areas of high indices of multiple deprivation and whether those

who engaged were new to switching with an aim to reveal key triggers to unblocking barriers to switching.

THE BASICS:

METRICS ON PERFORMANCE MARKETING PLAN

REACH OF THE CAMPAIGN

A number of marketing media were employed to create an intensive, month long campaign.

This campaign reached:

• Every household by a leaflet door drop which targeted every postcode in Cornwall.

The campaign therefore reached 100% of households.

Press: it was not possible to access to the exact figures for reach of advertising, however, below are

the circulation figures for all the publications used and a general rule to calculate readership is to

multiply the following figures by three:

o West Briton Series - 32,387 = 97,161

o Cornish Times – 10,510 = 31,530

o Packet Series – 34,886 = 104,658

o Newquay Voice – 5,500 = 16,500

o St Austell Voice – 7,300 = 21,900

Total readership is therefore in the region of 270,000

OUTDOOR:

The media agency CARAT calculated that 60.1% of the population of Cornwall had 13 opportunities to see this

campaign through posters, bill boards, bus stops and other ‘out of home’ advertising.

It has not been possible to include the reach of the two Advans which travelled to key towns in Cornwall over

the last two weeks of the campaign in the above figure due to the ground they cover and time spent stationary

versus time spent at different orientations etc. This was further complicated by the larger target area for

Cornwall Together, as most Advan campaigns target much smaller areas (e.g. proximity to store).

RADIO

advertising reached 53.71% of the population.

(the above figures calculated by the media agency CARAT 2013)

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AWARENESS OF THE CAMPAIGN:

A bespoke intercept interview survey was conducted to monitor the level of awareness achieved by the

campaign. Street interviews were conducted with just over 600 groups in key towns in Cornwall in two

phases:

• Phase 1 – the first week of the full campaign 18th to 24th February 2013

• Phase 2 – the week the campaign finished 18th to 20th March 2013

This research demonstrated that by the end of the campaign, 66% of the population of Cornwall could recall

some degree of unprompted awareness of a community buying scheme in Cornwall for energy. This rose from

23% recalling it in the first week of the campaign.

When prompted, that it was Cornwall Together that was being referred to, this research confirmed that by the

end of the campaign, 53% of the population of Cornwall were aware of Cornwall Together. This rose from 20%

recalling it in the first week of the campaign.

Phase 1

Phase 20%

20%

40%

60%

80%

No "Have

not heard

anything

about it"

Not sure "I

might have

heard

something

about it"

Yes "I’ve

heard about

it don’t

know what

its called"

Yes "you

mean

Cornwall

Together"

77%

12%8%

4%

34%

14% 26%26%

Unprompted awareness

'Have you heard about the community buying scheme in

Cornwall for energy?'

Phase 1

Phase 20%

20%

40%

60%

80%

No - Definitely no

recall I think so / Maybe

/ etc. Yes - Definite

recall

79%

19%

1%

48%

37%

16%

Prompted awareness

'The scheme I'm referring to is called Cornwall Together...

have you heard of this?'

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Awareness of key partners involvement in Cornwall Together, of 11 primary partner organisations involved,

61% spontaneously cited the Eden Project the organisation they most associated with Cornwall Together, this

was closely followed by the County Council (51%) and Community Energy Plus (47%), energy share (35%), Age

UK (21%).

Of those aware of the scheme 92% could recall some form of advertising (57% definite strong recall and 35%

lower level recall).

Strongest recall was:

I. Newspapers (40%) (editorial 12%, advert / advertorial 21%, other in newspaper content e.g. flyer, 7%)

II. Posters (35%) (Billboard poster 20%, Posters at bus stop 7%, posters in local shops, café’s

noticeboards 8%)

III. Fold out leaflet / Leaflet through the door – 23%

IV. Radio 19% which was also the channel that gained most between the two phases, moving from 5% in

week one to 19% at the end.

V. Word of mouth / recommendation from friend or relation – 9%

VI. Local invites – 8%

VII. E-mail newsletters - 5%

9%

2%

4%

6%

10%

10%

14%

13%

21%

35%

47%

51%

61%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

None of the above

Other local

Keo Digital

St Austell Brewery

Unison

the NHS

Citizens Advice Bureau

uSwitch

Age UK

energyshare

Community Energy Plus

Cornwall Council

Eden Project

Awareness of key partners involvement in

Cornwall Together Phase 2

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59% of the respondents supported the idea of a collective purchasing group at some level.

A quarter of respondents (25%) were indifferent to the idea and only 6% opposed collective energy

purchasing. Unsurprisingly, the 9% answering “don’t know” were generally those who had no recall of

Cornwall Together at all.

NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS (WEB, TELEPHONE AND EVENTS)

A number of participants connected with Cornwall through various channels provided.

The Cornwall Together website achieved 28,888 separate web hits.

Telephone (run by uSwitch) 1,943 calls were received, of which 1,606 were answered. 15% of final switches

were made offline.

Nearly 3,000 people were directly engaged with via events.

EVENTS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Community engagement events were used to target communities where there were high indices of multiple

deprivation and high levels of fuel poverty. The design objectives for the Community Events were to create an

inviting, homely, cosy, relaxing and welcome space to hold conversations about energy bills and about their

community over a cup of tea and cake. These became very ‘gentle’ events, one visitor described it as feeling

‘like a cross between walking into a village fete and someone’s living room’. They were never intended to pull

in huge numbers, instead to offer a chance to explore the potential to save money on energy bill and to

become part of the Cornwall Together community.

The spaces were developed with attractive, interactive and engaging installations with a homemade feel which

carried messaging and information relating to Cornwall Together and a minimum of four staff to welcome

visitors and initiate conversations.

9%

2%

4%

25%

41%

18%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Don't know

Strongly Oppose

Somewhat opposed

Indifferent to the idea

Support somewhat

Support strongly

'To what extent do you support that as an idea?’

[Cornwall Together - collective purchasing]

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This included:

• A model explaining current UK energy

distribution.

• Scales display of consumer power (how

Cornwall Together works).

• Onesies – made from insulation materials.

• Solar kits (something to play with).

• Polaroid photos of who has signed up so

far in those local areas.

• Map of Cornwall showing CT spread/sign

up/numbers etc

It also included information explaining

• What Cornwall Together is

• How it worked

• How to join/sign up/ what to expect next

• Top tips to save energy

• Barriers to switching

Eleven communities were identified as having high indices of multiple deprivation and high fuel poverty1:

1. Camborne Pengegon Institute

2. Malabar centre

3. Sancreed Village Hall

4. Egloskerry Village Hall

5. Beacon Community Centre Falmouth

6. St Blazey Community Centre – Landreath Estate

7. Port Isaac Village Hall

8. Lerryn Memorial Hall

9. Penzance Treneere Estate, Lescudjack Centre

10. St Neot Village Hall

11. Marazion Community Centre

The map below plots the distribution of the community events across Cornwall

Visitors to the community engagement events were asked to sign in and where they were able to, they shared

how they had heard about the event.

1 It should be noted that areas of high indices of multiple deprivation don’t usually correlate with areas of high

fuel poverty. In fact the highest correlation for fuel poverty not being on mains gas and these are

predominantly rural locations that are generally less populated and have a wider socio demographic mix than

areas of high indices of multiple deprivation which tend to have a narrower and poorer socio demographic

mix.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESULTS

A total of 257 people registered their attendance (i.e. an average of 23 people per event)

More information about sign ups and responses can be found in appendix 1

ROAD SHOWS:

Counts were taken every day throughout the events and a 1,972 people attended the roadshows which

occurred throughout Cornwall

PUB EVENTS

245 people attended the pub events. Overall, through these events, at least 2,471 engaged with the project

although this is thought to be closer to 3,000.

TRACKING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAMME:

SIGN UPS, SWITCHERS AND AVERAGE SAVINGS

Data throughout this report is split by respondents that switched, ‘switchers’, compared to response from

those who didn’t, ‘non-switchers’.

When combining both the call centre and web statistics, a total of 8,366 people signed up to Cornwall

Together of which 1,174 switched to Cornwall Together. Therefore, the conversion rate was 14%, in other

words, 7 out of every 50 people who signed up, switched with Cornwall Together.

Of the 8,366 people who signed up to Cornwall Together, 7,122 (85%) followed through, entered their energy

usage information and got a quote and 1,174 people (14% of those who signed up, or 16% of those who had a

quote) switched.

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AVERAGE SAVING

The total value of saving for all regions was £281,780 with an average saving of £124.63 per household.

Many households switcher both electricity and gas supplier and the average saving per switch was therefore

£74.27.

Cornwall Together yielded an average saving of £112.04 per household and £72.51 per switch.

Date

Value of

total savings

achieved

sign upsProduct

switches

Switches

(houshold)

avge saving

per

household

saving

per

switch

Cornwalltogether £131,536.51 8,366 1,814 1,174 £112.04 £72.51

UKtogether £9,665.27 968 114 60 £161.09 £84.78

Scotstogether £77,859.77 4,425 916 529 £147.18 £85.00

Exetertogether £35,325.59 2,188 621 327 £108.03 £56.89

Birmingham and Solihulltogether £27,393.25 1,029 329 171 £160.19 £83.26

Total £281,780.39 16,976 3794 2261 £124.63 £74.27

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RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAMME

The maps below describe the distribution of Cornwall Together sign ups. It clearly mirrors population and the

intensity of distribution confirms the high penetration of the awareness raising and advertising campaign

which was described above.

Figure 1 Sign ups to Cornwall Together database

Figure 2 sign ups and switchers to Cornwall Together

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Figure 3 Sign ups (blue) and switchers (red) in Cornwall Together

SWITCHER AND NON-SWITCHER SURVEYS

A large element of the evaluation research was a post experience survey. This was conducted with both

switchers and non-switchers and sought information about all those who had signed up but split between

those who had switched as well as those who hadn’t.

This study drew on the objectives of the entire UK Together group (Cornwall, Scotland, Exeter and Birmingham

and Solihull) to develop a method that would capture the information needed to understand why households

engaged, or not. The surveys explored various factors of the switching process and drew on a framework

developed with other UK Together regions to allow comparison between each area of the country. Although

consultation and design by a wider area than Cornwall Together meant that there were some compromises

with questions, the overall net gain was thought to be of greater benefit the project and funders than without.

The factors examined within these surveys included barriers to switching, attractions to switching as well as

the profile of switchers and non-switchers looking at previous engagement with the switching process,

household makeup as well as indicators to show whether a household is in fuel poverty. 24% of switchers and

6.5% of non-switchers responded.

RESULTS

Insight into who sought to find out whether they could save money and who switched was supplied by uSwitch

(owners of the switching website) this information included product type, amount of saving, whether

electricity supply type (prepayment / standard metre) postcode and was reliant on uSwitch supplying their

interpretation of this data.

Detailed understanding assessing barriers, motivation and whether people had switched before was drawn

from the online survey.

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SAMPLE SIZE AND RESPONSE RATES:

A total of 7192 non-switchers and 1174 switchers were sent an opportunity to provide detailed feedback.

• A total of 1,331 households responded to the surveys from all regions (there was an average response

rate of 7.8%). For Cornwall:

o 209 of switched households responded to the ‘switcher survey’ (18% of all switchers)

o 469 of ‘non-switcher’ households (6.5% of non-switchers)

An average response rate of 17% was achieved from those who switched and an average of 6.5% of total non-

switchers responded to the Cornwall survey. Typically, online, self-completion surveys of this type will yield an

average response rate of 4% to 5% therefore, this result demonstrates that the non-switcher survey yielded a

slightly above average response rate, and the ‘switchers’ yielded an exceptional response rate. Indicating that

everyone joining the Together programme were more engaged than average, and that switchers had higher

engagement than non-switchers.

Together Region Switcher Non

Switcher Switcher

Survey as

% of

switchers

Non-switcher Survey as

% of those who

registered but didn't

switch

Cornwall Together 209 469 18% 6.5%

UK Together 19 36 32% 4.0%

Scots Together 133 176 25% 4.5%

Exeter Together 89 113 27% 6.1%

Birmingham and Solihull Together 44 43 26% 5.0%

Total 494 837 22% 5.7%

CONFIDENCE LIMITS AND RESPONSE RATES:

When viewing the results below, it is important to bear in mind that all sample surveys are subject to statistical

error. The size of this error varies with the sample size and also with the order of magnitude of the research

findings being considered.

The results presented in this report are generally for all returns and only split out by ‘together’ region where

appropriate. The following table shows the sample achieved and gives the margins within which one can be

almost completely certain (95% using standard deviation) that the true figures will fall. For example, for the

total survey response we can be 95% certain that a result from non-switchers presented as 50% will fall in the

range 46.6% to 53.4%, or that a result of 80% will fall between 77.3% and 82.7%. These rates should be

considered when viewing any of the results presented in this report.

TABLE 1 SAMPLING TOLLERANCES

Research

findings

Switcher

209

Non

Switcher

469

Switcher

19

Non

Switcher

36

Switcher

133

Non

Switcher

176

Switcher

89

Non

Switcher

113

Switcher

44

Non

Switcher

43

Switcher

494

Non

Switcher

837

10% or 90% +/- 4.1% +/- 2.7% +/- 13.5% +/- 9.8% +/- 5.1% +/- 4.4% +/- 6.2% +/- 5.5% +/- 8.9% +/- 9% +/- 2.6% +/- 2%

20% or 80% +/- 5.4% +/- 3.6% +/- 18% +/- 13.1% +/- 6.8% +/- 5.9% +/- 8.3% +/- 7.4% +/- 11.8% +/- 12% +/- 3.5% +/- 2.7%

30% or 70% +/- 6.2% +/- 4.1% +/- 20.6% +/- 15% +/- 7.8% +/- 6.8% +/- 9.5% +/- 8.4% +/- 13.5% +/- 13.7% +/- 4% +/- 3.1%

40% or 60% +/- 6.6% +/- 4.4% +/- 22% +/- 16% +/- 8.3% +/- 7.2% +/- 10.2% +/- 9% +/- 14.5% +/- 14.6% +/- 4.3% +/- 3.3%

50% +/- 6.8% +/- 4.5% +/- 22.5% +/- 16.3% +/- 8.5% +/- 7.4% +/- 10.4% +/- 9.2% +/- 14.8% +/- 14.9% +/- 4.4% +/- 3.4%

Cornwall Together UKTogether Scots Together Exeter Together B&S Together Total Together

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PERFORMANCE AND WHO RESPONDED?

Data throughout this report describes respondents to each survey as those who switched as ‘switchers’

compared to response from those who didn’t as ‘non-switchers’.

Date

Value of

total savings

achieved

sign upsProduct

switches

Switches

(houshold)

avge saving

per

household

saving

per

switch

Cornwalltogether £131,536.51 8,366 1,814 1,174 £112.04 £72.51

UKtogether £9,665.27 968 114 60 £161.09 £84.78

Scotstogether £77,859.77 4,425 916 529 £147.18 £85.00

Exetertogether £35,325.59 2,188 621 327 £108.03 £56.89

Birmingham and Solihulltogether £27,393.25 1,029 329 171 £160.19 £83.26

Total £281,780.39 16,976 3794 2261 £124.63 £74.27

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DEMOGRAPHICS OF RESPONDENTS

In Cornwall, the average age of respondents was 49 years. Overall, non switchers were slightly younger (49)

than those who switched (50). Most noticeable variance between age of switcher versus non switcher was

seen in Scots Together where average age of a switcher was 45 yrs compared to 50 for a non-switcher.

Overall, 61% of respondents were between the ages of 45 yrs to 74 yrs. The chart below shows that there was

very little difference between household age between switcher and non-switcher. However, households with

children were more likely to switch than those without children.

On average across the regions, 5% of switcher households had children who were under 5 years, compared to

3% of non-switcher households. Exeter and Birmingham and Solihull Together had the highest proportion of

switcher household with occupants who were under 5 years old (10% and 11% of households respectively).

The table below illustrates that there was less consistency of data when looking at household occupancy.

Overall, there was no difference in household size between switchers and non-switchers however, local

variances showed that Switcher households were smaller in Cornwall, Birmingham and Solihull and UK

Together regions, and larger in Exeter and Scots Together regions.

The table below describe the core demographic data collected by each ‘together’ region.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

5 and

under

6-16

years

17-24

years

25-34

years

35-44

years

45-54

years

55-64

years

65-74

years

75+

years

Age of household occupants

(CornwallTogether)

Non-switcher Switcher

Non-

switcher Switcher Total

Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


5 and under 3% 4% 4% 4% 7% 6% 4% 6% 5% 2% 4% 3% 3% 4% 4% 3% 5% 4%

6-16 years 9% 8% 8% 18% 13% 15% 5% 13% 9% 7% 10% 8% 7% 4% 6% 8% 10% 9%

17-24 years 7% 6% 7% 18% 9% 13% 7% 8% 7% 7% 7% 7% 9% 8% 9% 8% 7% 7%

25-34 years 5% 6% 5% 4% 9% 6% 8% 7% 8% 4% 7% 5% 9% 8% 9% 5% 7% 6%

35-44 years 9% 8% 9% 11% 10% 11% 10% 14% 12% 11% 13% 12% 17% 4% 13% 10% 10% 10%

45-54 years 15% 14% 14% 24% 16% 20% 13% 17% 15% 18% 20% 19% 17% 8% 15% 16% 16% 16%

55-64 years 23% 25% 23% 12% 19% 15% 21% 17% 19% 25% 22% 24% 17% 29% 21% 22% 22% 22%

65-74 years 23% 20% 22% 8% 12% 10% 24% 15% 20% 19% 14% 17% 16% 25% 18% 21% 17% 20%

75+ years 6% 9% 7% 1% 4% 3% 8% 3% 5% 6% 4% 5% 5% 8% 6% 6% 6% 6%

Average ages of

people in

household

49 50 49 37 41 39 50 42 46 50 45 48 45 51 47 49 46 48

Houshold size 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.1 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2

<5 yrs in home 5% 7% 7% 11% 6% 10% 3% 7% 6% 5% 5% 8%

Ages of people in household

Cornwall Birmingham and Solihull Exeter Scotland UK Together Grand Total

of 155

In Cornwall, 56% of respondents were male. Switcher groups were made up of % more female respondents

than non-switchers.

Less Switcher than Non-switcher households had someone living with a long term illness or disability. i.e. 21%

compared to 26% of non-switcher household. That said, there was very little consistency across the regions.

For example, Birmingham and Solihull saw 12% of non-switchers and 34% of switcher households had

someone living with a long term illness or disability.

58%52%

42%48%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Gender split (Cornwall Together)

Male

Female

Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Male 58% 52% 56% 72% 61% 67% 56% 47% 52% 55% 53% 54% 50% 53% 51% 58% 52% 55%

Female 42% 48% 44% 28% 39% 33% 44% 53% 48% 45% 47% 46% 50% 47% 49% 42% 48% 45%


26% 21%

69% 71%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%


Does anyone in your household have

a disability or long-term illness? (Cornwall Together)

Yes No Prefer not to say

Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Yes 26% 21% 24% 12% 34% 23% 18% 17% 17% 21% 17% 19% 31% 16% 25% 23% 20% 22%

No 69% 71% 70% 77% 59% 68% 79% 82% 80% 73% 82% 77% 67% 84% 73% 72% 76% 73%

Prefer not to say 5% 8% 6% 12% 7% 9% 4% 1% 2% 6% 1% 4% 3% 0% 2% 5% 4% 5%

Does anyone in your household have a disability or long-term illness?


of 155

As is shown in the graph below, it is very clear that there are significant barriers to switching within the private

rented sector as well as renting in general. Around 90% of switchers and non-switchers owned their own

home. It is also shown that pre 1919 houses are those most keen to switch, indicating that those homeowners

living in old, potentially inefficient properties have an increased desire to save money by switching.

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Owned by you (or

purchased with a

mortgage)

A housing

association

property

Local Authority

housing/rented

Rented from a

private landlord

Home tenure (Cornwall Together)


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Owned by

you (or

purchased

with a

mortgage) 88% 90% 89% 79% 80% 79% 86% 83% 85% 78% 80% 79% 81% 84% 82% 85% 85% 85%

A housing association property2% 0% 2% 0% 5% 2% 4% 2% 3% 5% 4% 4% 11% 0% 7% 3% 2% 3%

Local Authority housing/rented2% 1% 2% 9% 11% 10% 3% 8% 5% 10% 8% 9% 6% 0% 4% 4% 5% 4%

Rented from a private landlord8% 9% 8% 12% 5% 8% 7% 7% 7% 7% 8% 8% 3% 16% 7% 7% 8% 8%


30%

7%10%

21%

13%17%

3%

38%

8%10%

22%

8%

13%

1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Pre 1919 1919-1944 1945-1964 1965-1980 1981-1990 Post 1990 I don't

know

Age of home (Cornwall Together)


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Pre 1919 30% 38% 32% 21% 14% 17% 26% 29% 27% 29% 33% 31% 33% 37% 35% 29% 33% 30%

1919-1944 7% 8% 7% 23% 11% 17% 21% 19% 20% 14% 8% 12% 14% 11% 13% 11% 10% 11%

1945-1964 10% 10% 10% 19% 23% 21% 13% 9% 11% 13% 11% 12% 25% 21% 24% 12% 12% 12%

1965-1980 21% 22% 21% 14% 39% 26% 14% 13% 14% 13% 20% 16% 6% 21% 11% 17% 21% 19%

1981-1990 13% 8% 12% 0% 9% 5% 9% 10% 9% 5% 13% 8% 0% 5% 2% 10% 10% 10%

Post 1990 17% 13% 16% 14% 2% 8% 14% 10% 12% 20% 11% 16% 19% 5% 15% 17% 11% 15%

I don't know 3% 1% 3% 9% 2% 6% 3% 9% 5% 6% 5% 6% 3% 0% 2% 4% 4% 4%


of 155

The rurality of Cornwall is highlighted by the 44% of respondents living in detached accommodation. This is in

stark contrast to Exeter where 40% of respondents were living in terraced accommodation. The following chart

illustrates that there was a significant number of switchers (27%) living in semi-detached properties with 42%

living in detached properties. Roughly equal proportions of non-switchers lived in semi-detached and terraced

houses, only 11% of switchers lived in bungalows.

96%

4%

95%

5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

House Flat

House Type(Cornwall Together)


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


House 96% 95% 95% 91% 84% 87% 93% 84% 89% 74% 75% 74% 81% 79% 80% 90% 86% 88%

Flat 4% 5% 5% 9% 16% 13% 7% 16% 11% 26% 25% 26% 19% 21% 20% 10% 14% 12%


20% 20%

46%

14%

20%

27%

42%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Terraced Semi detached Detached Bungalow

House Type(Cornwall Together)


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Terraced 20% 20% 20% 40% 21% 30% 37% 44% 40% 26% 31% 28% 30% 21% 27% 25% 27% 26%

Semi detached 20% 27% 22% 25% 54% 39% 26% 28% 27% 28% 35% 31% 33% 37% 35% 23% 32% 26%

Detached 46% 42% 45% 28% 15% 22% 32% 25% 29% 34% 26% 31% 30% 32% 31% 40% 32% 37%

Bungalow 14% 11% 14% 8% 10% 9% 5% 3% 4% 12% 8% 10% 6% 11% 8% 12% 9% 11%


of 155

HAD RESPONDENTS EXPLORED SWITCHING BEFORE?

Overall, 6% more switchers had not pursued switching before their exposure to the Cornwall Together

programme. There was very little variance across the regions, but one region stood out above the rest, this

was Scotland Together where 15% more people switching were new to switching than those who didn’t switch

(see table below).

The following chart illustrates that 15% of switchers and 28% of non-switchers had switched in the last year.

Switchers were therefore more likely to have been a lapsed switcher than non-switchers. The barriers within

the switching process are highlighted by the fact that whilst 96% of respondents have explored switching in

the past, 18% of switchers had never switched before.

2%

98%

6%

94%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

No Yes

Have you pursued switching before? (Cornwall Together)


Cornwall Birmingham and SolihullExeter Scotland UK Together Grand Total

looked at switching before? No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes

Non-switcher 2% 98% 3% 97% 4% 96% 2% 98% 4% 96% 2% 98%

Switcher 6% 94% 6% 94% 6% 94% 17% 83% 8% 92%

28%15%

25%

20%29%

23%

20% 31% 23%

10%9%

10%4%

4%4%

18% 12% 17%

Non-switcher Switcher Overall

How long ago did you switch? Cornwall Together

(Those who aren't new to switching)I have never

switched

7+ years ago

5-6 years ago

3-4 years ago

2 years ago

1 year ago

of 155

FUEL POVERTY AND AREAS OF HIGH INDICES OF MULTIPLE DEPRIVATION.

Whilst there is some debate over developing a universal and objective way of identifying a household in

poverty, this research has highlighted that 65% of switchers and 57% of non-switchers felt that their home was

hard to heat. The figure below illustrates that 53% of switchers and 47% of non-switchers said they struggled

to pay their energy bills. This is significant given that only 23% of switchers were officially in fuel poverty

(using the definition of fuel poverty that they spend more than 10% of household income on energy and

keeping warm in the winter). This indicates that the problem of affordability within the energy market is

greater than is currently reported.

Additionally around two thirds agreed with the statement ‘my home is hard to heat’.

47%53%53%

47%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Agree Disagree

I struggle to pay my energy bills(Cornwall Together)


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Agree 47% 53% 49% 37% 66% 52% 44% 53% 48% 48% 48% 48% 39% 58% 45% 46% 53% 49%

Diagree 53% 47% 51% 63% 34% 48% 56% 47% 52% 52% 52% 52% 61% 42% 55% 54% 47% 51%


57%43%

65%

35%

0%

50%

100%

Agree Diagree

My home is hard to heat(Cornwall Together)


of 155

However, for the purposes of this study fuel poverty has been calculated as a ratio of household income spent

on energy and keeping warm in your home. The generally accepted 8% to 10% threshold tends to be used

across all regions of the UK. However, due to the variation of approach to modelling energy requirements and

household income, which differ tremendously, this analysis broadly defined any household where spend on

energy or keeping warm was 9% or higher. The following chart sets out the survey data against regional

averages. This illustrates that whilst all regions tended to reach a higher proportion of households in fuel

poverty than would be found in the general population, there were some unexpected variations. For instance,

some areas there was a higher proportion of non-switchers than switchers in fuel poverty, furthermore in

most areas switchers indexed slightly lower than non-switchers. That said, on average this programme was

almost 50% more likely to engage households in fuel poverty as would be expected to find in the general

population.

Correlation Tests

A series of correlation tests were run to explore the strength relationship between switchers and non-

switchers and areas of multiple deprivation and fuel poverty. This analysis was only conducted in Cornwall and

Exeter.

In order to understand the relationship between those people engaging with Cornwall Together and areas of

high multiple deprivation or fuel poverty correlation tests were conducted at the lowest geographic level

where this data exists: Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA). Please see appendix 5 for detail of LSOA and sources

of information used.

Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Non-


Agree 57% 65% 59% 63% 75% 69% 48% 61% 53% 66% 64% 65% 67% 68% 67% 58% 65% 61%

Diagree 43% 35% 41% 37% 25% 31% 52% 39% 47% 34% 36% 35% 33% 32% 33% 42% 35% 39%


10%

38%

31%28%

15%20%

35%

27%

38%

13%

29%26%

21% 21% 19% 19%

13% 13%

28% 28%

16% 16% 16% 16%

48

228

160

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

250

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

No

n-s

wit

che

r

Swit

che

r

Birmingham

and Solihull

Cornwall Exeter Scotland UK Together All regions

Fuel poverty (all regions)

% of response in FP % of all households in FP Index

of 155

The first chart illustrates that there is no correlation between areas of: High incidence of Fuel Poverty and

High Indices of Multiple Deprivation

Test 1 revealed that there was low positive correlation between switchers and fuel poverty

Test 2 low negative correlation between switchers and IMD

y = 0.1831x + 0.1921

R² = 0.0099

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

% o

f IM

D h

ou

seh

old

s

% of Fuel Poor households

Correlation between those in fuel povery and IMD by

Lower Super Output Areas of Cornwall

y = 0.0114x + 0.0025

R² = 0.0308

0%

0%

0%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%% o

f h

ou

seh

old

s in

ea

ch

LSO

A a

rea

sw

itch

ing

% of Fuel Poor households

Distribution of Switcher and Fuel Poor households by


of 155

Test 3 low to medium positive correlation between non-switchers and Fuel Poverty

Test 5 low to medium negative correlation between non-switchers and IMD

y = -0.0073x + 0.0064

R² = 0.0426

0%

0%

0%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

% o

f h

ou

seh

old

s in

ea

ch L

SO

A a

rea

sw

itch

ing

% of IMD households

Distribution of Switcher and IMD households by


y = 0.1007x + 0.0152

R² = 0.1267

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

% o

f h

ou

seh

old

s in

ea

ch

LSO

A a

rea

no

n-s

wit

chin

g

% of households in Fuel Poverty households

Distribution of non-switcher and fuel poor households by


= engagement event areas

of 155

In summary the correlation tests showed that there was slight correlation between fuel poverty and switchers

and non switchers but if anything low negative correlation between areas of high multiple deprivation.

However there were outliers – which all represented areas where events had taken place.

y = -0.0534x + 0.0464

R² = 0.1202

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

% o

f h

ou

seh

old

s in

ea

ch

LSO

A a

rea

no

n-s

wit

chin

g

% of IMD households

Distribution of non-switching and IMD households by


of 155

WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO THE CORNWALL TOGETHER PROGRAMME?

Newspaper and e-newsletter, leaflet, local council and word of mouth were most successful methods of raising

awareness of the programme amongst respondents. Whilst the chart below depicts this for all regions, there

was great variation at the regional level. See specific data tables in the appendix section.

In Cornwall, the combination of newspaper editorial, advertorial, advertising and distribution of leaflets (as

inserts) produced the greatest results for both switchers and non switchers. For switchers the most effective

methods for bringing people to Cornwall Together was newspaper, leaflet, and recommendation to friends

and relations. It seemed that the tone of voice, the quantity of information about the ethos behind the

scheme produced more switchers than methods such as e-newsletters, radio and social media which were

good at bringing people to sign up (presumably due to the ease of access to the site for a quote) but were less

likely to produce a switcher.

31%

28%

21%

19%

16%

10%

4%

3%

2%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

0%

0%

36%

14%

18%

17%

10%

5%

3%

5%

3%

2%

2%

1%

0%

1%

0%

1%

Newspaper

E-mail newsletter

Leaflet through the door

Word of mouth / Recommendation from…

Radio

Cornwall Council Tax Letter

Facebook

Fold out leaflet

Billboard poster

Poster in local shop / café / noticeboard…

Poster at bus stop

Postcard invite

Blog

Other social media (e.g. instagram…

Twitter

Banner

Poster in pub

Youtube

How did you hear about Cornwall

Together? (tick all that apply)

Non switchers Switcher

of 155

WHY DID PEOPLE SWITCH?

One of the key aspects of this project was to test a new way of working with a mix of partner organisations

that might not usually be associated with a ‘government switching scheme’. The following charts illustrate

that the attributes that are important were: Trust, that they are a local organisation, they have a social

purpose (putting people before profit) and were not associated with a political party. This mix brought

confidence to the programme.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT THAT THE PARTNERS WERE TRUSTED

The following chart illustrates how participants felt that the organisations involved with this programme.

There were very high levels of agreement (89% to 95% for trusted, socially driven and locally focused

organisations) there was 78% agreement that the organisations involved were apolitical.

Furthermore with the array of partners involved, participants were asked to rate how important it was for

them that the following organisations were involved. Participants felt that Eden Project, Cornwall Council, Age

UK, energy share, CAB, Community Energy Plus, and U-Switch were clearly important partners with more than

half participants rating them ‘very important’ and ‘important’ that they were involved.

95%

90%

89%

78%

Trusted

A local organisation

Had a social purpose (Charity,

bringing people together, puts…

Was not associated with a

political party

How important was it that the

partners involved were...

69%

60%

56%

55%

55%

55%

53%

49%

49%

46%

44%

38%

31%

31%

The Eden Project

Cornwall Council

Age UK

energyshare

Citizens Advice Bureau

Community Energy Plus

uSwitch

NHS South West

Unison South West

Locality

Volunteer Cornwall

Cornwall Housing

St Austell Brewery

Ocean Housing

How important was it for you that the following partners were involved?

Very important' and 'important' Not very and not at all imporant

of 155

Households were asked to show their motivation for switching. For 99% of switchers, saving money was the

reason why they switched. That said, the chart below illustrates how other factors were also important, Ease

of switching provider (was important to 92% of those new to switching) , and being part of something amazing

happening in their local area and begin part of something bigger, was key or important to around three

quarters of those who had explored switching before and two thirds of those who were new to switching).

The opportunity to find a greener tariff was also important to roughly a third of switchers.

BARRIERS TO SWITCHING

If saving money was the key trigger to switching, it is not surprising that the key barrier for 89% to switching

was that the household would not save enough money and for nearly half of respondents their current

supplier offered them a better deal. However, the chart below illustrates the differences between those

people who had previously explored switching compared to those who had not explored this before. For

instance, of those who were new to switching, 41% said this was not a priority right now and similar numbers

of respondents felt the process was too complicated. A third simply ran out of time. In comparison with those

who had explored switching before, 48% cited my current supplier offered me a better deal, and 49% said they

found a cheaper deal elsewhere and 25% said they had recently changed supplier.

99%

92%

67%

68%

33%

99%

86%

76%

73%

38%

99%

89%

71%

71%

35%

Saving money

Ease of switching providers

To be part of something amazing

happening in my local area

Being part of something bigger

The opportunity to find a greener tariff

Reason for switching

It was the reason I switched / it was important but not the only factor

(Cornwall - Those who aren't new to switching)

new to

switching

explored

switching

before

Total

Cornwall Birmingham and Solihull Exeter Scotland UK Together All Regions

Reason to switch (It was the reason I switched / it was important but

not the only factor)

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching

before

Saving money 96% 98% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99% 99%

Ease of switching providers 92% 83% 92% 81% 75% 91% 100% 89% 100% 100% 92% 86%

To be part of something amazing happening in my local area 81% 89% 75% 72% 67% 72% 52% 64% 25% 27% 67% 76%

Being part of something bigger 75% 78% 83% 72% 71% 75% 55% 66% 50% 67% 68% 73%

The opportunity to find a greener tariff 33% 38% 33% 44% 29% 34% 36% 37% 25% 47% 33% 38%

of 155

74%

31%

21%

31%

41%

41%

34%

28%

25%

11%

88%

48%

49%

31%

27%

22%

20%

19%

18%

25%

I wouldn't save enough…

My current supplier offered…

I found it cheaper elsewhere

Cancellation charges

It's not a priority right now

I thought the process was…

I ran out of time

I didn't trust the partners…

I felt there could be a catch

Just recently changed supplier

Cornwall- Barriers

new to switching

explored switching before

88%

49%

48%

31%

27%

25%

22%

20%

19%

18%

90%

49%

49%

34%

29%

26%

23%

22%

21%

22%

I wouldn't save enough money

I found it cheaper elsewhere

My current supplier offered me a better deal

Cancellation charges

It's not a priority right now

Just recently changed supplier

I thought the process was too complicated

I ran out of time

I didn't trust the partners involved

I felt there could be a catch

Cornwall - Barriers to switching

Cornwall All Regions

of 155

The table below illustrates the core barriers and variance between those who were new to switching

compared to those who had explored it in the past across the regions. There are some regional differences,

for example 60% of those new to switching in Exeter felt the process was too complicated compared to 23% of

those who had explored switching before. In Scotland, 69% of those new to switching showed that the

cancellation charges were a barrier compared to 45% of those who had explored switching before.

COMMENTS ON BARRIERS

Comments relating to the barriers to switching can be separated in to 12 core areas across all the regions.

These include:

• 32% reflected that some preferred their current supplier or wouldn’t save money by going on the

Together Programme. Examples include:

‘I am on a fixed deal and it is the best available’

‘Changing from my fixed price tariff would have cost too much’

‘cheaper staying with current supplier for short term’

coming home and checking my current payments we are paying one pound a year less than your best

offer with our capped tariff’

‘CT indicated savings were very small compared to my supplier (NPower) & I have a penalty contract’

‘Current deal seems good enough’

‘Current supplier a lot cheaper’

‘For the amount of money I might save - and I am not certain it would be any as I am in credit with

both utilities…’

• 8% reflected households already tied in to a current supplier and feared cancellation charges or they

had recently changed supplier. Examples include:

My current supplier does not run out for a month and I did not want to get cancellation charges.

• 7% were put off by either a bad experience or the bad reputation with the supplier. Examples

include: ‘I was offered electricity from First Utility. They have a very poor customer service record

according to Which? and Guardian Money’, ‘Bad experiences in the past with the suggested

alternative’, ‘The suppliers you rate highest have the worst ethics’ ‘I couldn't get a quote online

because the site kept saying that there was no tariff available for my current supplier Scottish Hydro...’

• 7% said that the process was either too complicated, not clear or doesn’t provide enough

information to help them switch. Examples include:

• 5% reflected people who felt they were prevented from switching for various reasons or the they

couldn’t input their current tariff on the web site in order for them to proceed with switching.

Examples include:

‘I found it difficult to make the switch as I had both gas and electricity from British Gas and couldn’t

sort it out’

Barriers to switching Cornwall Birmingham and Solihull Exeter Scotland UK Together All Regions

It was the reason I didn't switch / it was important but not

the only factor

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching before

new to

switching

explored

switching

before

Grand total

I wouldn't save enough money 74% 88% 75% 95% 75% 93% 92% 94% 84% 76% 90% 83%

My current supplier offered me a better deal 31% 48% 25% 51% 0% 54% 45% 50% 41% 30% 49% 39%

I found it cheaper elsewhere 21% 49% 25% 62% 11% 55% 40% 45% 43% 23% 49% 36%

Cancellation charges 31% 31% 25% 36% 33% 42% 69% 45% 26% 35% 34% 35%

It's not a priority right now 41% 27% 50% 33% 22% 28% 44% 34% 29% 39% 29% 34%

I thought the process was too complicated 41% 22% 25% 33% 60% 23% 33% 26% 20% 40% 23% 32%

I ran out of time 34% 20% 25% 23% 22% 23% 44% 32% 15% 33% 22% 28%

I didn't trust the partners involved 28% 19% 25% 15% 36% 20% 25% 39% 24% 27% 21% 24%

I felt there could be a catch 25% 18% 25% 23% 44% 27% 33% 38% 19% 26% 22% 24%

Just recently changed supplier 11% 25% 25% 15% 0% 29% 0% 35% 19% 10% 26% 18%

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• 5% felt that their specific energy needs / payment options were not being provided for. For example:

I needed a supplier to handle my FIT payments.

• 4% felt that the sustainability offer wasn’t good enough

• 2% didn’t have their current energy information available in order to complete the process.

• 2% thought they had switched (Despite receiving a non-switcher survey which was only sent to those

who had not clicked accept through the uSwitch mechanism)

• 2% couldn’t see that there was a difference between the Together programme and any other

switching site

• 2% felt there wasn’t enough time for them to come to a decision

• 23% were other very varied comments

QUALITY ISSUES:

The survey sought to explore issues relating to the quality of the experience participants had with the

programme. Questions focused on rating the experience and potential to recommend to friends and relations.

OVERALL RATING

Overall, roughly two thirds rated the experience ‘brilliant’ or ‘good’, 92% of ‘switchers’ and 53% of non-

switches. This was a common (and perfectly understandable) theme that was found throughout the UK

together regions; where those who switched (saved money) were more satisfied with the programme than

those who didn’t switch.

7%

45%

30%

12%5%

33%

59%

5%1% 1%

15%

49%

23%

9%4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Brilliant Good Average Poor Very Poor

Overall, how would you rate your

experience of Cornwall Together?

Non-switcher Switcher Total

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RECOMMENDATION TO FRIENDS AND RELATIONS

Overall 78% of Cornwall Together participants said they would recommend Cornwall Together programme to

friends and relations. (95% of switchers and 71% of non-switchers).

Of the 22% who wouldn’t recommend the programme to friends and relations the free text comments

revealed the following issues:

CORNWALL SPECIFIC BARRIERS TO SWITCHING ARE PRESENTED BELOW:

Bad Experience / reputation

• It wasn't what I was led to believe, I felt let down and hoodwinked

• I was offered electricity from First Utility. They have a very poor customer service record according to

Which? and Guardian Money.

• Bad experiences in the past with the suggested alternative

• The suppliers you rate highest have the worst ethics.

Could not switch / Didn't have my tariff

• Not on the flippin national grid!!!!

• Now with Southern Electric on Domestic Standard NSC - moneysavers tariff but couldn't find that

listed. I chose one that seemed similar but would have paid more by changing. So I ran out of time but

would change if the price was right.

• You were unable to give a price for the tariff I have

Didn't provide for my specific energy / payment requirements

• I had extra questions that I didn't have time to get answers to: I needed to know that the

recommended suppliers would support FiT as I already have solar electric panels, and Green Deal, as I

need external insulation

• I needed a supplier to handle my FIT payments.

• No LPG alternatives, so an incomplete process. Basically there was not a cheaper alternative, which I

found difficult to understand????

• No options for LPG

71%

29%

95%

5%

78%

22%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No

Would you recommend Cornwall

Together to friends or relations?

Non-switcher Switcher Total

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Don't have current energy information available

• Having just been put on an alternative tariff I currently don't know how much I will be paying

until I get the next quarter's bill.

• Just moved into new property and placed on standard tariff. Cornwall Together prompted moving

me onto the best tariff with the same provider I already had. Too new a customer to have enough

billing/usage information for the system (2 months!).

No difference between UKT or any other switching site

• when is a meerkat not a meerkat?

Not enough time

• It was all a bit of a rush, 3 weeks was not enough time to research

• Only looked on Sat 16th, and then had poorly elderly parents - deadline arrived before I'd sorted it! -

is there anything I can do re changing now, or is it too late ?

Prefer current supplier / would not save money

• All options would cost me more

• All your quotes showed an increase in costs

• As I have no gas my savings would have been minimal.

• CT indicated savings were very small compared to my supplier (NPower) & I have a penalty contract.

• I am on a fixed deal and it is the best available.

• I wanted to keep my supplier who provides energy from renewables

• It was purely financial decision, I would only have saved £1-2 per week which did not justify the

decision to change supplier

Sustainable offer not good enough

• Mine is a 'green' provider and the C-T offered alternative wasn't, plus the saving was only £30.

• Not good enough offer covering green electricity

Switcher

Tied in to current supplier / cancellation charges / just changed supplier

• Cancellation charge wiped out a £20 saving

• On fixed price until spring 2014

• Will review offers at the end of June. My current deal ends on July 1st.

Too complicated / not clear / not enough information on site

• Had too many estimated bills to work out my consumption & savings

• I didn't understand the £20 plus 5 bit on the change site.

• Lack of clear information

• My combined tariff was impossible to get an accurate quote from you, also I have a credit with my

present supplier and thought it may be hard to get refund

• would prefer each supplier to show prices per KWH so that I can calculate. Don't fully trust when it

just states how much one can save.

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Other

• Achieved exactly the same results from my own efforts which were easily available online to any

individual

• I am moving to another rental soon

• doesn't help people on very low incomes who cannot spend much on fuel and usually have to live in

cold homes due to it, and yet they are the people it should help the most, even though their bills are

comparatively low (but only due to the above)

• Due to power error I have a debit sum outstanding and ongoing complaint so felt unable to switch. It

has made me more resolved to fight my complaint and switch.

• Economy 10

• I did not want to risk the loss of my government rebate due to me as I was in receipt of pension credit

last September

• I did switch - 4 months ago. I don't want the hassle of switching very frequently

• We are in "Fuel Poverty" and STILL unable to heat my home. Central heating would be inappropriate

here! I have stand alone electric heaters, use two storage heaters, one mains gas wall heater, gas

oven I often leave on (with door open … ) to heat kitchen & living area AND a coal fire. There are 3 of

us in 4-floor Victorian terrace: Myself, 62, (had to leave work recently after becoming ill due to

bereavement) and two sons, 27 & 21. All out of work! younger one doesn't even sign on so not even

in the stats. Fortunately we are in Penzance ... so one of the warmest areas in the country ... (in

theory!)

THERMAL IMAGING PROJECT:

The final research element of Cornwall Together is a study that was developed in collaboration with the

University of Plymouth. This element of the research project was designed to develop communication tools to

help households better understand how to improve energy performance. Eden Project worked closely with

the University of Plymouth to develop a methodology to help households in Cornwall understand how they

can improve the energy efficiency of their home. This part of the proposal was designed to collect information

to develop innovative material for communicating how heat loss occurs in Cornish houses. Thermal imaging

helps households understand where heat is escaping or cold is entering their homes.

The rationale for doing this related to the problem many households face with such a plethora of potential

interventions and often the level of investment (cash and effort) required, that households often find it hard to

prioritise what can be done to improve the efficiency of their home.

Thermal images – taken usually on a winter’s night – record the radiant heat from a building and can be used

to communicate areas of heat loss and cold ingress; often corresponding to brighter and darker patches. This

technique affected energy conservation behaviour as investigated through an earlier partnership between

Eden and Plymouth University (Goodhew et al, 2009), which linked the viewing of images that show the heat

losses of homes to actions undertaken by householders. This project found that the thermal imaging triggered

a psychological effect; that householders after viewing thermal images of their homes, were more likely to

engage in energy conservation behaviour. A thermal image therefore frames information in a personalised,

visible and salient manner that is more likely to achieve behaviour change.

This proposal was intended to widen the scope of the previous pilot allowing a larger number of households,

and particularly focusing on occupants in fuel poverty and relating back to the green deal, the ability to

increase the take up of energy efficient behaviours.

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These images provide an instant easy to read report on performance and have proved to be so compelling that

households are easily able to prioritise investment and are motivated to act.

One of the main goals of the green deal and other initiatives is to engage householders with reducing the

energy consumption of their homes. This is particularly important for buildings occupants who are classified as

being in fuel poverty. So the project drew on the 9,600 households who signed up for Cornwall Together in

Phase 1 and a further 9,000 again in phase 2 many of which are classified as being in Fuel Poverty.

During this Cornwall Together phase 2 we thermal imaged 223 homes around Cornwall. The thermal image

reports were sent out to these households a further set of reports containing generic thermal images to 200

homes in Cornwall. Finally 200 homes will be selected to take part in the study but will receive a report but

with no images. This latter group is our control group.

Map illustrating distribution of thermal imaging

Please see Appendix 1b to view the thermal imaging interim report which describes what happened up until

April 2013. Full results for will be available by the end of August 2013.

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SUMMARY CONCLUSION

In the course of the project we identified an approach that could engage the disengaged (17% of members had

never switched before, 15% of switches were made offline), reach the hard to reach (28% of switchers were in

fuel poverty, 50% more than were present in the general population), and use the concept of ‘Togetherness’ to

drive change (75% of members wanted to be part of something bigger, 65% of non switchers would

recommend to friends and family).

Whilst 28% of switcher households were defined as being in fuel poverty almost half of households stated that

they struggled to pay their energy bills and two thirds felt their home was hard to heat. This would indicate

that the current definition of fuel poverty does not show the full picture of the issue facing many families in

Cornwall.

Everyone wanted to save money but around three quarters were motivated to be part of something bigger.

This demonstrated that collective/community action has real potential, not just to increase levels of switching

but to achieve change across a range of government policies, the same collective approach could achieve

significant results across green deal, ECO and SMART for example, if given the opportunity.

The vast majority of households (88%) who switched through Cornwall Together rated the experience as

‘brilliant’ or ‘good’ and 94% stated that they would have recommended Cornwall Together to family or friends.

These figures were 65% and 74% for non-switchers respectively, showing lower levels of satisfaction for non-

switchers. The fact that 65% of those who did not see a direct benefit would still recommend the project,

showcases the positivity that collective/community initiatives can engender.

The combination of a dynamic and targeted advertising and awareness raising campaign balanced with

broadcast media with community engagement yielded nearly 29,000 unique visits to the website and brought

more than 8,000 households to sign up and 1,174 households switched which brought a collective annual

saving of over £130,000.

The survey results revealed that the people who signed up were very engaged, something that was

demonstrated through the high response rate to the survey. The programme was effective at targeting

vulnerable households and although 95% had explored switching before 17% had not actually switched before.

It was important to respondents that the partners were trusted, were local and that they had a social purpose;

69% said that it was important that the Eden Project was involved and 60% that Cornwall Council was involved.

When it comes to switching there are still big hurdles to overcome with energy suppliers. Half of respondents

were offered a better deal by their current supplier – indicating a focus on retention rather than acquisition

and 49% found a cheaper deal elsewhere, some via the whole of market comparison which was provided.

The future for collective switching will depend on the creation of a sustainable business model that can enable

an inclusive, accessible and open approach to be adopted without external financial support. But ultimately, it

will depend on the energy suppliers’ desire to properly engage with this new market by offering tangible

benefits that are accessible to all those who want to switch together.

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APPENDIX 1A

Description of research methods developed to collect data for Cornwall Together phase 2

EVENTS – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

People attending the events were recorded on sign-up sheets and were asked to complete a very short

questionnaire.

Changes within methodology

The methodology initially began with a conversational survey: You would sign in and we would record

responses to various questions. This would lead on to stated preference research (to examine barriers) before

moving on to an interactive way to record recommendations and a rating of Cornwall Together. However,

when the community engagement events commenced, it was soon apparent that the research would not suit

the environment for which they were designed. Therefore, through consultation with the event organisers, a

new methodology was agreed. Changes included:

• a different way of recording information (Separating the signup sheet from the questions) as it had

become too complicated to administrate with the structure of the event

• Removing the stated preference research for the same reason above.

• Removing recommendation to friends and family and overall rating of Cornwall Together as this

could be picked up in the online survey

Both methodologies have been recorded below:

Methodology 1

THE BASICS: PAPER SIGNUP SHEET SURVEY Conversational survey – Getting to know your potential switchee – 1 person on door – 2 mins

As well as name and age and postcode, the sign up / interview sheet will have a series of questions for which

the answers would be presented on a series of laminated cards. Each answer will have a corresponding number

which will be entered on to the interview sheet.

How did you hear about Cornwall Together? (Selection from below)

ID Name Postcode AgeHow

did

you h

ear?

Experie

nce a

t sw

itchin

g en

ergy

provi

ders?

If not s

witc

hed befo

re -

Why

not?

If sw

itched b

efore

, what

has

dra

wn y

ou here

?

Core m

otivatio

n for c

omin

g to

this

eve

nt?

1 Joe Smith PL25 4BB 26 3 2 4 2 3

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• What is your experience at switching energy providers (Multiple choice)

• If never switched before– why not ?

• If switched before, what is it about the event that has drawn you?

• What was the core motivation for coming to this event.

Stated preference research –

1x Set of money cards cash denominations, 1x set of additional factor cards

This is a standard methodology that feels a bit like a game – it needs to be facilitated but will explore the

tipping point of switching – using money, advice, standard of service, payment method, apps, gimmicks (i.e.

free gifts) loyalty points (Tesco/Nectar). This can be done with

This works in the following way:

1. Figure out how much money saved would make the sample switch to Cornwall Together, start with

£10 and work upwards until the sample say they would switch. (Up to £300, more than that, just

generally state £300+)

2. Reduce incrementally the cash and add different incentives alongside the reduced cost(“So ok, you’ll

switch if you save £100, but if you could save £75 but have xxx, would you still switch?”)

Incentive cards:

On Exit:

Now you have had a bit of experience of Cornwall Together, what do you like about the concept?

(Attraction) Post-it board

This will be an opportunity for people to write down what they thought and stick it up on the board!

1 Cornwall Council Tax Letter

2 Radio

3 Word of mouth / Reccommendation from friend or relation

Email 4 E-mail newsletter

Poster 5 Billboard Poster

6 Poster at bus stop

7 poster in local shop / café / noticeboard etc.

Leaflet 8 Leaflet through the door

9 Fold out leaflet

10 Leaflet in the newsapaper

Social media 11 Facebook

12 Twitter

13 Youtube

14 Blog

15 Other Social Media (e.g. instagram pinterest)

Newspaper 16 Newspaper - Editorial

17 Newspaper Advert + Advertorial

Local invites… 18 Postcard invite

19 Banner

20 poster in pub

Good

Customer

Service

Web

Apps

Freebies (eg

- pens,

Shorter

contracts

Human voice

over the

phone

Loyalty

Points

Getting

through to

someone

quickly when

getting in

touch

Flexible

Payment

Methods Advice Green Tariff

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Would you recommend to friends and relatives? (Post-it board)

• If yes, what would you tell them?

• If no, why not?

Methodology 2

Sign up sheet

This had now been simplified to capture essential data only at the door. This was the first port of call to any

visitor entering the event.

INTERVIEW SHEET

This sheet included the majority of questions from the first methodology, however would be taken by one of

the staff when sitting down and engaging with the public. These can be seen on the next page.

ID Name Postcode

1

2

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EVENTS – ROAD-SHOWS AND PUBS

This data will be collected simply using electronic counters in order to measure attraction power,

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ROAD SHOW (ATTRACTION POWER)

3 times during the event, over a 10 minute period, the number of people passing by not engaging will be

counted

3 times during the event, over a 10 minute period, the number of people engaging with the event will be

counted

PUBS (ATTRACTION POWER)

When there is a Cornwall Together talk, the number of people watching will be counted.

Internet Survey Methodology

Our primary research included looking at those who had and hadn’t switched in order to look at various factors

of the switching process. These surveys drew on a framework developed with other UK Together regions to

enable us to compare performance across the country. Although this meant that there were some

compromises with questions, the overall net gain will benefit the project.

The factors examined within these surveys included barriers to switching, attractions to switching as well as

the profile of switchers and non-switchers looking at previous engagement with the switching process,

household makeup as well as indicators to chow whether a household is in fuel poverty.

As a methodology, we used two surveys; one for switchers and one for non-switchers. The links to these were

sent to those who had registered but not switched at the end of the switching window (Non-switchers) and

those who had simply switched (switchers).

The following pages are examples of the switcher and non-switcher surveys:

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EXAMPLE SURVEY – SURVEY A: SWITCHER SURVEY

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EXAMPLE SURVEY: SURVEY B: NON-SWITCHER SURVEY

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APPENDIX 1B THERMAL IMAGING CORNWALL 2013 INTERIM REPORT

St Michaels Mount , Cornwall (copyright S. Goodhew, Plymouth University).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Two hundred and twenty three different homes across Cornwall were imaged using infrared cameras.

This was intended as a communication tool to engage occupants in energy conservation. In addition

four hundred Cornwall homes will receive generic thermal images and advice on conserving heat in

the home. Initial patterns of defect types revealed by the thermal imaging are reported along with

occupant survey responses. Interest in the free thermal imaging service was high. Most homes could

benefit from some type of draught proofing or insulation. Further analysis of the content of the

images and the behavioural response of householders, after seeing their images, is on-going.

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INTRODUCTION

Cornwall Together Phase II and Plymouth University collaborated during February and March 2013 to take

thermal images of homes across Cornwall with the aim of engaging occupants in residential energy efficiency,

of capturing thermal images from a range of property types across Cornwall and of conducting research in to

the impact of ‘seeing heat’ on occupants energy saving behaviours.

BACKGROUND

Cornwall Together, in January 2013, commissioned Plymouth University to supply a thermal imaging service to

220 homes across Cornwall as part of a larger research project.

Thermal images were used to picture the infrared radiation from residential buildings across

Cornwall. Thermal images are infrared pictures, which capture infrared radiation from surfaces

that allow the viewer to visualise heat. When used to image domestic buildings, they can be quite

compelling; they make the invisible heat visible in bright colours and show the apparent surface

temperature of areas of the home (Fig 1). It can be easy to 'see' or infer where a building is losing

heat or where cold air is entering a building, or even just get an idea of the temperature of part of a

building. However, the images need to be interpreted carefully. Infrared radiation is affected by

other things than temperature and this can affect the accuracy of the image. Objects with different

surfaces can appear to be at different temperatures when in reality they could be at the same

temperature. Some buildings materials store heat for longer than others making the analysis of a

situation difficult. Shiny surfaces also reflect radiation from their surroundings sometimes making

the task of working out where a heat source is very difficult.

Plymouth University (The School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment and the School of

Psychology) has a track record in understanding human behaviour and energy in buildings and in investigating

the implications of ‘seeing heat’ on energy conserving behaviours (Goodhew, Goodhew, Auburn, De Wilde &

Pahl, 2009). This project extends the methodology developed during a previous project (the 21st

Century

Living Project Report) which was undertaken in conjunction with the Eden Project and the Home Retail group

(Homebase, Argos). Specifically, the team want to know if seeing heat can help people to save energy and

keep warm. For example, when we switch our heating on, how much of that heat ends up heating the street?

How much might we be losing through an open window or draughty door? Energy is invisible so it can be hard

for a householder to deduce these things. Will it make a difference to our behaviour if we could see that

heat? Does this visualisation persuade or engage people in thinking about energy such that they take actions

to save energy? We want to understand how visualising energy can help people to make a difference to their

energy use and this drove the research partnership.

Fig 1: Example thermal image.

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THERMAL IMAGING METHODOLOGY

The imaging was undertaken using methodology developed at Plymouth (School of Psychology) in earlier

research (Goodhew et al., 2009) and through the EPSRC funded e Viz project. The research project was

designed to investigate the level of tailoring required to engage and interest occupiers. It tested the

assumption that tailored thermal images are more powerful in influencing the responses of building occupants

than a series of generic thermal images or a report containing equivalent written advice. The project therefore

compares three groups: individuals who receive tailored thermal images, individuals who receive typical and

general thermal images and individuals who receive text-only energy information. Householders who had

signed up to Cornwall Together were invited (in February and early March 2013) to take part in the thermal

imaging project as part of Phase II. They were asked to complete a short survey intended to capture their

beliefs about energy efficiency in homes. This survey included questions about perceptions of energy use,

awareness of energy saving measures, and motivations for energy conservation. A sample of six hundred

homes was used with two hundred of these homes imaged and the thermal image report to be sent to

householders in an e mailed communication in April 2013. Two hundred homes would also receive a report

containing the typical and generic thermal images. In addition two hundred homes would be sent a written

report on heat leakage from homes (as a control). A further 20 homes would be offered a ‘walkthrough’

thermal image, where the householder would be invited to play an active part in the imaging, following the

thermographer around the home and viewing the images in real time, on the camera screen.

To follow up the householders, a second survey on energy beliefs would be issued after the receipt of the

reports. Additionally, a six month follow up is planned (resources depending) to assess the energy efficiency

measures undertaken across a sample of the three groups.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

The major part of the project was the thermal imaging. Two hundred and twenty three homes were imaged

across Cornwall by 30th

March 2013.

The offer of a free thermal image received a lot of interest. In total, over one thousand homes signed up to

receive the thermal images. Within twenty four hours of the first e mail invitation to participate and receive

the thermal imaging, seven hundred and seventy three homes had signed up and completed our survey.

From this cohort of one thousand homes, geographical clusters were randomly chosen to receive the thermal

imaging (200 homes), the generic report (200 homes) or to be in the control group (200 homes).

Fig 2: Location of the 223 homes imaged.

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Demographics

Fig 2 depicts the geographical areas chosen to receive thermal imaging. The buildings that were imaged

consisted mainly of houses (86%), and a minority of other building types such as flats (14%). Homes tended to

be detached (48%) which might be expected given the rural location of our clusters. The largest category of the

buildings that were imaged were built pre 1919 (Fig 3).

Fig 3: Buildings included in thermal image group categorised by age

Most of the occupants owned their own home (95%). Out of the occupants, 20% described themselves as

experiencing fuel poverty. In addition, occupants were asked about the percentage of their yearly income that

was spent on energy and keeping warm in the home (Fig 4). Interestingly, the percentage of occupants

spending more than 10% of their yearly income on energy bills was slightly higher (28%) than the percentage

of occupants who indicated that they experienced fuel poverty.

Fig 4: The percentage of yearly income that occupants spend on energy bills

Percent,

pre-1919,

24.3, 24%

Percent, 1919-

1944, 8.1, 8%

Percent, 1945-

1964, 11.6, 12%Percent, 1965-

1980, 20.2, 20%

Percent, 1981-

1990, 17.3, 17%

Percent, post-

1990, 15.6, 16%

Percent, Don't

know, 2.9, 3%

pre-1919

1919-1944

1945-1964

1965-1980

1981-1990

post-1990

Don't know

Series1, 5%

yearly

income,

34.1, 34%

Series1, 10%

yearly income,

35.3, 35%

Series1, 15%

yearly income,

19.7, 20%

Series1, 20%

yearly income,

5.2, 5%

Series1, More

than 20%, 5.8,

6%

5% yearly income

10% yearly income

15% yearly income

20% yearly income

More than 20%

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BASELINE SURVEY RESULTS

Preliminary results from the survey on energy beliefs, which occupants filled in on signing up for the project,

indicated that occupants were generally aware of energy saving initiatives by the government. Of the 223

occupants who were chosen to receive the thermal images, 117 occupants were aware of the Green Deal, 91

were aware of Warm Front, and 86 were aware of the Smart Meter Programme. Fewer occupants were aware

of the Electricity Demand Reduction Project (N = 12) and Energy Company Obligation (N = 28). On a scale from

1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) occupants indicated that they felt responsible for how much energy

was used in their home (Mean rating = 4.20). But, when asked whether they knew where heat escapes from

their home, they were relatively unsure (Mean rating = 2.89). Also, occupants tended not to agree with the

statement that the UK will maintain a reliable energy supply in the future (Mean rating = 2.30). Further

analysis of the characteristics of the entire sample, including the generic/control participants will be included

in the next report.

THE THERMAL IMAGES An average of ten thermal images was taken of each home. The images typically tend to show areas of cold

ingress most frequently from cold walls (Fig 5), draughts (Fig 6 and 7), missing insulation (Fig 8 and 9) and

uninsulated loft hatches (Fig 9). Whilst it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the energy related

condition of Cornish properties, it is apparent from some of the surveys that the building fabric condition

of properties is a very mixed picture. As many of the properties imaged were between 120 and 60 years old,

there were a number of issues that are common to properties of this age. These included the common

occurrence of solid walls alongside the associated thermal issues that always stem from this form of walling.

Many properties had been extended over the years and the different building technologies sometimes do not

perform particularly well together. The levels of exposure of some properties were a common theme,

including the consequent signs of dampness, sometimes due to condensation and at others likely to be

associated with penetration or rising damp. Even when the large sample of newer properties is viewed, the

levels of insulation varied considerably from one property to another (Fig 8 and 9). Draughts and the inability

for glazing and doors to stop colder air from entering properties was a common occurrence (Fig 6 and 7).

Fig 5: Relative difference in temperature between the cold wall and warmer internal wall

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Fig 6: Draught at window

Fig 7: Draught at the door.

Fig 8: Missing insulation

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Fig 9: Uninsulated loft hatch

Two thermal image reports are included in Appendix A.

FURTHER ANALYSIS TO BE COMPLETED

The thermal image reports, generic reports and control reports are to be sent to occupants between during

April and early May 2013. A week after receiving the reports occupants will be asked to complete a second

survey, intended to capture any changes in beliefs about energy efficiency.

The data set of 223 thermal images of homes across Cornwall will be scrutinised and from this an analysis of

the type and frequency of defect will be drawn up.

During October/November 2013, householders will be contacted again and asked whether any energy

efficiency measures have been undertaken after seeing the reports.

Finally, the walkthroughs have generated interview data which will be analysed qualitatively to establish

householders understanding of home heating efficiency and the implications these have for energy efficiency.

FUTURE WORK

There is much scope for further research using the thermal images as prompts for energy and heat efficiency.

Green Deal assessments and advice on funding energy efficiency measured could be combined as a package,

happening at the same time as the thermal image survey. Presentation of the images may well be important.

For this project we took the infrared cameras inside homes, but the efficacy of interior vs exterior images

could be assessed. In addition the images could be designed to incorporate more intuitive information on

monetary values or carbon values alongside the temperature scales.

CONCLUSION

Two hundred and twenty three different types of homes over Cornwall were imaged using an infrared camera.

In addition four hundred homes will receive generic thermal images and advice on conserving heat in the

home. It is early to report clear results, further analysis of the content of the images and the behavioural

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response of householders is on-going. Most homes could benefit from some type of draught proofing or

insulation.

Prof Steven Goodhew

Dr Christine Boomsma Dr Sabine Pahl

Christianne Garrill Solomon Dangana

Matthew Fox Dr Charles McGilligan

Linzi Smith

Amy Hurst

Julie Goodhew School of Psychology

Plymouth University

Plymouth PL4 8AA

Contact for correspondence: [email protected]

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APPENDIX A: two Thermal Image Reports

Cornwall Together

Building Thermograph Report

Example report 1

Address

Thermography date 20th February 2013

Thermographer

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Introduction to Thermal Imaging

What Are Thermal Images?

Thermal images are pictures of the infrared radiation from your building. Since all objects emit

radiation and since the amount of radiation increases with temperature, the infrared camera can

produce an image showing heat in a visible format. The picture therefore shows the apparent

surface temperature of areas of the home.

What should I take special note of?

In the example shown above, the apparent surface temperature of the house is shown by the

temperature scale to the right. In the above image, all yellow/white areas are reading a surface

temperature of about 7 to 8oC, whilst the darker blue/black areas of the image are colder at 3 to

4 oC. The bright points on the image therefore show a higher amount of heat.

It is therefore important to refer to this scale, when you interpret your images.

By inference then, and by comparing temperatures around your home, it may be possible to

learn more about where you could conserve energy in your home.

The picture above shows draughts at the door where cold air is entering the house.

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The picture above shows a bright area where the window is partially open when the heating

inside the home is on.

How accurate is the image?

The infrared cameras should be operated by a trained practitioner and need to be interpreted

carefully. Infrared radiation is affected by other things than temperature and this can affect the

accuracy of the image. Objects with different surfaces can appear to be at different

temperatures when in reality they could be at the same temperature. Some buildings materials

store heat for longer than others making the analysis of a situation difficult. Shiny surfaces also

reflect radiation from their surroundings sometimes making the task of working out where a

heat source is very difficult.

It needs to be pointed out that this report is compiled to attempt to measure how

infrared images may affect your energy related behaviour and does not constitute an

in depth building performance survey. Infrared images are one tool in a range of

diagnostic methods that can be applied to buildings and therefore should never be

used as the sole reason for undertaking work. It is recommended that, if you wish to

investigate or act upon any of the findings or images, you seek professional advice.

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Your Images

Front elevation (exterior) Front window (external)

Front window (internal) Internal backdoor

External Back door External Front door

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Internal Front door Living room ceiling (Internal)

Internal back window External back window

Rear elevation (External) Dormer to roof detail (External)

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Extract vent detail – Kitchen (Internal) Loft hatch

Comments

• Roof insulation can reduce heating costs in most house types by up to 20%, especially if there

is no existing insulation. The optimal depth is 250 -300mm, anything less should be topped

up.*

• Insulate and draught proof the loft hatch or buy a proprietary new one.*

• A major source of energy loss is through windows and doors.*

• Use of lined curtain, blinds and shutters can help keep in the heat and prevent draughts.*

(* Source: Domestic energy efficiency primer (CE101/GPG171) available as a download from the

Energy Savings Trust

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

The thermal imaging survey provided for the Cornwall Together project was intended to supply

you with basic images that might help you to conserve energy at home. A more detailed infrared

survey, intended to identify building defects can be undertaken to the standard BS 13187

(Thermal Performance of Buildings – Qualitative detection of thermal irregularities in building

envelopes – Infrared Method ISO 6781:1983).

No Warranty Given or Implied

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Cornwall Together

Building Thermograph Report

Example report 3

Address

Thermography date 4th March 2013

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Introduction to Thermal Imaging

What Are Thermal Images?

Thermal images are pictures of the infrared radiation from your building. Since all objects emit

radiation and since the amount of radiation increases with temperature, the infrared camera can

produce an image showing heat in a visible format. The picture therefore shows the apparent

surface temperature of areas of the home.

What should I take special note of?

In the example shown above, the apparent surface temperature of the house is shown by the

temperature scale to the right. In the above image, all yellow/white areas are reading a surface

temperature of about 7 to 8oC, whilst the darker blue/black areas of the image are colder at 3 to

4 oC. The bright points on the image therefore show a higher amount of heat.

It is therefore important to refer to this scale, when you interpret your images.

By inference then, and by comparing temperatures around your home, it may be possible to

learn more about where you could conserve energy in your home.

The picture above shows draughts at the door where cold air is entering the house.

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The picture above shows a bright area where the window is partially open when the heating inside the home is

on.

How accurate is the image?

The infrared cameras should be operated by a trained practitioner and need to be interpreted

carefully. Infrared radiation is affected by other things than temperature and this can affect the

accuracy of the image. Objects with different surfaces can appear to be at different

temperatures when in reality they could be at the same temperature. Some buildings materials

store heat for longer than others making the analysis of a situation difficult. Shiny surfaces also

reflect radiation from their surroundings sometimes making the task of working out where a

heat source is very difficult.

It needs to be pointed out that this report is compiled to attempt to measure how

infrared images may affect your energy related behaviour and does not constitute an

in depth building performance survey. Infrared images are one tool in a range of

diagnostic methods that can be applied to buildings and therefore should never be

used as the sole reason for undertaking work. It is recommended that, if you wish to

investigate or act upon any of the findings or images, you seek professional advice.

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Your Images

Front elevation (exterior) Front window (external)

Front window (internal) Internal backdoor

External backdoor External Front door

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Internal living room to porch door Loft hatch first floor landing (Internal)

Internal back window External back window

Kitchen window (Internal) Bedroom in newer part of house ceiling (Internal)

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Bedroom ceiling (Internal) Window living room (Internal)

Loft hatch kitchen (External) Rear elevation (External)

Comments

• Roof insulation can reduce heating costs in most house types by up to 20%, especially if

there is no existing insulation. The optimal depth is 250 -300mm, anything less should be

topped up.*

• Insulate and draught proof the loft hatch or buy a proprietary new one.*

• A major source of energy loss is through windows and doors.*

• Use of lined curtain, blinds and shutters can help keep in the heat and prevent draughts.*

(* Source: Domestic energy efficiency primer (CE101/GPG171) available as a download from

the Energy Savings Trust

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

The thermal imaging survey provided for the Cornwall Together project was intended to supply you

with basic images that might help you to conserve energy at home. A more detailed infrared

survey, intended to identify building defects can be undertaken to the standard BS 13187 (Thermal

Performance of Buildings – Qualitative detection of thermal irregularities in building envelopes –

Infrared Method ISO 6781:1983).

No warranty given or implied

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END

RESEARCH PLAN DIAGRAM

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APPENDIX 2 DATA TABLES

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TOGETHER PROGRAMME?

CORNWALL TOGETHER

EXETER TOGETHER

Non

switchers Switcher Total

E-mail newsletter 28% 14% 23%

Leaflet through the door 21% 18% 20%

Word of mouth / Recommendation from friend or relation 19% 17% 18%

Newspaper advert + advertorial 13% 17% 14%

Radio 16% 10% 14%

Leaflet in the newspaper 11% 11% 11%

Cornwall Council Tax Letter 10% 5% 8%

Newspaper - editorial 7% 9% 8%

Facebook 4% 3% 4%

Fold out leaflet 3% 5% 4%

Billboard poster 2% 3% 3%

Poster in local shop / café / noticeboard etc. 1% 2% 2%

Poster at bus stop 1% 2% 1%

Postcard invite 1% 1% 1%

Blog 1% 0% 1%

Other social media (e.g. instagram pinterest) 1% 1% 1%

Twitter 1% 0% 1%

Banner 0% 1% 0%

Poster in pub 0% 0% 0%

Youtube 0% 0% 0%

How did you hear about Cornwall Together? (Tick all that apply)

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SCOTS TOGETHER

Non


Article in newspaper 33% 31% 32%

Letter / email from council 27% 22% 24%

Work email / promotion 11% 13% 11%

Word of mouth / Recommendation from

friend or relative 8% 11% 10%

Organiser promotion in local area 10% 7% 9%

Twitter / Facebook 9% 7% 8%

Radio 2% 7% 4%

Through community, association, club 0% 8% 4%

School promotion 2% 2% 2%

How did you hear about Exeter Together? (Tick all that apply)

Non


Council tax bil l 13% 18% 15%

Local council 11% 20% 15%

Direct mail / letter 11% 14% 12%

Email 10% 9% 9%

Newspaper or magazine article 10% 5% 7%

Radio advert 7% 8% 7%

Friends or family 6% 8% 7%

Newspaper advert 6% 4% 5%

Housing Association 3% 6% 5%

Poster / flyer 6% 3% 5%

Facebook 4% 5% 4%

Changeworks website 5% 2% 3%

Local community group 2% 5% 3%

Search engine 4% 2% 3%

Changeworks blog 1% 2% 1%

TV advert 2% 1% 1%

Twitter 1% 1% 1%

Local event 1% 0% 1%

LinkedIn 0% 1% 0%

How did you hear about Scots Together? (Tick all that apply)

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BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL TOGETHER

Non


Social media 17% 14% 15%

Word of mouth 19% 9% 14%

Flier 10% 12% 11%

Solihull Council office event 7% 14% 11%

Community newspaper 2% 16% 9%

Radio advert 14% 5% 9%

email newsletter 14% 2% 8%

Colebridge Trust 5% 9% 7%

News story 7% 7% 7%

Bus adverts 10% 2% 6%

Community organisation 10% 2% 6%

Birmingham City Council office event 2% 7% 5%

Billboards 5% 2% 4%

Sustain events 7% 0% 4%

Housing association newsletter 0% 5% 2%

Age UK 0% 2% 1%

CAB 0% 2% 1%

Colebridge News 2% 0% 1%

Football match 2% 0% 1%

Nechells Community First 0% 2% 1%

St Patricks Day parade 0% 2% 1%

MP visit 0% 0% 0%

Phone box posters 0% 0% 0%

SEP events 0% 0% 0%

Shopping centre 0% 0% 0%

Spring Fair 0% 0% 0%

How did you hear about Birmingham and Solihull Together? (Tick all that apply)

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APPENDIX 3 FREE TEXT COMMENTS

ALL REGIONS – COMMENTS ANALYSIS.

Altogether, 33,774 words of free text comments were left between the switcher and non-switcher surveys for

all UK Together Regions. A full appendix of these comments can be found at the end of this report.

COMMENTS ON BARRIERS

These can be separated in to 12 themes across all the regions. These include

• 32% said that they preferred their current supplier or wouldn’t not save money by going on the

Together Programme. Examples include I am on a fixed deal and it is the best available.

• 8% were tied in to a current supplier, feared cancellation charges or recently changed supplier.

Examples include: My current supplier does not run out for a month and I did not want to get

cancellation charges.

• 7% were put off by either a bad experience or the bad reputation with the supplier. Examples

include: I was offered electricity from First Utility. They have a very poor customer service record

according to Which? and Guardian Money.

• 7% said that the process was either too complicated, not clear or doesn’t provide enough

information to help them switch.

• 5% were prevented from switching for various reasons or the site didn’t have their tariff in order for

them to proceed with switching. Examples include: I found it difficult to make the switch as i had both

gas and electricity from British gas and couldn’t sort it out

• 5% felt that their specific energy needs / payment options were not being provided for. For example:

I needed a supplier to handle my FIT payments.

• 4% felt that the sustainable offer wasn’t good enough

• 2% didn’t have their current energy information available in order to complete the process.

• 2% felt they had switched (Despite receiving a non-switcher survey)

• 2% couldn’t see the difference between the Together programme and any other switching site

• 2% felt there wasn’t enough time for them to come to a decision

• 23% were other comments, mainly bespoke in nature.

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COMMENTS ON REASONS TO SWITCH

These can be split in to 5 themes across all regions. These are:

• 22% were simply frustrated at the bigger energy companies. Examples include: Anger at the current

fuel exploitation situation

• 17% felt that the project was backed by their local council was enough reason to switch.

• 13% commented that they switched to save money

• 13% switched because of the feeling of togetherness. Examples include: supporting each other, ease

of information

• 35% Had other bespoke reasons for switching.

IF YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

755 comments were left ranging from quick catchphrases such as Worth a look to A worthwhile programme of

local support.

All 755 comments across the region within a wordcloud would look like this:

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Indicative comments include:

• A good way of comparing this energy option with your existing provider.

• A good way to save money

• A positive project to benefit all that was well designed, easy to use and gave a strong sense of

community.

• Advised my sister to look into it.

• Already have and they've taken up the offer.

• Already have recommended it and given info to neighbour.

• Although the saving I was given was less than £50 per year, I would recommend

• always worth a try to get costs down

• always worth looking at alternatives. the difference in projected savings was too minimal for me

personally to bother switching right now

• An easy way to see if you can save money.

• Anything to stop the BIG FIVE holding the UK to ransom !

• check it out but it might not save you anything

• check it out for the chance to save some hard earned cash

• Check it out to make sure you’re not being done .

• Check it out, I have

• Check it out, if it is cheaper you can switch if not you've lost nothing by trying. You know you're on a

good tariff

• Definitely worth checking out

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WHY WOULDN’T YOU TELL YOUR FRIEND AND RELATIVES ABOUT THIS?

These comments can be separated in to the following 11 themes:

• 34% highlighted they wouldn't save much or any money. Examples include:

• 13% couldn’t see what was so special about UKT and that specifically, it did not meet expectations.

Examples include: Couldn't even come close to Scottish Power, I think it is all hype

• 13% had experienced problems with comms / website / campaign.

• 8% simply couldn’t switch as UKT either could not meet my energy requirements or didn’t show

their tariff.

• 3% said they could just do it better themselves

• 3% worried about the reputation of the supplier

• 2% specifically said it was a waste of time.

• 1% didn’t think the sustainable deal was good enough.

• 1% didn’t feel they were given enough time to make their decision.

• 1% left extended comments regarding their experience

• 21% left other bespoke comments.

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ANY OTHER COMMENTS

These can be split in to 10 different themes:

• 20% mentioned their specific energy needs as well as extra fuel information to help inform our fuel

poverty calculations. Examples include: Heating oil: by shopping around I can usually get a good price

that more or less matches historic oil prices from the club.

• 10% simply wanted to say Keep up the good work!

• 10% wanted to comment on the switching process - website, telephone, general process, length of

window etc. Examples include: I was happy with the initial switching process but since then (6 days)I

have not heard anything from the new provided - not even an acknowledgement email.

• 7% wanted to highlight that they wouldn't of saved much or any money or would have found better

elsewhere. Examples include: Great idea but my current supplier (who I have recently changed to with

a fixed price until November 2013) was cheaper

• 5% (of non-switchers) said they will try again at a later date, hoping for a better deal. Examples

include:

• 4% wish to make a suggestion

• 2% commented on how they were adapting to escalating fuel costs

• 2% said they were disappointed with the process.

• 2% commented on the campaign.

• 36% were other bespoke comments

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APPENDIX 4 REGIONAL DATA

Other ways in which people have heard of Cornwall Together

BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL

• a contact in Eon.

• A Friend

• BCC office email

• Flyer from Solihull Council

• Free Radio

• friend

• Friends sent me emails and local councillor

• Project Manager

• Rotary

• solihull council website

• Solihull Rural partnership Forum

• Stay Warm Stay Well

EXETER

• Bus Promotion in town

• Exeter City Council email

• by chance on the city council webaite

• cottage

• council office

• Councillor's leaflet

• Ex magazine

• Exeter City Council

• Exeter Labour Party

• flyer through door

• Flyers from political parties

• General email.

• I saw a bus

• internet

• Leaflet

• our own email

• River Cottage

• U switch type site

• via the Exeter council website when I was looking for rubbish collection details

• Wavelength

• Whipton Barton Newsletter

SCOTLAND

• CAB, and my MP's newsletter

• Can't recall

• changeworks email

• changeworks staff

• Citizens advice

• citizens advice direct

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• community council

• Community Council link

• Council website

• don't know

• Energy Share

• I am a ChangeWorks employee

• I work for Changeworks and worked on the project.

• internet

• Involed in the scheme as participating LA

• Laura!

• local newspaper

• Local radio news item

• Online Forum

• stand in IKEA

• Word of mouth through work place

UK TOGETHER

• Can't remember

• daily mirror

• Eden project website

• Energy Share

• From Energy Savings Trust

• Heard from a friend about cornwall together

• Landshare

• Letter from Council

• Letter from Exeter Council

• moneysavingexpert

• The Prize Finder

• via Cornwall together

• Via the Eden Project

• Work promotion

OTHER ORGANISATIONS WHICH DIRECTED TO BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL TOGETHER FROM (REGION

SPECIFIC):

• did not know it was available

• energy savings

• Exeter Council

• Friend/ local councillor helped

• No

• No. I filled in the website form on my own

• None

• Rotary

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ANY OTHER REASON NOT ABOVE? (BARRIERS)

Cornwall


• Bad experiences in the past with the suggested alternative

• Bad reviews on facebook page. Thought there would be problems changing supplier/ I would receive

poorer customer service.

• I was offered electricity from First Utility. They have a very poor customer service record according to

Which? and Guardian Money.

• It wasn't what I was led to believe, I felt let down and hoodwinked

• Pease see my previous comments

• The suppliers you rate highest have the worst ethics.

• When we switched before, we had big problems dealing with other suppliers and I ended up in tears

on the telephone as I was getting nowhere. There were bills from both suppliers and disagreements

about meter readings and who was responsible for what. We switched to Scottish Power but then

found that our meter was not compatible and we couldn't have their dual fuel deal after all. We also

switched to EDF because the salesman at the door said they were basically the same people as the old

SWEB and the greenest as well as the cheapest, then we found out how involved they are in nuclear

power, which had not been mentioned on the doorstep. We almost switched suppliers to

First:Connect as it looked like a cheaper and possibly greener option, but read some reviews on the

internet and found that Southern Energy is thought of higher in terms of customer service. Southern

Electric is also offering a capped tariff which looks like a good deal if prices go up. Also, because we

pay b y direct debit, Southern Electric owe us money, and we weren't sure whether or how this would

be paid back to us if we switch.


• as explained before, you didn't allow just changing gas supplier and would have moved me from a

renewable electricity supplier ecotricity to a mainstream provider. so not answering my basic

requirement. given importance of renewables in Cornwall I actually find this quite shocking

• I couldn't get a quote online because the site kept saying that there was no tariff available for my

current supplier Scottish Hydro... I wasn't able to get a speedy response from the phone when I rang,

and as I am out and about working a lot, I gave up. I needed to access the info online, but couldn't

• Not on the flippin national grid!!!!

• Now with Southern Electric on Domestic Standard NSC - moneysavers tariff but couldn't find that

listed. I chose one that seemed similar but would have paid more by changing. So I ran out of time but

would change if the price was right.

• See previous comment - unable to compare my social tariff

• was turned down

• You cannot supply me.

• You were unable to give a price for the tariff I have


• Already stated, you couldn't help me.

• As stated before

• I am extremely disappointed that Cornwall Together has been unable to help me save money due to

the fact that I have an electricity prepayment meter - it seems I am being penalised for this fact and

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Cornwall Together is supposed to help people like myself on a low income. I cannot be the only

person who has been unable to switch due to the fact that I have a prepayment meter; many people I

know have both gas and electricity supplies on prepayment cards.

• I had extra questions that I didn't have time to get answers to: I needed to know that the

recommended suppliers would support FiT as I already have solar electric panels, and Green Deal, as I

need external insulation

• I have solar panels and get a small feed in tariff for electricity produced. I was unsure how this would

be affected. As it is, it is difficult to get them to pay me the tariff as it is down to me to supply them

with my meter reading on a quarterly basis and they are not particularly forthcoming with what dates

I have to do this. I am getting used to the company now, and would not want to have to go through

yet another period of uncertainty.

• I needed a supplier to handle my FIT payments.

• More trouble than it was worth to save £70 and possible bureaucratic headaches to get it sorted.

Unsure what would happen to my FIT from solar panels.

• No LPG alternatives, so an incomplete process. Basically there was not a cheaper alternative, which I

found difficult to understand????

• No options for LPG

• Not available for bottled gas users & I use ecotricity for my electricity because it is all from

renewables

• Not the correct answers sorry. Real reason was that I didn't see an option for LPG gas!!!

• Unable to switch as my gas supply isn't part of the national grid. I am in a new property, I assume that

is the reason why.

• We pay for electric with a keymeter and you won't help us users that like to keep on top of our

payments this way.


• Having just been put on an alternative tariff I currently don't know how much I will be paying

until I get the next quarter's bill.

• Just moved into new property and placed on standard tariff. Cornwall Together prompted moving

me onto the best tariff with the same provider I already had. Too new a customer to have enough

billing/usage information for the system (2 months!).

• see above


• as described in last question...when is a meercat not a meercat?

Not enough time

• It was all a bit of a rush, 3 weeks was not enough time to research

• only had a day b4 making a decision

• Only looked on Sat 16th, and then had poorly elderly parents - deadline arrived before I'd sorted it! -

is there anything I can do re changing now, or is it too late ?

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• AFTER EXTENSIVE STUDY OF YOUR PLANS I CONSIDERED I HAVE CONTRACTED A FAR BETTER DEAL

AND I COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB FOR THE PEOPLE OF CORNWALL.

• All options would cost me more

• All you quotes showed an increase in costs

• All your suppliers were more expensive than the one I have now. Unless I'm missing the point then

where is your collective price cheaper deal?

• As I have no gas my savings would have been minimal.

• Changing from my fixed price tariff would have cost too much

• cheaper staying with current supplier for short term

• coming home and checking my current payments we are paying one pound a year less than your best

offer with our capped tariff.

• CT indicated savings were very small compared to my supplier (NPower) & I have a penalty contract.

• Current deal seems good enough.

• Current supplier a lot cheaper

• For the amount of money I might save - and I am not certain it would be any as I am in credit with

both utilities - the monthly reporting would be a hassle and also having to change standing orders. I

have not had any service issues with the current supplier. In principle I think CT is excellent and I am

quite sad not to be a part of it!

• Have solar panels and receive cast back from my supplier, overall I would only save approximately

£40.00 a year and the inconvenience to switch for little gain is not worthwhile.

• I already had a better deal not a case of 'being offered'

• I am basically happy with Scottish Power as a company and would have needed a better deal to make

me switch. Also the best deal was with Southern Electricity, a company who I do not like.

• I am on a fixed deal and it is the best available.

• I changed supplier in July 2012 after taking part in the Which Big Switch. The deal I got then (from EDF

"Blue+ Price Promise Sept 2013") was not bettered by the deals Cornwall Together came up with for

me. However I do support your cause and will look out for it in the future.

• I expect my current company will be offering me a better deal as I approach the year tie-in period

• I must be on a good tariff as it was going to cost me over £100 more to switch, also tried with

moneysaving experts energy club and found the same

• I wanted to keep my supplier who provides energy from renewables

• I was already on the best tariff. I could only do worse by switching.

• I was told I couldn't save money on my electric and was told that they hadn't started the oil prices yet.

• I would have paid MORE!

• I would have supported Cornwall Together but not at that much more - how could it not be less with

all those people joining?

• I wouldn't have saved ANY money. This question is badly worded.

• I'm satisfied EDF has attempted to keep price changes to a minimum in previous periods. Other

suppliers have turned up nasty surprises once the teaser offers came to an end and anything else

hidden surfaced. Nationalise all essential services and end Thatcherism and her privatised casino

financial vehicles for a bunch of corrupt British Establishment City banksters.

• It actually worked out to be more expensive per month than my current supplier.

• it was at least £150 more than i pay now

• It was cheaper to remain on my current contract until the end of the term. The best offer was £90

more than we are paying now.

• It was more expensive

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• It was purely financial decision, I would only have saved £1-2 per week which did not justify the

decision to change supplier

• It would cost more to switch!

• It would have been more expensive to change as I am on a fixed contract at present which is cheaper

• It would have cost me more money £284 and this was checked at the Truro city centre toad show and

it discriminates against people who dont have gas so cant have a dual tarriff

• it would of coast me more to switch

• Mt current bill was £20+ cheaper than any of your alternatives. However, my current fix term contract

runs out in 2014

• My current contract is at least £ 150 better than the best through Cornwall together

• My current deal is cheaper

• My current deal was cheaper at the moment, than anything on offer

• My current deal was better than those offered

• MY CURRENT PLAN IS BETTER VALUE FOR ME AND I WOULD HAVE PAID MORE BY SWITCHING

• My current supplier is cheaper

• My existing contract much cheaper by more than 10%

• no I wanted to change but edf energy was £100 cheaper I will try again later in the year. I don’t have

gas but have joined the oil buying club.

• No matter how many times I looked through Cornwall together I still found it cheaper myself online??

• No savings shown for me

• only reason for not switching was I'm with Ecotricity, and prefer their ethos above cost alone

• See previous text box.

• Switching would have been MORE expensive than our current provision.

• The best deal was with my current supplier

• The Cornwall Together offer would have actually cost me over £500 more than I was paying;

"everyone" savings were not enough to be worth changing.

• The deals I was offered didn’t actually tell me what I would save

• The only reason I didn't switch was because I was on a pretty good tariff already and would only have

save 17p a year. All the following statements are irrelevant but you have no comment "not

applicable" and I could not move on without completing each line.

• The only reason I didn't switch was because I would not have saved any money, all the others were

more expensive

• There was a VERY small difference in charges with my current provider (E-ON) and Cornwall

Together's expectations of my charges after a change; the small difference did not make it worth the

possible administrative upheaval.

• Told me I am on the best plan already

• Twice my current suppliers existing deal has been better than the best offer from Cornwall Together, I

still think the idea is a good one and hopefully it will prove worthwhile for me,

• Wanted green energy (current supplier good energy) and none of the suppliers was suitable

• We were already on the cheapest tariff

• you do not really want people on key meters to join as far as I can see and anyway my current tariff is

cheaper than yours

• you never found a cheaper supply

• your quote was much higher than my current provider, so didn't consider moving

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• I wanted a 100% renewables option - I use Good Energy

• Mine is a 'green' provider and the C-T offered alternative wasn't, plus the saving was only £30.

• no green tariff offered to compare my current one with

• Not good enough offer covering green electricity

• the energy provider did not have any percentage of green energy sources and this is the reason i did

not switch.

Switcher


• Although there was no penalty if I switched I had recently committed to Blue + 2014

• Am on fixed term contract until June, and then I can't join in with CT

• Have just moved house and have changed from oil to gas central heating.

• I changed tariff with my existing supplier in June 2012 for 1year.. So would incur cancellation charges

• I have a fixed rate until June this year with E.ON

• I only changed suppliers 6 weeks ago and the penalty would be more than the savings

• I want to change supplier but cannot change until after April (current contract gives £100 cashback

after 12 months).

• I was looking to change my business electricity supply. i had just changed my domestic supplier.

• Cancellation charge wiped out a £20 saving

• I’m tied into NPower until May

• just cancellation charges

• My current arrangement runs out in Mar of next year, will definitely check Cornwall Together then.

• My current supplier does not run out for a month and I did not want to get cancellation charges.

• on a fixed price until June

• On Fixed price until Springtime 2014

• we had just signed up again with n power and not sure we could break the agreement

• Will review offers at the end of June. My current deal ends on July1.


• Bad communication by Cornwall Together when first attempt to join scheme failed to provide...

• Could not identify what happened to the plan to offer cheaper domestic heating oil. I all seemed to be

about electricity and gas.

• Had too many estimated bills to work out my consumption & savings

• I didn't understand the £20 plus 5 bit on the change site.

• I really didn't think that I would remember to do monthly on-line readings - my life is

busy/complicated enough!

• Lack of clear information

• My combined tariff was impossible to get an accurate quote from you, also I have a credit with my

present supplier and thought it may be hard to get refund

• Not enough detail, just an overall dual fuel saving. I wanted the detail on each tariff.

• The figures you put up for me were incorrect. I have negotiated each year for my electricity. getting a

better deal than you showed.

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• There was not enough detail to make an informed decision also I generally find that if I contact a

supplier for more details I get bombarded with aggressive marketing tactics, e.g. the current amount I

am paying was less than uswitch quoted therefore the claimed savings were actually less than claimed

in fact very small. Also my current supplier provides a monthly budget payment plan to spread the

costs so I do not have hefty bills during the winter months.

• Though I am impressed with what you are offering and would definitely recommend it to others, my

own personal experience, as a blind person using screen-reading software to navigate my way around

web-pages, was little short of a nightmare and led, ultimately, to my running out of time. My primary

difficulty was that I was not able to ascertain whether I was dealing with questions relating to a dual-

fuel plan or, as I wanted, one dealing with electricity only. I sensed that some of the functionality of

your form is designed to operate on a 'if yes go to question X, if no go to question Y' basis and thus I

was left scratching my head as to whether or not I was dealing with electricity only or with dual-fuel.

This was further confused by the habit I encountered when attempting to fill out the check-

boxes/radio button choices of having the selections I made either disappear or change as I moved on

from question to succeeding question. Obviously, I did not realise, at first, that this was happening

and only did so when reviewing the page before moving on. I only got to hear of 'Cornwall Together'

a few days before the closing date and spent quite a considerable time, on several occasions,

struggling with the form and was very disappointed when I ran out of time as a consequence of my

difficulties. I will try again as I am keen to try and reduce our current fuel costs but almost certainly

this time will have to get some sighted assistance to overcome the problems outlined above. It

would be really good if something could be done to make access for blind and partially-sighted

computer users a little less frustrating and if this could be done I'd definitely consider recommending

the site to others like myself.

• was unable to make contact with you

• would prefer each supplier to show prices per KWH so that I can calculate. Don't fully trust when it

just states how much one can save. Need basic pricing details plus length of time prices will be kept

before increase. Also would like to see history of when power company increased prices over

previous 2+ years and percentages.

Other

• Achieved exactly the same results from my own efforts which were easily available online to any

individual

• And I am moving to another rental soon.

• changing traditional thinking of trading methods

• Did switch in husband's name

• direct debit requirement.....

• doesn't help people on very low incomes who cannot spend much on fuel and usually have to live in

cold homes due to it, and yet they are the people it should help the most, even though their bills are

comparatively low (but only due to the above) Same as eco schemes like solar panels and wind

turbines - only for companies, the better off and governmental buildings...totally unfair system.

• Due to power error I have a debit sum outstanding and on-going complaint so felt unable to switch. It

has made me more resolved to fight my complaint and switch.

• Economy 10

• I am an Economy 7 User. You do not offer this tariff

• I currently have a high bill that I am hoping to reduce gradually

• I did not want to risk the loss of my government rebate due to me as I was in receipt of Pension Credit

last September

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• I did switch - 4 months ago. I don't want the hassle of switching very frequently

• I have been busy with family matters and illness

• I might be getting a discount in the future because my son works for an electricity company.

• I think you need to readdress this list of options

• I thought the idea was that collectively we would all get a better deal so was disappointed that the

cheapest deals offered by providers seemed to be exactly the same as I could have achieved by going

it alone! Who does actually benefit from the multiple purchase aspect? CT or Cornwall Council? Was

the Council also being entirely philanthropic in its extensive advertising campaign? I can't see that

anyone who has sought the cheapest deal privately has any personal benefit through CT although I

thought the whole idea was that suppliers would give CT members a better deal than any normally

available.

• In addition - concerned about sorting out my arrears with my current provider to get at a zero basis to

enable transferring more easily

• Lack of research by me.

• my meters are too old, I was with British gas and they told me that to stay with them with my old

meters would cost me 68% more I then rang EDF who were the suppliers to the property before we

moved in as I had to have power

• No

• No fixed price deal 12 months

• NO guard against increases in short or medium term.

• not entirely sure about annual usage due to problems with meter in last year

• On this occasion I was looking for an opportunity for a business supply, and once I found this was not

possible didn't engage any further. However, I have completed the questions here as a residential

customer since I felt these answers may be more helpful.

• Please disregard the above responses. Sorry to skew your results. I did switch as a result of your e-

mail notification but my partner did it in his name through your website. We switched because saving

money was a priority and we wanted to switch to a more ethical supplier that used at least in part,

renewable energy resources.

• Potential for better saving in early summer!

• Problems with data security on the website as flagged up by my computer security system.

• See explanation given on previous page and the answers I have given to Q11 is that the arrow to next

would not operate without an answer being given to each.

• The advance blurb said it would compare suppliers of green energy, but it came up with British Gas as

the top suggested supplier. I don't associate British Gas with green energy. I was also surprised that it

was the only company suggested under the scheme, and that the other options were just those freely

available on the open market. I can do those myself. Finally, I was mildly irritated that I'd have to stick

with British Gas for a full year to get the full discount. Not a big deal, but still a bit of a nark.

• The website refused me

• We are in "Fuel Poverty" and STILL unable to heat my home. Central Heating would be inappropriate

here! I have standalone electric heaters, use two storage heaters, one mains gas wall heater, gas oven

I often leave on (with door open … ) to heat kitchen & living area AND a coal fire. There are 3 of us in

4-floor Victorian terrace: Myself, 62, (had to leave work recently after becoming ill due to

bereavement) and two sons, 27 & 21. All out of work! younger one doesn't even sign on so not even

in the Stats. Fortunately we are in Penzance ... so one of the warmest areas in the country ... (in

theory!)

• We get our heating oil from Mole Valley, who also do a search for the cheapest supplier. They also

give us an immediate price quote on ordering, so we know exactly how much it's going to cost.

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Birmingham and Solihull


• I thought this was meant to be a collective switching scheme where you took a large group of

customers and negotiated directly based on our combined volume after we had signed up. All you did

was give me a pre-arranged quote with a supplier that was higher than my current scheme or what I

could get on a comparison site.


• I would lose money


• Green tariff not green enough


• I am contracted up to September 2013 Prices I am paying were very competitive


• I found it difficult to make the switch as I had both gas and electricity from British gas and couldn’t

sort it out

Other

• Comparison give stated we were charged Standing Charge by current supplier, which made current

supplier more expensive. There is no evidence of being charged a standing charge in our bill and as it

was a Sunday we could not clarify this.

• Concerned about whether a new supplier could increase their price in the short to medium term.

• couldn't get a calculation or feedback on the price difference and CO2 emissions calculations. On line

did not give me a figure and still did not know why it couldn’t

• I was not certain that the reduction would be enough for the potential hassle also that there was a

hardship fund for people in difficulty. I am sick and tired of paying for people in difficulty some of

them its their own making. I am the one with the potential hassle I am the one with the money to

pay.

• My bill is dual e.g. one total amount and your online form only allowed me to put an entry each for

gas and electric which put me off, plus cancellation charge. Catch is that you could be locked again

into another short term deal (again with penalties if you change again)

• No

Exeter


• Could not get through on your help line to ask a question.

• Last time I switched (from EDF to Eon) the process did not run particularly smoothly and subsequent

price rises made me wonder if it had been a worthwhile exercise

• See answer to previous question

• The online reviews of the service provided by company concerned were extremely bad.

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• Very bad press on the provider Website did not work No one answered the phone despite numerous

attempts


• we have an odd 11hour off peak system which none of the other suppliers is prepared to take

on....also not possible to request this in the switching process.


• only moved home 6 months ago so don’t have enough data to make decent comparison

• Was unable to obtain the information I required to process my change


• The rates offered on the Exeter switch site were exactly the same as offered elsewhere

Not enough time

• Insufficient time given to adequately compare prices/schemes quoted - especially as my figures were

uncertain having recently changed the boiler and installed a Central Heating System in the house

(with an ECC loan for improved housing!!)


• It would have been more expensive for me to switch based on the quotes I got back

• My existing package was already cheaper

• My existing tariff was cheaper

• My fixed present deal is cheaper and last another 2 years

• My present supplier presents very comprehensive billing and explanations of usage, help with

monthly budgeting and updating direct debit payments on a regular basis. They also have local offices

and are easily available for personal contact and advice. I consider therefore that this a service well

worth consideration for piece of mind but still retaining competitiveness in costs. The fixed price

period was also longer than other options offered. In conclusion perhaps I was concerned of entering

into the 'unknown ‘and ultimately felt it was better to stay with 'the devil' one knows. I will however

welcome the opportunity of keeping in touch with Exeter Together on future occasions.

• Saving was no greater than with other suppliers and I am already on a good tariff. Couldn't be

bothered with hassle of switching.

• the site confirmed that I am already with the cheapest supplier


• We want wholly green energy and that wasn't on offer (only green electricity) so are sticking for the

moment with our green supplier: Good Energy.

Switcher

• i did switch

• I have been waiting to switch for some time and felt this would be the perfect opportunity

• i have switched

• I thought I had applied so above does not apply

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• I AM FIXED PRICE UNTIL 31 MARCH 2013

• I have a good fixed rate until 2014, plus the Exeter Together rate was only guaranteed for 12 months.

Other

• I don't basically like change. For the sake of a possible £30/year saving I did not think it worth the

hassle. I have never changed my credit card, bank, doctor etc. either.

• Life is short and we have better things to do. I want to choose my water supplier, as that would be a

genuine saving.

• My household's bills are not in my name - the bill payer did switch with Exeter Together.

• Other benefits from British gas

• Some of the answer options don't really flow in terms of some of the questions -

• Unfortunately I'm currently living in a care centre and will be moving on to a new property when I

leave here.

• Want to see if my current supplier will offer me a lower tariff or match the lower rate that I found

with another supplier

Scotland


• concern over customer service ratings of first utility

• had not heard of the recommended supplier, feared poor service and billing

• I was told on line that you couldn't accept my application some thing to do with fuel delivery

charges????

• inappropriate advice

• Read my foregoing reply.

• See previous answer.

• The company I received my top offer from has a reputation for not having great customer care.

• Top of my list were a company I had applied to a year ago, First Utility. They refused me because of

my credit rating. I checked it and found I was 999. They're obviously stupid in their dealings, I want

nothing to do with them.


• Could not use the provider you recommended

• I have economy 7 so could not switch using your scheme

• Scots Together said I wasn't eligible because I had two different suppliers and had a pre-meter for my

electricity.

• See answer to previous question

• your scheme could not compare my comfort plus Scottish power tariff


• didn’t offer other payment types on direct debits which I do not use.

• It would be difficult because I have solar PV and would need to deal with that too

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• I have moved recently and don't have a full year's information, so I'm not entirely sure if I would save

or not. But I will certain look into this again if the opportunity arises and I have more information to

hand.


• it’s just uswitch by another name. So I quickly moved on. It’s not a together service it’s just uswitch

• who are 'scots together' just a new switch tool?

Not enough time

• I was trying to get my current energy supplier to give me my accurate annual usage but they didn't

get back to me in time.


• Already on the cheapest deal possible - (prepayment meters + Ebico)

• Existing supplier was already cheaper

• I contacted Scots together and when I stated that I was with EDF & the blue tariff set until April 2014 I

was told that it was not worth switching

• I could only get a saving (about £30 per year) by leaving a green tariff and going to a standard tariff

but I choose to be on a green tariff.

• I moved into my present residence: 22/12/2012 and there was only a saving of £14 a year. A total

waste of my time bothering with the Scots Together nonsense.

• I would have saved £11.00 and it was too marginal to change. Fuel charges are deliberately complex

making it difficult to decide the best value unless via a comparison site. The charges should be fixed

on a certain date for all companies as if you go from one to another the cheaper coy can put up its

charges.

• I wouldn't save ANY money - I'd be £300pa worse off

• I wouldn't save ANY money. Their best deal was MORE than I currently pay.

• I'm with Ebico, a social justice supplier, and I want to continue to support them

• It would cost me significantly more!

• My current tariff was much better/ - lower cost- than any of your recommendations.

• No saving

• None of the quotes bettered the tariff I was presently on

• Saving estimated at £2.65 a year!

• the same 6 companies are the only ones ever on offer and nothing is saved

• Would only save 8 gbp for year so not worth hassle and I would have had to go onto an expensive

standard tariff with existing provider until switch over had taken place.

• your comparison indicated that I was on a cheaper deal than the ones you were proposing, i.e. in your

comparison I was told how much more I would have to pay


• I feel my current supplier (good energy) is more ethical and green than the other energy suppliers so I

decided not to switch. (I don't think a green tariff at a main supplier is the same).

• Wasn't sure of their green energy credentials or the length of tie in. Hadn't heard of the company

before. Currently with a not for profit energy company which I feel is also good to support.

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• current deal not quite ended

• I have a fix till June 201 at which time I will review my options

• JUST MOVED AND GIVING THE CURRENT SUPPLIER A YEAR TO SEE HOW THINGS PAN OUT


• didn't really understand what you were doing

• I didn't understand the Scots together process. It just directed me to a USwitch process that I can do

anytime. I didn't get enough information about the companies e.g. customer service record or green

policy

• The process of switching is a nightmare. Needs to be a massive saving to make it worth it.

Other

• any savings should be given to the client not an uncheckable charity. If I want to give to charity then I

choose to do that. In future give the client the option of entering into or out of giving to charity.

• Companies play catch-up with prices so you have to know which companies still are to raise prices.

• Doing it through the internet and monthly checks.

• Don’t live full time in my Scottish home so use very little energy . Once I am there forever it would

have been very interesting to see what was on offer.

• I couldn't take advantage. Desperate to because we are moving on 1st may and new home is all

electric. But weren't allowed to, told it applied to present home only even though both places are in

Borders

• I wasn't sure I was comparing like with like.

• Just answered that one earlier.

• Living in a flat share, it was not just my decision. The energy bills are in my flatmates name and we

thought it too much effort to switch - once the saving is split between 3 it doesn't work out at that

much. Also unsure of how long we will be living in the property so didn’t want to be tied into a new

contract.

• Not available to about 80% of the population of Orkney!

• Sorry I cant cancel the green button THE REASON I DIDN'T SWITCH WAS BECAUSE I WAS PAYING LESS

IN MY CURRENT DEAL

• Yes. See 8 above!

• You were unable to provide an alternative supplier at any price

UK Together


• Terrible reviews


• I could not switch because seemingly my house is not on the main gas grid

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• my current deal also include discount on various high street and so on, which saves me more than I

would have saved with you

• Swapping would have been at a loss?


• I switched previously to a provider of green electricity and green gas not because it was cheaper than

my previous provider

• I would really like to change to a green energy company but can't afford to at the moment, so would

rather wait until green energy becomes cheaper or I am in a more comfortable financial position.

• Was looking for an Eco option that included wind, solar but also nuclear


• I needed a direct comparison price in cost per unit, with that I can do the rest

• The answers above don't really make sense, because the reason I didn't switch was that my bills are

too random to work out my accurate usage, however I have been paying less than the estimate made

by completing the form the only way I could. So I wasn't convinced I would actually be saving money

and there was no way to be sure. I had only just seen the e-mail (I get too many) so it was literally at

the eleventh hour, so no chance to do further research so I decided to leave it.

Other

• I didn't think the figures were right. The standing charge was a lot more expensive.

• I started working for an en energy supplier, and received a staff discount.

• I’m moving house soon.

• Sheffield City Council has a scheme which I am interested in which is still open

• we're about to move house, so are waiting to switch until afterwards

Any other reasons not above (Reasons to switch)

Cornwall

Frustration at big energy companies

• Anger at the current fuel exploitation situation

• Fed up with energy companies fleecing us all in order to improve their already substantial profits

• To get out of the clutches of capitalism red in tooth and claw.

Saving money

• Mainly to save money

Togetherness

• joining a community project

• That Cornwall was getting together to manage smaller bills for all if possible.

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Other

• However I gave up my green tariff to switch to what I understood was the only option, apparently I

never saw a 'green leaf' to give me another (more green) option so that has been a big

disappointment.

• I haven't switched

• It is a genuine organisation created for the people of Cornwall


Backed by the council

• I thought if Solihull council were recommending certain suppliers they must be ok.


• fed up with British gas

Exeter


• I do not usually trust companies who offer to help you switch, but because this was a local initiative

backed by the council I am giving it a go.

• I trusted Exeter City Council who seemed to be involved.


• Disgust with treatment by previous supplier

Togetherness

• supporting each other, ease of information

Other

• I could have got an extra £5 cash back through a cash back website but chose Exeter Together as a

contribution was made to help those in fuel poverty and I wouldn't miss the extra £5.

• It was sounds very good, but not anymore.

• To get out of a tariff which had cancellation fees.

Scotland


• Endorsed by the local Council

Saving Money

• It offered me a cheaper tariff

• Saving money was the only reason

Other

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• I had been going to switch again anyway as a fixed contract had recently ended.

• The provider I was with had a complex way of calculating usage cost and came last in a Which survey.

The provider Scots Together are using did a bit better in the survey - I only found its name on

completion of the changeover.

IF YOU WOULD RECOMMEND X TOGETHER TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

Cornwall

• 5 minutes work to save £55 has got to be good

• A chance to get away from the companies that have profit as their main aim

• A good community based, money saving, energy efficient product - don't let it pass you by!

• A good idea to explore to see if you can save money, in my case £26.

• a good opportunity to get an independent opinion but, check it out yourself first to ensure you get

like for like comparison

• A good option if you wish to save money for either electricity or gas.

• A good scheme but do your own heck of recommendation

• A good way of comparing this energy option with your existing provider.

• A good way to save money

• A positive project to benefit all that was well designed, easy to use and gave a strong sense of

community.

• A useful and easy site to navigate with plenty of information. Excellent opportunity to save money.

• A very easy way to find an alternative cheaper tariff without the hard sell and one I could understand.

• A very good chance that you will save money

• A very helpful and easily navigable site.

• A very interesting and helpful site

• A worthwhile programme of local support.

• Actually, this is only a "Maybe". I'd say you might get a discount by clubbing together with other

people in Cornwall, and I'm all for acting locally, but I'm not sure I trust the claims of it representing

green energy, when the supplier it came up with for me was the dreaded British Gas (which also has a

low customer satisfaction rating).

• advise to take a look

• Advised my sister to look into it.

• Already have and they've taken up the offer.

• Already have recommended it and given info to neighbour.

• Although it is too early to tell what benefits I will receive

• Although the saving I was given was less than £50 per year, I would recommend

• always worth a try to get costs down

• always worth looking at alternatives. the difference in projected savings was too minimal for me

personally to bother switching right now

• An easy way to see if you can save money.

• Anything to stop the BIG FIVE holding the UK to ransom !

• At least look at what is on offer, you will see it makes sense.

• Be careful that you really get a good deal. When I entered all my details none of the Cornwall

Together options were cheaper by £75 or more and yet the program still invited me to switch

providers. This could be confusing for the elderly and they could end up paying more for their fuel.

Equally oil prices are not brilliant. My current provider will match Cornwall Together prices if they are

not already cheaper.

• Be part of something bigger and do some good locally!

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• Be part of something local and see if you can save money

• Better value and green

• bulk buying by energy aware people

• CERTAINLY WORTH A LOOK 'THO IT DIDN'T BETTER MY FIXED TERM CONTRACT; I SHALL CONTINUE TO

LOOK & WHEN MY CONTRACT IS DUE FOR RENEWAL I SHALL MAKE THIS MY FIRST CHECK.

• Certainly worth looking into if you have dual fuel bills but not if you are electricity only with lpg gas

which is not covered.

• check if considering price comparisons

• check it out but it might not save you anything

• check it out for the chance to save some hard earned cash

• Check it out to make sure your not being done .

• Check it out you might save but they could only save me 85p.also they never had my tariff which was

eco 20-20 shame might have saved more but for 85p I’m staying where I am.

• check it out, although my supplier (Scottish Power)'s tariff (Fresh Start, for low income households -

no longer available) wasn't in there (I was shocked to see how MANY diff ones they had). So, all

suggestions for energy suppliers for me came out at over £200pa MORE!

• Check it out, I have

• Check it out, if it is cheaper you can switch if not you've lost nothing by trying. You know you're on a

good tariff

• Check it to see what you can get

• Check out Cornwall Together, its well worth it!

• Check out your savings and what seems to be a good way forward

• Check your current provider's contract, check your bills and compare with Cornwall Together's

estimation of your bills if joining them.

• Clear information, and the county can benefit

• Clear process

• click and save

• Collective, simple, efficient, sensible.

• Cornwall Together delivers more than the usual comparison sites and is well worth supporting.

• Could not save any money after penalty for cancelling contract but knew I had found a very good deal

independently. Easy to use for those who are not so 'savvy'

• Definitely worth checking out

• Definitely worth a look to see how much money you could save and the more people that join the

bigger the voice.

• Definitely worth a lot of consideration

• Do have your energy payments checked to make sure you are on the correct tariff it could save you

pounds.

• do it

• Do it on line

• do take the time to do comparison checks as it could save you quite a bit of money

• East way to check if there is a cheaper deal

• easy n quick n saved me money

• Easy to change, save money, proud that Cornwall going something united

• easy to join and certainly worth doing.

• easy to sue but could not produce any saving over our current supplier

• Easy to switch, nice knowing no cancellation fee or fixed year contract and great to know not the only

one and was done especially for householders in Cornwall.

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• Easy to understand website and prompt telephone response to my query. However when I tried to go

further with switching the virus checker on my PC queried the website and showed it as insecure so I

opted out of continuing with the switch.

• Easy to use and very good scheme. Unfortunately it couldn't save me any money.

• Efficient Service

• Efficient transfer of service......so far

• Even though we did not switch because the cheaper option was with first who do not have good

reviews I would still try Cornwall together as it is easy to use with clear instruction.

• Excellent idea, money saving and personally very happy with the principle.

• Explore

• Five minutes on the computer really pays off.

• Forget brand loyalty and take the leap

• Get a quote the more who buy the better the deal

• get a quote!

• Get involved!

• Get on board!

• Get together, save money. good for all involved, helps local people.

• give it a go and see if it works for you

• Give it a go and see if they make a difference.

• give it a go as a cooperative style buying regime , the bigger it is the more clout it will have.

• give it a go you could save some money

• Give it a go you having nothing to lose

• Give it a go, nothing ventured, nothing gained

• Give it a go----you have nothing to lose and probably a lot to gain

• Give it a look it doesn't cost and you might save some money

• Give it a shot - Savings can be made. Especially if you're duel fuel user.

• Give it a try

• Give it a try - you've nothing to lose.

• give it a try you have nothing to lose, and you don't have to switch if you’re not sure.

• Give it a try, easy to do & may save you money. Good to be part of trying to shake up energy

companies to think about customers before shareholder profits.

• Give it a try, it sounds like a good deal

• Give it a try. We didn't switch because the saving was minimal for us but you might do better.

• give it ago its worth looking to see what’s out there!

• Give them a go.. Nothing to loose

• give them a try

• Give them a try to see if you could save.

• go

• Go do it now.

• Go for it! You have nothing to lose!

• Go for it!!!

• Go for it, you`ve nothing to lose possibly something to gain !!

• Go local

• Go or it!

• Go try it, it's great!!

• good deal - good refund - give it a go!

• Good idea, simple and effective and shows collaboration and supports good cause

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• Good resource, clear, informative; nicely laid out and user-friendly site. E-mail newsletters that are

concise and contain useful info.

• Good to know the options around

• Good to understand the energy bills and it has a chance to save money.

• Good way to reduce energy costs and help tackle fuel poverty

• Got a good idea. However at this moment product for me was not cheaper than my existing fixed rate

2yr deal which still has 5 months to run. please keep trying.

• great for checking if you’re on the best tariff

• Great idea, and everyone should join

• have a look

• Have a look & see if you can save!

• have a look and see if it can save you money.

• Have a look and see if you can save money

• Have a look and try the comparison but be careful; switching would have cost us £200-£300 more

AND we can save that amount by switching elsewhere, making us £500-600 better off than the

preferred provider.

• Have a look at this - mainly non-commercial and independent advice. Also good to try to 'work

together'

• Have a look at what they have to say and make your own mind up, there is no pressure to change, just

the opportunity to see if you can save money. It is also easy to do

• Have a look at what they offer

• Have a look at your energy costs and compare with Cornwall Together.

• have a look we did not change because we had just new deal for electric

• Have a look you may save money

• have a look, it’s a good thing people are doing to get a better deal from the big corporate monster

companies who only care about profits

• Have already explained how simple the switch process was, & what I have been told I should save.

• Have its organisation in mind, along with others that are seeking collective auctions.

• Have you considered the energy deals being offered through Cornwall Together? How easy it was to

find out what savings could be made and how easy it was to switch

• Have you heard of Cornwall Together?

• Help yourself and help the less fortunate at the same time

• how easy it was to switch and how lovely the girl called shioban was who helped me!

• How quick and easy it was and how much I saved.

• How simple it is to find a cheaper supplier and to switch

• I am in the process of switching, so I wouldn’t recommend them until I had a positive experience of

how it goes. My expectations are high.

• I have already recommended CT to several friends on the basis that last year I was able to get a better

deal.

• I have already.. 'If you can save money try it'

• I have emailed the link and told them to get on board!

• I have recommended the initiative. We joined up and switched yesterday (under my husbands

name/details) and are looking to join the oil scheme once our oil tank has been relocated.

• I have told them I have saved over £100.

• I like the principle of community action in Cornwall but it would be a cautious recommendation as we

were unable to make any savings through Cornwall Direct. It would have costs money to change.

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• I missed the deadline..... but I would explain that this is part of people power, reducing costs by

working collectively as a County

• I myself found it more expensive to change as I'm on a fixed rate until April 2014 at a lower tariff than

that given on your website. In 12 months’ time I will change both gas and electric supplier and will

certainly check your website. That's what I'd tell my family.

• I passed on the details for them to investigate.

• I passed the link on to several people, just with a note saying 'this might be interesting/useful'

• I say, I think you would be interested.

• I sent the details to everyone on my e-mail or telephone list because I thought it was a brilliant idea

and fully supported it.

• i think the idea is great. it's a shame you can only join twice a year as a lot of people have to pay an

exit fee from there provider so it doesn't make changing viable. People answering my questions on

phone weren't very helpful and it take over 5min on hold for someone to speak to me,

• i think this is a wonderful scheme and i will be doing the bulk oil buying, but did not switch from eon

as i appear to already have a good deal. with bonus.

• I think this is a wonderful scheme. I will be doing the bulk oil buying but did not switch from E.ON as I

appear to already have a good deal with bonus and loyalty extras.

• I was confused and Cornwall Together did all the hard work for me and made the decision to switch

easy to make.

• I would recommend if they haven't switched

• I would recommend to consider.

• I would say look for yourselves but don't expect anything too startling

• I would tell that that you were very helpful, found that we could save money and from then on it was

very easy to switch

• I would tell them how much I was able to save on my fuel bills.

• I would tell to take a good look at Cornwall Together as it sounds very good thing, in fact I have told

members of my family to enquire, I tried but it appears my meters are too old and I need to get them

updated , I have only recently moved into the property

• I'd say what a good scheme it was. The only reason why I never went for it was because I believed

that I was not being considered by CT because I was too late joining initially as CT indicated that one

had to apply by a certain date and I was too late. However as the contract with the existing supplier

was about to end and I needed to get another supplier or alternatively see what was being offered by

other suppliers and British Gas were the best and so I signed up for a 12 month contract with them

and at its termination I will consider and seek out the best on offer using one of two of the on line

organisations that do just that and should CT be the one I will no doubt change to what they offer, but

I change suppliers regularly if a better offer is out there, I in the past 14 years that I have lived in

Cornwall I estimate that I have changed suppliers no less than 5 times.

• If it hadn't been for the enthusiasm and helpfulness of Cornwall together, I would never have

considered a different way of doing things. Good to support something local too.

• If they did not have access to the internet and were unable to explore switching energy suppliers for

themselves, I would certainly recommend that they telephone Cornwall Together to establish the

best option for them.

• If they want to save money the more that join the cheaper it should become.

• If you are in a position to switch it is worth looking at. We have a fixed term not due to finish until

June at the moment the deal is cheaper than anything else

• If you don't have specific requirements of your supplier, then use Cornwall Together. I need a supplier

who will administer my FIT payments, and the one I am with has a reasonably green supply on offer

• If you think that your energy bills are too high, look at Cornwall Together

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• If you want info on different energy suppliers and a trustworthy site Cornwall together is for you...

• If you're on an old tariff, you'll probably save money by switching and it's very easy to do.

• In the current climate of increasing expenses for everyone it is important to change things if it saves

money. Especially important for us on low incomes.

• It can save you money but you may have to do on-line readings

• It could be a way of saving money on energy bills and keeping prices down.

• it could lower fuel costs

• It could save money

• It didn't work for me but it might for them. Anything is worth a try to save money these days.

• It doesn't take time but it does give you money.

• it gives you an idea of how much you can save

• It is a good idea and provided you are not already on the lowest tariff ~ as I was, then it will save you

money.

• It is a good idea to get as many people as possible thinking the same way to get a good rate for fuel. A

pity we cannot do the same for vehicle fuels.

• It is a good method of keeping up to date on costs, and in the future costs may change and it might

prove beneficial

• It is a valuable and good idea for smaller purchasers to club together to gain the best energy prices

• It is an excellent idea to work together to get the best outcome for local residents

• It is certainly worth investigating but see my no answer to expand.

• It is easy to swap

• It is easy to take part and well worth it

• it is easy, just do it as you have nothing to lose

• it is local/Eden recommended/therefore trustworthy

• It is very worth filling in the required details. the results are very good and would save you a lot of

time and telephone calls to get a better price.

• It is well worth using Cornwall Together to compare energy prices. (The only reason we didn't switch

is because our current supplier is rated highly (elsewhere on the internet) on customer service than

your recommended supplier and we had upsetting hassle twice before when we switched, so

excellent customer service is very important.)

• It is worth a try, but do not expect too much

• it is worth checking.

• It is worth having a look at!

• It is worth trying

• It makes life easier if you can't be bothered to research prices yourself. (Though we can't improve on

our fuel prices)

• It makes sense to have as many local people involved as possible to get the best price and saving for

all of us.

• It may be of benefit to you. I didn't switch because it simply showed I would be worse off if I

switched.

• It might be a way to save money on fuel bills, and benefit people in fuel poverty.

• It might be better and can't be worse than being at the mercy of multinational corporations whose

only aim is to make large profits

• It might be worth your while and you would need all the info together to make a decision anyway.

You don't need to search different places, all the searching is done for you

• it might save you money, but it didn't for me

• It must be advantageous to buy collectively

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• It was simple and is important!

• It will be worthwhile checking energy tariffs.

• It will save you money

• It will save you money - and they seem to be nice people!

• It would be worth a look at Cornwall Together to compare prices with their current supplier.

• It's a really great idea

• It's a good way of reducing energy costs and is easy to manage.

• It's a great idea, but I was unable to progress my application because the site was unable to locate a

tariff for my provider, Scottish Hydro. I was unable to get a speedy response on the phone, so the

application didn't progress at all.

• It's a no brainer. Consider saving money and beating the energy companies.

• It's a quick and easy way to see if you can save on your energy spend.

• It's always a good idea to compare prices each year whether you do it with Cornwall Together or

independently on a comparison site.

• it’s ALWAYS WORTH GETTING ANOTHER QUOTE.

• It's an easy way to check if it's worth switching.

• It's an organisation where the interests of the local population and businesses are its sole raison

d'être.

• It's easy. You will either save money or you won't, but it's easy to find out. Keep an eye on the tariff if

you switch, as it may go up. Also, some of the biggest savings require online management only, so be

sure to check the terms and conditions.

• It's great if you can find your tariff - I unfortunately am on a Social Tariff and the comparison site was

unable to compare. I also phoned the helpline and was told that 'obviously' I was unable to join

Cornwall Together (but without properly explaining the reasons.

• It's local

• its so easy and very worthwhile

• its the only sensible thing to do, if one wishes to brake the hold of the monopolies

• It's the same as any other energy saver search - so would recommend it along with other tariff

checkers but not especially.

• It's the sensible option.

• Its very easy to get information about whether your current tariff is competitive. It wasn't worth me

switching suppliers but it might be for someone else.

• It's worth a go to see if it can help.

• It's worth a look, but be sure to check out when your contract runs out. We Couldn't continue with

the sign-up as our supplier would have charged. Also, as low users it was no cheaper for us, it would

be for a family.

• It's worth a shot, potentially it's a good initiative

• It's worth contacting C.T. To see what they can offer

• It's worth contacting Cornwall Together because it might save you money

• It's worth exploring.

• It's worth investigating if you are on mains gas

• It's worth looking into, not often you get an ethical opportunity to save money.

• Its worth the small amount of time that it took to complete

• I've already blogged on facebook

• I've ticked Yes because I couldn't proceed unless I ticked something. But what I want is a Don't Know

option.

• join up cos its free and they’ll save you money

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• Join up quickly & save

• Join up the more people who do the more successful it will be both financially and socially

• Join!

• Join, and find out how much you could save

• just ask

• Just check out the website people you can trust have done all the research you are under no

obligation to swap, but the whole process has been made so easy.

• just compare tariffs, what didn’t work for me this time might for you

• just do it

• Just give it a try, you have nothing to lose and possibly a lot to gain.

• just need to wait for lpg gas

• Just to check that they can save on utilities. One of the comparisons that I got used the wrong figures.

• Keep it local, the more people signing up helps get better savings.

• Let us join together as a community and use our increased purchasing power as a group to negotiate

lower prices for our fuel.

• lets get together and save money together

• Likely to find a competitive price

• Local opportunity, friendly helpful staff ease of switching, but the telephone lines are extremely busy

if you need to ask a question and I gave up waiting for the terms and conditions of the heating oil

swap

• Not easy to fill in application

• nothing to lose.

• Oi is a reliable switching advise service I did not switch because the recommended plan was with the

company I am already with but I did call the company and ask why I was not on this plan and they

rectified the situation

• Ok, but not if you are an Economy 7 user

• OK+++

• Only worth doing it if you are a heavy user of gas and electricity

• Opportunity to save money and benefit Cornwall

• opportunity to save money, whilst helping others

• please try you might save £sss

• Possible good savings if taking electricity and gas.

• Power to the people!

• Quick and easy way of finding and switching to a cheaper tariff.

• Really look at what is on offer

• Recommend trying it, very good.

• Register and see if they can better your present supplier

• Save money and support a local initiative

• Save money -do it

• Save money with Cornwall Together

• Saves money and is well accredited

• savings could be made by buying in bulk with a cornwall based organisation

• See if it will save you much

• See if they could also save money

• seek the best prices of fuel

• Seems like a great way to save money on energy bills

• seems to be cheaper than most providers

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• Simply, get quotes and if a better deal is available then switch.

• So very helpful do try them.

• Suggest they check out your prices before deciding any switch

• Support the local enterprise

• Take a look

• Take greater control over your energy providers through collective buying

• tell them about the money we are saving as the other companies are just making money for

shareholders

• That a caring, local organisation is making a great impact on a vital part of our lives in Cornwall.

• That for us in the near future (e.g. Just prior to current fixed price for electricity agreement with

current provider nears an end I will definitely be returning to Cornwall Together- in fact I will keep in

touch. However I believe that it would be silly for us to move when in fact the cost of our electric

supply will not be going up until Spring 2014

• That I believe that it is a great idea and gives the individual consumer a leverage against the large

companies.

• That it is nice to have a greener option and to have autonomy in Cornwall.

• That it saves you money and they make it easy for you to switch without you doing the hard work

• That the more people that join the better the bargaining power

• That the service was good and I saved nearly £100 on my electricity bill!

• The difference between what I was paying and changing was really not worth the effort. I have solar

panels and I feed into the grid, and was unsure how changing would affect this, so, since I am not the

sweet young thing that I was and the brain does not work quite so well, I decided not to bother, but it

is always worth trying because I am sure if I were a larger family units rather than just me, I might

have benefited and as a co-operative, better deals can be gotten. I am in a consortium when it comes

to my oil purchasing. My true feelings are I think that all the utilities should be in public ownership.

At the moment, prices reflect a proportion that has to be set aside for shareholders and that is not

fair.

• The idea is good

• the more local people we get the more successful it will be.

• The more people that join the more money you will get off your electric

• The more people that join, the better the chance of a good rate. One drawback (which I mention now

in case there is no opportunity later) - I cannot change suppliers until after April because my current

contract involves a £100 payback after 12 months. So I cannot meet the March deadline for Cornwall

Together.

• The more that join the better likelihood of reduced costs and improved service.

• The potential savings are greatly exaggerated but concept is sound

• The principle of co-operative purchasing has to be good. Go for it!

• The process is relatively straightforward and it's always worth investigating reducing costs. Armed

with basic information of current supplier, tariff, costs and consumption, the website is helpful in

guiding you through the process.

• The savings we could have made were minimal. That said, give it a go it might help you.

• The tremendous buying power of a large body of users which the power suppliers cannot afford to

ignore, thus they will come up with a price worth considering, especially when they are up against

their own competitors.

• There is a very good chance that they could save considerably on their energy bills and in so doing

help the environment.

• They are a honest and most importantly local company working for the local people

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• They are very helpful and eager to help

• They checked my tariff and confirmed that I was on the best deal available.

• They COULD save you money

• They do the price comparisons for you & don't then bombard you with cold calls or spam so you are

free to make a considered decision as to whether to switch or not. They save you money and time!

• They tend to leave you in the lurch whilst switching

• Think its a good idea to keep costs down - everyone should check their prices annually ....

• This is a great scheme, bringing the community together AND saving you money.

• this is an interesting idea to save money on fuel

• This is the first time I have found a website that offered me the chance to comprehensively review my

energy options in a logical and progressive manner and is well worth investigating.

• This might save some money....maybe!

• This scheme is worth investigating

• Though I didn't save anything through you but did switch product with existing provider

• tis worth a look

• To check you out

• To check it out to see if they could save.

• To have a look as it may save them money

• To look into and see if they could save money

• To save money JOIN.

• to try and switch and join if their not tied in to an agreement.

• Together we are stronger and Cornwall has a voice that people will listen too.

• Try it

• Try it - get an estimate. You can always change your mind.

• Try it - you have nothing to lose!

• try it you’ll like it!

• Try it !

• Try it and see if they can provide a cheaper rate, for us the savings were not worth the trouble, not

the hundreds of pounds savings as advertised.

• Try it because you will not know if you will save if you don't.

• Try it out

• Try it out & see whether their tariff can be bettered

• Try it out and see if it saves money - if not nothing to lose.

• try it!

• Try it, you might find a better deal. But it does not guarantee that prices will not increase shortly

after changing . So far I have not seen a big enough saving to convince me that I should change. Need

more detail in actual rates per unit etc.

• Try it: we are!

• Try them for the chance to save some money on the cost of fuel

• Try this organisation; it might save you some money, and seems to be local, rather than big

multinational/french!!

• Try this, it's local and a great idea

• Use the opportunity to see if you can save money on your bills, it's easy

• Very easy way to compare alternatives

• Very efficient and might save you money!

• very good prices but it would cost me more to change my contract than i could save would like to try

again when my contract ends

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• Very important for everyone to join together as one voice - energy prices are through the roof.

• Viable switch

• well worth a look

• Well worth a look to compare your tariff but need to know what tariff you are on!

• Well worth doing - the whole process explained well, with the opportunity to back out if doubtful.

• Well worth doing and so easy. It took the stress out of looking for new energy suppliers.

• Well worth exploring, easy to follow.

• Well worth investigating

• Well worth looking at on a regular basis

• Well worth review

• What have you got to lose?

• Whilst I decided not to change I found it very easy to use and it gave very quick results.

• Why not keep everything local?

• Why wait - do it now!

• with bulk buying one can save money

• Worth a look

• worth a look, although wouldn't have saved us money....

• Worth a try

• Worth a try to investigate possible energy costs savings. Trustworthy and easy to follow.

• worth a try to see if it really makes a positive difference

• Worth a try, but they may not come up with a better deal than what you have already.

• worth a try. easy to use. got results

• worth a try.......savings are possible with shopping around

• Worth checking out

• worth checking out to see if you save money

• Worth checking to see if you could save money

• worth considering

• Worth considering but check tariffs for yourself before committing.

• Worth considering in order to get a better deal

• worth enquiring, helpful staff, could save you money, and benefit local community

• Worth exploring savings that also benefit the community

• Worth exploring ways of saving money

• Worth having a look - in my case I was told I am on the best plan already good for peace of mind.

• Worth investigating to see if you can obtain a better deal

• Worth looking at but in my case the savings offered were less than 10%. Given the variability in tariffs

and prices I consider that a saving of this magnitude might not be realised in practice and therefore is

not worth the hassle of changing suppliers.

• Worth looking at but our electric was cheaper than Cornwall together but always worth exploring

idea good

• Worth looking at, but then make your own mind up.

• Worth looking at.

• Worth looking at. Nothing to lose, possibly something to gain!

• Worth registering to see if you can save them money. Registration process is easy to follow.

• Worth seeing if you can get a better offer

• Worth seeing if you can save money.

• Worth trying, but may not actually save you money

• Would suggest they give it a go to compare costs if they were looking to change.

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• Would you like cheaper energy bills from a Cornish enterprise?

• Yes and no, It is a good idea but seems to be poorly executed. Do not seem to be gaining much over

other sites that are the same and not offering much locally, would be better to become an energy

supplier and just offer cheaper tariffs and make no profit

• Yes because I think it's a good idea

• Yes but I would ask them to actively seek for the green leaf so they don't do what I did and give up a

very green tariff for the (what appeared to me to be) only option of a non-green tariff.

• You could probably save money

• You could save a fair amount of money switching

• You could save money for yourself and help the community as well

• You could save yourselves money but the Cornwall Together option does not used any green energy.

• You get the opportunity to see what you can do without having to do all the research yourself.

• You have got to get this

• You have nothing to lose and maybe more to gain.

• You lose nothing by investigating.

• You may not find a better deal but it is quick and easy to check.

• You might be able to save on your electricity and gas bills if you use them.

• You might get a good deal with Cornwall Together or you might also get a good tariff on your own,

but give it a try.

• You might save some money

• you will have the benefits of cheaper utilities

• You will save money and be a collective unity

• you will be given the chance of the best deal

• you would save money

• Your retired and want to save money - go for it

Birmingham and Solihull Together

• A good way to save money and help others

• always good to get advice from a trusted source/SMBC

• Birmingham and Solihull together offer free advice support etc. for cheaper bills .pass it on

• By coming together we can do away with the high tariffs

• Check them out and see if you can save money on your energy provider

• compare & ask if your supplier can match

• Easy switching and good value

• easy to check, and do the switch, easy to save some money :)

• easy to do and worth while

• Easy to switch, save money and be greener.

• Give it a try. Didn't achieve anything for me but may for you.

• give them a try

• Give them a try and compare with other websites

• Good advice

• good value and being part of the community

• I have put it on Landlord Referencing Website and The tenants Voice facebook website for landlords

and tenants to know.

• I was amazing to see how much I would save by switching and the fact that it felt that a community

benefit was even better!

• I would say try it, you didn't save me any money but you might save someone else some

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• If there is more than one of you, in house bigger than small terrace, you may save money!

• If they could get the info the concept is good but the detail was lacking and difficult to access to a

point where one can sign up.

• investigate savings

• It could save them money

• It makes sense

• It makes sense..

• It seems a good idea but it does proceed exceedingly slowly.

• It was easy, but then I can use a computer, and I knew how to get my past history from E.0n Website.

• I've already done so and passed on email to over 100 friends.

• make the effort!

• Maybe cheaper than their present providers

• mum it will probably save you money

• not found out yet how good b/s together is ?

• pass on info which I have done

• recommended and have a look

• Save money

• see if they can save money

• So far it seems good value for money.

• Take a look and see if it suits you

• tell them to get a quote and that its backed by the council

• that you are driven by honourable principals not pure money making.

• The savings seem great

• They were friendly and helpful

• to switch, I did

• try a local deal

• try it, but it's not necessarily cheaper

• try it, what’s to lose?

• Try this

• Try this comparison site

• Well advised and answered all my questions

• What are you waiting for

• Worth looking at

• worth looking at to reconsider what you are getting from a provider

• you could save money

Exeter

• A good community principle to support

• A reminder to look at this high living cost - energy purchase - and point in the direction of orgs. like

Exeter together to assist in checking expenditure.

• An excellent idea to bulk buy and save on fuel prices.

• An interesting collective which may help.

• anything to reduce costs

• At least look at them, the idea is brilliant. I was lucky enough to switch to the co-op just before the Jan

price increase and it holds until May.

• Because it is good to see if you can save money

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• Chance to reduce bills

• Check carefully that the deal on offer is really better than your present suppliers. Exeter Together's

offer to me was -£50 better which was of course £50 worse than my current deal.

• check it out

• Check it out as you may be able to save money.

• Check out the council website you've not got long but you could save money

• Check out the website, it has good deals.

• Check whether you can save money on the helpful site before signing up.

• could be worth a punt

• Depends on performance - I only switched yesterday, so it's too soon to say.

• Do it it's easy and so far has no strings and no annoying e mails from "partners"

• Do your evaluation and see how much your potential saving could be, beware of any built in penalties

from leaving current supplier.

• Easier to use than other sites

• easy to check and sign up

• Excellent idea even though I was on a cheaper tariff than could be offered. If available in future I

would definitely use it again.

• Exeter Together is a good way of obtaining minimum expenditure.

• Give it a go

• Give it a go & see what you can save by getting together with others

• Give it a go. Hopefully you will save money

• Give it a go. Nothing to lose, but could be a lot to gain especially with the ever increasing cost of

energy.

• Give it a try

• give them a try

• Good price comparison

• Good to see someone taking an initiative to help reduce fuel bills.

• have a go, it may save you some money!

• Have a look & see if it is of benefit.

• have a look as energy maybe cheaper thro you

• Helpful staff able to clear information. The idea of collectively being able to achieve something is

brilliant

• I have already done so.

• I have forwarded the email to friends and family

• I think it is a good idea

• I told colleagues that I had swapped and they were going to look into it also.

• I told them I'd switched and the potential saving I'd make. I also commented that making an enquiry

wouldn't necessitate in them switching.

• I will wait and see how the costs change compared to other tariffs first

• I wish I had got my act together and joined this scheme....

• I would recommend they go to the site and look into it because 10 minutes of their time could save

them some cash

• I would tell them to check out a money saver

• If you have never switched it's worth a try.

• If you have not tried switching, let Age UK help you.

• If you want to save money on energy, check out Exeter Together.

• in principle a good idea

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• It is well worth checking if you would benefit and the process is very easy. It gave better and fuller

information than I have had from using other switch sites.

• It is worth a try to see whether you can make a worthwhile saving

• It is a worth a try

• It may be worth checking this to see whether you can save something.

• IT OFFERED ONE TO ONE SUPPORT AND ADVICE

• It saves a lot of hassle having to go online and searching for comparisons when you do it for us!

• It was easy to switch and I have saved money.

• It was very easy to do the price comparison and the initial switch . I do not yet know how well the

actual switching process will go so cannot comment on that yet.

• it was very quick and easy to do

• Its a great idea, I love that the government backed this idea to help people save money. The team

were great at explaining everything and really helped us to make up our minds.

• It's an easy way to switch and save money

• It's an interesting idea and may save you money.

• It's better chance to get really good deal

• its cheaper

• It's definitely worth comparing energy prices

• it's easy, and saves money

• It's quick & easy to do, can't think of a reason not to

• It's really easy, you can do it all on-line it takes very little time and you will probably save money!

• Its worth having a look to see how much you can save.

• join

• join us be part of a cost effective team

• Just do it...

• Local fuel supplier that's trying to bring as many of us together as possible to enhance our buying

power... Quite literally "power to the people"!

• looks like a good way to save money, and also be part of a local buying group

• make sure your current agreement/s do not have a cancellation clause.

• On line process proved easier than I feared

• one way to save money and you can switch without any messing around

• Possibly but we didn't pursue it as we were going away and didn't have time to follow all the process

• Save money

• See what you can save, it's easy to do.

• Simple to do, saves money and benefits others

• sing up its simple

• Suggest they look at the available details then consider the matter

• Switching can be quite easy

• That as a way to save money as well as do some good for the community it is worth looking at

• That it is easy to switch with Exeter Together as they do all the work for you and you will save money.

• that it might be a good way to reduce their energy bills

• The Government is wasting our time with this illusion of choice, but as it is the only game in town look

at this site along with the usual price comparison sites. Anything is better than a "standard" tariff,

which exists to make comparisons appear meaningful.

• The more people that take part, the more everyone will benefit

• The site was really easy to use and I felt I trusted it because it was being promoted by the council

• They can save money

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• To have a look at the web page and explain about the energy saving possibilities. It was a brilliant

idea and having people at Exeter City Council office explaining it to the public, reached a wide range

of people who might not have thought about or been able to access this saving.

• to try it

• Try it

• Try it and see

• Try it could save you money although in my case it confirmed that I am already with the cheapest

supplier

• Try it out. There is nothing to lose

• very easy and a good thin

• very helpful

• We did not change providers, but would suggest to anyone it would be worth having a look.

• We hope to save money - although switch is not completed yet

• We will save over £100 a year and I expect they could too.

• Well worth a look as easy and clear plus offers had been evaluated and compared to give good value

without the bias that may be at work with comparison sites.

• what have you got to loose, I’ve got 4 people to switch

• Why not join? There might be ancillary benefits through "community action" in due course. Perhaps

good ideas might be spread through the database in the future?

• Worth a try

• Worth a try as they may benefit from it -although I didn't feel the savings were a great deal in my case

and I had not heard of the company.

• worth a try but our tariff was already less than what you came up with

• Worth checking to see! Very easy.

• Worth exploring depending on their existing tariffs and whether they were prepared to manage bills

on-line or not.

• Worth exploring options available

• Worth finding out what you can save.

• Worth having a look to see if you can save. Idea of Exeter Together is brilliant. Unfortunately it

couldn't save me money.

• Worth Joining in because the more that do the better deal we will all get.

• Worth looking at

• Worth taking a look ...there is power in numbers

• Worth trying to get a better deal.

• You drive around Exeter searching for the best supermarket deals, so why don’t you treat Energy

Suppliers in the same way? Look around and you might drive into a better deal. Close your eyes and

you might get stuck in a rut - Search out the best Energy deals - it's easy to switch.

• You have nothing to lose!! It is easy

• You really ought to see what they can come up with- it only takes a few minutes.

Scotland

• A very good initiative, it's worth exploring. We also need more collective action like this to keep prices

fairer for everyone.

• advise them to compare with current supplier

• Apathy is the enemy of energy efficiency

• but no good if you are moving house, like us, because they wouldn't take our new address

• change now

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• check it out

• check out website to see how much you could possibly save-

• Comparisons are simplified

• Could possibly reduce your energy bills

• Could save you money

• do it

• Do it and save money while doing something good for the community

• Do it!

• Don’t muck about just try their website.

• Ease of changing

• Easy & saves money

• easy system, capped prices will save money in long term

• easy to find out what you can save

• Easy to use

• easy way to compare prices

• Easy way to save cash on energy

• finds the cheapest deal

• Get a good idea of alternative costs

• Get involved in something important

• give it a go! it's a worthwhile enterprise from which many may benefit

• Give it a try

• Give it a try, I saved £165 a year

• Give the survey a try

• Give them a chance to find cheaper options.

• go and save money

• go for it

• go have a look it could save u hundreds

• Good comparison site

• good for checking present provider

• good ideas

• Good service and very easy to set up

• good site but need more detail on tariffs

• have a look

• have a look. it might be worth it

• Helpful advice to save money

• highly recommended

• I e-mailed them and told them that I had received a letter from Fife Council about scots together and

they should try it out

• I saved £150 pounds/year and it was easy!

• i showed a few of my older members of how to do it and they used the service and saved money

• I tell them to give it a try as there is nothing to loose and possibly a great deal to gain.

• I told them about the savings they could make.

• i will say it is good to save money and they are very helpful to give you advise

• I would say I haven't had time yet to properly evaluate Scots Together and the new electricity

provider.

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• I would say that in my case (can't speak for others) Scots together, uswitch, moneysupermarket and

other sites came up with the same results so I would recommend trying a few sites to check for

themselves. My present deal is still the best for now.

• I would tell them that it's quick, easy and financially good sense.

• I would tell them they may get a better deal and to check it out.

• If you get the chance to try it, you should

• It allows you, relatively easily, to see what better deals appear to be available.

• It could provide a cheaper alternative to Scottish Hydro

• It didn't work for me but it is worth giving it a go

• It helps remind them that they can probably save money changing suppliers

• It is a very simple way to see what best deals are out there

• it is easy, quick and will save you money

• It is good because the more that join, the more strong it is

• It is the opportunity to reduce costs by bulk buying

• It was so easy to use

• It worth looking at

• It's a good idea to explore

• It's a good way to save money

• its a way to save money on your bills easily

• It's definitely worth a try, what have you got to lose?

• its easy and worth a look

• Its easy and worth doing

• It's easy, and it improves the balance of power between consumers and suppliers.

• It's good to know you're on the best tariff

• it's not as easy as they say to change!!

• it's simple and easy

• It's simple to do and WILL save you money, go and check it out

• its worth a look

• it's worth investigating

• its worth trying to see if you could save money

• its worth while looking at it

• I've already suggested it to some, on the grounds that I am going to be saving money.

• Join and save money

• Join it!

• Join to save money

• Joining Scotstogether is a great way of saving money on your bills, it’s worth signing up with them.

• just do it

• just do it. Join in.

• let them know they can make a saving

• lets make things better together united

• Log on to see what you can save!

• Look into all aspects before making any decision

• make sure you try

• Might save and not too difficult to switch

• n/a

• not clear what the actual tariff was and needed more time to find their actual aims

• OK by phone, not by PC

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• Place to find comprehensive information about cheaper fuel suppliers.

• Please give a go on the web it is so easy and has saved me £560 a year

• Possibly

• Potential to save, plus £40 cash back

• power to the people....

• Save money

• save together

• saves money

• seems a good idea

• Seems like good savings

• So easy to change and clear information and a great scheme

• Spend a few minutes considering both the big and personal pictures

• That bulk buying makes sense

• The PRINCIPAL IS SUPERB

• They were very helpful

• This could be the start of "People Power"

• This is great really well organised

• This might be a way for you to save on your energy bills

• This really worked. I saved £200 switching and it only took about 5 mins to do online with my last

energy bill.

• to go on the website to see if they could get a better deal.

• to register and see if they can save

• to take a look at it and see what the difference would be if we all switched over

• Try it

• try it - you've got nothing to lose

• Try it and see

• try it and see if you can save money

• Try it as it may help

• Try it you can't lose anything

• Try them as well as others

• try this for better bills

• use it to compare energy tariffs

• very helpful

• we are saving, they could too and the more that sign up the more everyone could save

• We can get a better deal through being part of a team.

• well worth a look

• What's to say? Easily check if you are an the best energy deal available to you. No requirement to

switch if you don't want to and friendly, helpful people on the telephone helpdesk.

• why wouldn't you?

• Worth a go

• Worth a look

• Worth a look, at least.

• Worth a try

• Worth at least checking out

• worth checking

• Worth checking but my existing arrangement is cheaper

• Worth looking at easy to understand &get in touch with

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• Worth looking for a better energy desl

• Worth looking into

• yes have a look

• yes you have got to switch and save

• Yes, in principle, but with extreme reservations. In failing to make provision for age, disability or

disadvantage within the Scots Together scheme - i.e. for those Scots who are not physically able to

read their own meters or who do not have the IT know-how or facilities to operate an account "on-

line" - it caters solely to the able-bodied and basically discriminates against the very people who are

most in need of help in finding a cheaper option when it comes to paying for gas and/or electricity

bills. Many Scots who already live in fuel poverty will find little that is inclusive or "together" here!

• You can save money and be part of something local

• you can save money, it's easy

• You can't lose anything by trying

• You Have nothing to lose and everything to gain

• your site is well worth a look

UK Together

• Advised Freephone

• another potential source of cheaper energy

• consumer power - join together to get a better deal

• Excellent website, easy to use, clear advice, fast response

• Give it a go

• Good idea and Easy to use comparison

• Have a look at this website for swtching gas & elec

• Have a look, I didn't switch but they may be able to help you.

• I couldn't save money - but it is definitely worth checking if you can

• I don't know enough about you to comment

• I saved money

• If you haven't already got the best energy prices then this is where to start looking. If you have then

this is worth a check

• its a good website to visit

• it's an easy way to switch

• It's worth checking out as it could save you money.

• its worth it

• I've already told them to contact you!

• Look into it, very easy to understand and quick results

• Might mention it as an option

• Nothing gained nothing ventured.

• The service was quick and easy

• There is power in group buying

• They can save you money and time

• This is an initiative that could help save you money

• To look to see if it helps them

• too early to assess!

• Try it

• Very useful for comparing fuel costs from other suppliers

• will send link

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• Worth trying

• you have to try to see if you are on the best deal

IF YOU WOULDN’T RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TELL US WHY:

Cornwall

Could do it better myself

• Cornwall Together did nothing for me. I can achieve better deals doing my own research.

• found a better deal by searching online

• I don't see that it makes any more savings/gives any more information that you could find out/get for

yourself.

• price was not as good as I could get direct myself

Could not meet my energy requirements / Tariff

• Actually probably yes! I am probably not a typical electricity only customer. 22000units/yr 65 odd %

economy 7. 1st Utility (first energy supplier most prominently displayed) was an extra £1000 but I

discovered it did not do Economy 7 so all was at day rate so I don't understand how it appeared at all.

The idea of collecting together is very good and encourages people to check prices. Suppliers not

imposing cancellation fees does the same. Keep going but check that suppliers' quotes relate to

users' input data.

• after all the hype it told me I could not switch because my gas was not on the grid the house was built

10 years ago and on mains gas if so out of date on mapping I lost confidence in the numbers so gave

up!!! nice idea though but LUANCESTON DOES HAVE MAINS GAS

• but also No because you give no option for LPG gas. Didn't help me at all. Shame.

• Cornwall together were not able to do a comparison for the electricity tariff that I have.

• I am extremely disappointed that Cornwall Together has been unable to help me save money due to

the fact that I have an electricity prepayment meter - it seems I am being penalised for this fact and

Cornwall Together is supposed to help people like myself on a low income.

• I got all prepared to switch on 18 March, only to get the message that I couldn’t switch because my

gas supply is not on the national grid! What is THAT all about then? Why was I not warned of this

early on in the process of getting quotes????

• I have calor gas delivered and you do not have this option However I applaud you for reducing

overpriced energy where you can as we are ripped off in this country re global warming

• I wanted to join for cheaper domestic heating oil but that did not seem to be an option in the end

• I was of no benefit to me - any benefit was not worth the bother of changing from my present

supplier - nPower.

• I’m a low income single person in rented housing and because I have a key meter for electric i was

turned down ,I think this is wrong the key meter was installed before I moved here

• It did not work for a key and normal meter

• It turned out to be the highest priced heating oil I have ever bought so there was no saving in my case

but ironically an extra expense. I can only say that the oil does burn well although the supplier said

they never add any additives. I am , however, using a ships fuel system sulphicant called Aderco 5000

in my Rayburn and diesel and petrol vehicles.

• Said my gas was not from the grid

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• Was unable to complete reg on line as wouldn't accept the plan we were on ith current provider. no

phone support as weekend . subsequently missed the registration date.!!

• You don't take account of LPG customers, so immediately you exclude me from your enterprise. Your

product names for EON (my current provider) were NOT up to date, therefor inaccurate. And in the

comparison, it was not immediately clear that the suggested alternatives for me to consider were all

MORE expensive. Some people may have inadvertently changed to a more expensive supplier based

on your web site.

• You won't help key meter users.

Extended comment

• I found the "comparison and recommendations" very confusing, but fortunately I understand

"negative figures". I was offered four alternative electricity suppliers to which I could "switch now", all

of which offered me savings of between -£555 and -£100 plus. This was highlighted in green so

suggested that this was a good move. However, the follow-up email showed these figures in red

which would make most people look twice and wonder. If I had gone ahead on my first visit to the

website, believing I was making a huge saving, I'd have ended up a month's pension worse off. The

comparison reply should have stated that there was no supplier who could offer me a better deal. I

cannot have completely misread the "minus" signs, because in very small print, if you check carefully,

there is a quote of the annual outlay which proves that switching would be a big mistake. I am

concerned that elderly people, (I am 65 next month), will find this confusing.

Not enough time

• I'd tell them to give CT a try but that it is limited by the cut off dates - if you are on a fixed contract

that terminates after the date you cannot take part.

Problems with comms / website / campaign

• A few days after I thought that I had switched, I was informed that it does not cover the IoS ,so why

were we leafleted ?

• Appallingly bad communication resulting in me not being able to switch

• I didn't understand the website, I thought I had to sign up with a number of people for Cornwall Tog

to get a better price for our energy, but the website didn't suggest this, when i tried to find out if I

could get cheaper electric it came up with silly answers.

• I filled in my details then received a message that because I pay for my electricity via a key meter and

my gas via monthly debits I couldn't join the scheme. Why??

• I haven’t experienced anything yet, I am a bit confused as to what is supposed to happen now i have

signed up, there has been no letter or explanation so not sure what’s going on

• I phoned and tried to follow Cornwall Together on the computer but have remained completely

confused. It seems that I have to go through the process of changing suppliers myself and that I find

very complicated. I must explain that I am 87 years old and have no one to advise or help me.

• I phoned for more information and spoke to someone who clearly didn't have a clue what he was

talking about. With no information except my current monthly payment and postcode, he came up

with a price for me. I didn't switch. Very, very disappointed after all the hype.

• I signed up and chose a deal from Cornwall together the first time that you did it. After getting a

confirmation email from you about this saying I would be contacted by the provider - I never was.

When I telephoned to find out why I went through to Uswitch who didn't appear to know anything

about the Cornwall together deal and told me to contact the provider directly. I did and they also

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were not aware of a mass- buying deal for Cornwall. So absolute waste of time for me. Would have

been good to speak to someone or have notice that the deal failed....

• I wrote to you informing you that this year I could not switch as it was financially Unviable because of

the penalty clauses in my present contract. I asked you to inform me in the future when the next

opportunity would be. But you obviously ignored this and kept sending me mail urging me to change!

• MY CURRENT STANDING CHARGE QUOTED FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES WAS INCORRECT AND THE

QUOTATION DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DIRECT DEBIT OR ONLINE BILLING DISCOUNTS

• Not enough details about tariffs available to switch to. Unsure what happens when discount period

finishes.

• poor website. copst to high for your quote, better if you go alone in my case

• Site difficult to use. Found that it was no help to me.

• The ad says even if you are on pre pay meter you can join. WRONG!!! I'm on direct debit with gas, and

pre pay with electricity. The website insisted that I was on pre pay with both!!! Totally waste of time .

• The concept is good although you were unable to match my supplier, however once it had been

established your prices were greater, that should have been the end of the matter. But no, I have had

a stream of worthless emails from you asking me what I proposed to do about changing. I suspect

that in common with many others, you have let the inadequate computer 'experts' write a

programme that is wholly unsatisfactory and no doubt paid through your nose for a second rate

system. My advice would be to ditch the geeks and employ a really good programme writer who

might be relied upon to provide a proper professional service that wouldn't annoy prospective

customers.

• The rate offered was higher than my current rate. Then they have bombarded me with emails telling

me to sign up.

• There are other, more reliable services. e.g. the prices quoted for the Co-op fixed until July 2013 seem

to be incorrect.

• Too long a delay in ordering oil and getting a delivery e.g. ordered 5th March still waiting 19th.

Getting very low

• Too pushy. Not competitive with my present supplier.

• tried using calculators on website. gave me a saving of £600 on a bill that I normally only pay £60 a

year!!!! This made me loose faith in what was on offer. Would have gone to road show if it wasn't for

the fact that the flyer came in our paper after the local events.

• was given date by which I could sign up Tried to call the 2 phone numbers as shown for advise, one

line no longer functioning the other no response to my call

• Was looking about oil which I could not find just gas and electricity, however had an email about

buying oil together with this service, stated I should order oil through you and my order would be

confirmed and then I would be told the price, I would never order oil without knowing the price first I

might be able to negotiate a cheaper deal elsewhere but that option would no longer be open to me.

How would I know if yours was the best deal if I don’t know the price till I have ordered?

Reputation of supplier

• Consider it as an option but despite what you might expect it is not necessarily the best deal. Also

note that the Cornwall Together supplier was red-flagged on a comparison site as not giving fair

warning of price hikes.

• I decided not to switch because the amount I would save was not that great, and having read about

First utilities they seem to have a very poor customer service record. It did not seem worth it.

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Sustainable deal not good enough

• I switched before because I wanted to use a company supporting renewables ( I moved to Ecotricity).

there is no way of including this in the Cornwall Together package, and you do not let me just look at

changing my gas provider. I am more concerned about climate change than about saving a few quid

on my fuel bills, which I could do by using less.

• Quite equivocal. Lovely people at village hall meeting (though our village hall (Veryan)doesn't seem to

be on your list!) Filled in online form but it didn't offer me the EDF tariff I am currently on to compare

with & it didn't offer me a green tariff which is what I want. Now I notice an oil buying club but I'm

already part of a locally organised one & I ask myself whether the main intention may be to wreck the

current clubs in order to build a new one. Better to work with existing groups to help them work

together?

• You don't take into account the ethics of the companies whose tariffs you explore. I am with Good

Energy because it supplies only renewables to the grid (regardless of what mix I end up with - I am not

naive!), not because it is the cheapest deal. It is always going for the cheapest deal that keeps the

likes of Tesco and ASDA trampling over small, local businesses. If you really have the welfare of

Cornwall at the heart of what you do, you need to take into account the real stories behind 'cheap'

electricity.

What’s so special about UKT? / Did not meet expectations

• Although Cornwall Together considered that I might be able to make a saving by switching my

electricity supplier, this was incorrect as my plan is a fixed price until 2015 and does not include a

standard charge. As far as oil prices are concerned, I recently telephoned around and my existing

supplier matched the best price I found, which was not significantly different from that quoted by

Cornwall Together.

• Appears to be no more than you could achieve using existing price comparison sites. If I had switched

with your figures I would have been paying over £45pa more.

• because I had thought you would be the energy supplier & it turned out you were using a comparison

site & then a national supplier. I wanted also a green energy supply

• Cornwall Together has not produced anything that cannot be achieved by an individual seeking a

better deal. A completely pointless exercise and has not been worth the time or money that has

funded it.

• Couldn't even come close to Scottish Power, I think it is all hype

• I did the online test and found I could not save anything by switching. Very disappointed in that your

publicity said that with so many people belonging to the site the rates would be reduced. It seems you

are just agents like the others and the scheme is just a con.

• I got the impression that CT was about buying power but it seems to be just yet another 'switch' site

as my offers were from several different companies. I don't know who benefits but it is not what I

expected which was cheaper electricity due to massive buying power. I think the 'spiel'is misleading.

All this is a meercat in another guise...

• It did not deliver what I thought it would. I thought I would be given a cheap price rather than being

today that I could switch and possibly save money - which I already knew. I assumed that Cornwall

together would negotiate a group price and then tell me who to switch to

• It seems to me to be just another price comparison website - nothing local or different about it, as far

as I could make out.

• It sounds like a very good idea, however I wouldn’t as I had lots of info about Cornwall together (even

a letter) but Cornwall Together could not assist me anyway (when I took the time to look into it). I

think it would be worth not mailing areas which you cant assist as it is a false hope of a cut in power

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bills. you couldn’t assist me or my area as we do not have mains gas (have bottled gas) and this

doesn’t fit in with the plan apparently (when I phoned). I think this should be clear on the info, if

there are only certain households you can work with people should be informed of this. This is very

unfortunate as we pay a lot more for our gas and have therefore missed out on the electricity advice

too.

• much to expensive and I belief you are only another company not what I was led to believe locals

getting together

• no different to any other switching site can't see why so much fuss and advertising was made of this

might as well check with uswitch or go compare as they provide better and more accurate

information

• Not as cheap as expected.

• Not what expected and not pooled together to get better deal

• Saw lots of negative reviews on your facebook page. Love the idea of a community group buying

together, but in this case there doesn't really seem to be a financial advantage, and it seems that

having an extra 'middle man' leads to customer service levels suffering. I do see that you have been

successful in getting people to use comparison sites to explore new electricity / gas suppliers.

• The best 'Deal' I got was £100 MORE than I'm currently paying

• The cheapest quote for electricity they found was exactly the same one that we found on the

internet...why not just give us all a bit of the £850,000 "expenses" or whatever that money was for?

• The rate was not competitive - made me think the notion of getting together to negotiate a better

deal from large energy providers was flawed.

• we thought Cornwall Together were a company that provided energy services. We did not realise we

would just be directed to a company and we would then proceed. On further investigation we

realised the price comparison we were given was not a true one as our tariff was not represented (edf

energy assist). We decided to stay with edf at the moment.

• When I phoned to obtain more information, my call was answered by Uswitch. I was disappointed as I

then thought that this was a marketing strategy and had little to do with being Cornish.

• You advertise on the radio as an organization who can supply cheaper electricity by bulk buying, but

after signing up to your website all you seem to be, is a comparison web site.

• You cannot supply all of Cornwall therefore your service is useless to me so I cannot recommend it.

• You state that if enough people sign up then energy companies can be approached for a better tariff

for the group, yet when I give you my supplier's tariff all you show me are more expensive suppliers!

What happened to the group deals?

Wouldn't save much or any money

• ...but your rate would have cost me 130 pounds more

• 1. My present tariff with my electricity supplier was not shown. None of the nearest equivalents gave

me any saving, in fact they were all over £100 more expensive

• Because it was cheaper to stay with my current supplier therefore your deal was not competitive

• But I was so disappointed to find out that having been one of the earliest joiners when I received my

quotation to switch it was much more expensive than the energy supplier I had switched to. I was

extremely disappointed and I am still waiting for a reply from Cornwall Together to explain how I can

do better than someone who is looking to switch so many thousand homes. I want to support

everything Cornish but I can't afford to pay so much more to do it. Have a look at my quote.

• But it didn't come anywhere near saving me money :-(

• Check it out - but it did not help me save

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• Could not offer me any cheaper rates than I already pay. Was hoping for cheaper electricity as I don’t

have gas and have a prepayment meter, but I will be staying with my existing supplier.

• Could only save money by changing my payment method in favour of the energy companies - for me

it was a con designed to change my payment method

• Didn't save anything 4 a year

• Electricity savings for me are marginal

• Firstly the best price I could find was £168 more than I am currently paying. Secondly I understood

from your marketing campaign that it was an exercise in local collectives bringing down prices/getting

better prices because we would come together in numbers. What it actually seemed to be was a sly

marketing exercise for uswitch.

• For me it was more expensive to switch

• Found me a quote for electricity costing £176 p.a. more than I pay now!

• Having spurred me into obtaining several quotes. The price differences on unit price and standing

charges is very little. I decided that to change may save me a very small amount but then who puts

their prices up first or more than another. I will however look at it again when your next window of

opportunity occurs.

• I called you twice for you to tell me I could save £50 but it would cost me £60, and I don't understand

the meaning of joining Cornwall together, if all you do is tell me nothing, how do I join it sounds like a

club and we bye fuel in bulk and save money that I can understand.

• I did not change this time 'cos of fee by existing supplier. Will change when you arrange another

swession

• I didn’t get any results that saved me any money.

• I had gone on to site at request of my aged mother who lives in Cornwall to explore costs for her as

she doesn’t have internet - she would have been worse off by 300£+ pa if she had changed from

Scottish

• I might do because it is a good idea, BUT if I had signed up with you this time it would have cost me

about £85+ more than with my current provider.

• I switched electricity suppliers using Which Switch a year ago. To use Cornwall Together would have

cost me at least £40 a year more that I am currently paying.

• I was pleased to be quoted £140 possible saving so double checked with another website to check

possible savings - SHOCK, with the self-same company and same plan recommended by yourselves it

was only possible for me to have a saving of £80 - a £60 difference. HOW COME????

• I was very disappointed that Cornwall Together just appeared to be Uswitch. The quote I got was

more expensive than I am paying now.

• I would only save £4.50 a year on electricity. My problem is L.P.G. costs. I haven't used my central

heating for four years due to the cost, using a wood burner in my living room. Having a very old house

this is detrimental to it and me as dampness is always a problem in granite buildings, and yes I have

insulation and d.g. but you need heat to keep in in the first place ! We always seem to be forgotten in

energy reports and comparisons and are at the mercy of the suppliers. Things are hard for those on

mains gas, but we pay more than double, oil pretty much the same.

• l didn’t switch as the most l could have saved is £4

• More expensive on both fuels

• My current tariff is £30 a year less than your price

• No Capped price deals for one year or more. Deal on offer more expensive that current deal

• No mention of a group for buying oil or wood cheaply. All that you seem interested in is if you have

both gas and electric with one supplier. Your claims of saving up to £150 a year are unfounded. You

would save me only £5....not worth the bother of changing

• No price advantage

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• No savings

• Not as cheap as my current supplier?

• Not sure whether any of these collectives manage to get much of a discount

• On the two occasions that I checked prices on your website you could not offer me any savings

• Quoted for Single-rate electricity only - therefore much more expensive. Why no dual-rate option?

• saving 20 odd pounds a year isn’t enough saving to warrant the hassle

• so called savings not worth the effort, and may not even be any savings

• The deal i was offered was worse than the tariff I am already on.

• The electricity deal was worse than our current tariff.

• The estimated yearly electric bill with CT was approx. £70 more than I pay with NPower at the present

• The long term price arrangement I made with EDF is considerably less than any of your

recommendations

• The negotiated tariffs were not enough to warrant a change in provider

• The new provider as recommended by yourself for my electricity supply did not show sufficient

yearly savings for me to seriously consider switching.

• The price you quoted was about £130 more than I'm paying now with Scottish Power and I am not

paying the cheapest price out there. I was rather disappointed as I thought it was a good idea.

• The prices quoted were not cheaper

• the savings are small and not worth the hassle of switching providers

• The tariffs recommended were way above what I am already paying!

• The tariff from Cornwall Together was £7 per year MORE expensive than my current.

• There was no advantage for me as the price quoted with Cornwall Together was more than I currently

pay.

• Wasn't the amount of savings that I had expected

• Waste of time - saved me less than doing it myself.

• Waste of time Your best alternatives offered were 10 to 15% more expensive that my current supplier

• When I investigated price, it was more expensive than my current provider. BTW - I found out about

Cornwall Together from the Eden Project.

• With an increase of £211 a year with Cornwall together, why would I?

• You gave me savings!! that cost more than I am paying!!

• You quoted us a tariff £1000 a year higher than our current tariff.

• You were not cheaper on electricity and could not give an oil price.

• Your cheapest fuel offer was £165 more than I already pay. You didn't make that clear enough and

encouraged me to switch. Other people may have been misled by this. I suggest when you cannot

beat the current tariff that you say so very clearly.

• your quote was significantly higher than my current electricity tariff resulting in an increase rather

than a saving! I don't have gas or oil.

• your quote was way higher than i am paying now ,but your chap couldn't explain why.

Other

• As a new member I want to see what happens over the next year before I would consider

recommending.

• Atlantic rebates i.e. paperless, 13month direct debit rebate not mentioned. Makes a difference in

comparing

• Cornwall Together replicates other more professional websites and is just another, less effective,

Confused.com, Uswitch or Moneysupermarket. I used Cornwall Together recently to find a cheaper

supplier for Economy 7 electricity than TelecomPlus, a branch of The Utility Warehouse. Top of the

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replies and the recommended option was a supplier which was very much more expensive. I emailed

Cornwall Together on the matter on your website but I haven't received a reply, probably because I

criticised you for not including TelecomPlus in your list of suppliers and also had other areas of

criticism deriving from the bad response I got from your comparison. If you were not recommending

TelecomPlus you were denying people the proper opportunity to force the other suppliers to reduce

their excessive charges by mass switching. It seemed very odd that the one supplier which was much

better than all the others failed to get recognition in your comparison. How bad is that. It makes it

look as though you had an agenda. On which matter, I find it very suspicious that you appear to be

closely connected with the Eden Project, being set up by it, especially since it appears to be in

financial difficulties and being promoted on TV by Tim Smit, yet again appealing for funds. The Eden

Project is just another tourist attraction which should stand or fall by its own efforts, notwithstanding

it does a lot of worthy work in connection with conservation, you ought not to be close to it or a part

of it, it implies bias and is very dangerous for an organisation claiming to be impartial. I'd like to know

why you do not recommend the cheapest supplier of electricity in your comparisons, it beggars belief

that you would not be impartial but it appears on the surface that you are not. I'd also like to know

your connection with Cornwall Council, I presume you are not a charity or a government body or

quango. If so there is a danger of conflict of interest in political connections. You are not doing

yourselves any favours by these links, none of the other sites have them for obvious reasons, they all

trumpet their independence and are careful to stress that they are financially separate from any other

body. That's why I would not recommend you to anybody else. Yours sincerely, R D Britton

• had difficulty subscribing to the supplier online and had to eventually call them, waited for a long

time, gave up, and still haven’t switched. need to improve service online

• However, I have a combined package with Utility Warehouse & as such our Electricity, (no Gas at

property) Phone & Broadband comes in a package with free phone calls evenings and weekends, very

useful! I therefore have to set the fuel saving of any change of supplier against the free calls savings.

Also it would mean loosing my well known personal e-address, changing this would be very

disruptive.

• I was so disappointed to learn that you had teamed up with uswitch who will never tell me the price

per kilowatt; in order for me to do my own calculations. I am really disappointed that this is obviously

just a scheme to put money into Eden project. No wonder so few people have signed up. Tim Schmidt

- I think you're losing the plot - how many times do people want to go back to see the same thing? -

do you watch the same Bond film twice?

• I am 'all electric' and my tariff is Economy 10, this is something you do not provide at present.

• I did not realise that it was an Eden Initiative. Eden does not support Cornish businesses

• I did not use the recommendations because I do not wish to get involved with direct debits or

monthly meter reading...

• I do not know any one who would be interested in Cornwall together

• I don't know why, but I was surprised it was so Big 6 dominated. Somehow, I'd expected a panel of

more innovative suppliers, like Green Energy (*especially*) as they have a Cornish electricity thing

going on already. Overall a decent idea, but I think it needs to be more clearly explained in advance,

in terms of which suppliers will be compared.

• I don't live in Cornwall and don't know enough about the scheme.

• I have only just registered to find that the scheme is now just about finished. Too late for me to make

comment on how good or bad the scheme might have been.

• I would need greater amounts of information before switching or advising. The savings you offer have

not so far tempted me to research my own involvement to my own satisfaction. My own decision,

but I am not excited by your literature.

• It wouldn't recognise my postcode.

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• I tried to use you but we have recently switched to Scottish power, using u switch. Our whole building

Inc. domestic supply is on the business tariff due to having just one meter and we are on the standard

business tariff service charge 22.36/day and all units @ 10.73. these rates did not show up on your

scottish power drop down menu.

• I've never used CT, so could not recommend it.

• None of my other friends or family live in Cornwall.

• Not yet, as still waiting to hear from the new energy suppliers (it's now been over two weeks since

apparently switching. Or did we?) Not convinced it works. And sceptical about the 'green' message,

given involvement of organisations such as Eden Project and Cwll Council.

• Some of the recommendations were more tedious such as supplying data once every month.

• The Cornwall together web site said I would save £50.00 per year by changing to EDF. Now I have

changed my new direct debit is set up for £86.00 per month £4.00 a month more so

• The key question in the process is "what tariff are you on?" I was not sure and did not know how to

check. your representative who did it with me suggested I assume 'standard variable', but if that was

untrue, I might not save at all or as much, and I could end up paying more and then have the extra

hassle of switching back. People switching in uncertain data and then being disappointed could be the

undoing of the whole project, and I didn't want to risk it myself. you were trying to get me to switch

to someone I didn’t know on the basis of a guess.

• TROUBLE TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT CHECK ANYTHING. THEY JUST ACCEPT WHAT THEY ARE

TOLD BY PEOPLE WHO THEY CONSIDER EXPERTS, SUCH AS CORNWALL COUNCIL. I AM JUST A

RETIRED ELECTRICIAN & YET I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET FAR BETTER DUAL FUEL DEALS THAN

ANYTHING CORNWALL TOGETHER HAS BEEN ABLE TO OFFER.IN FACT, JUST LAST WEEK I GAVE YOU

ANOTHER TRY & YOU CAME UP WITH ALL THE ALTERNATIVES BEING FAR MORE COSTLY, SOME BY

MORE THAN £100.00. ITS AN EXERCISE AS DISJOINTED AS C.C.C PARKING & PLANNING POLICY. AN

EXAMPLE OF C.C.C.PARKING LOGIC CAN BE SEEN AT WATERGATE BAY WHERE INNOCENT VISITING

MOTORISTS ARE FINED FOR PARKING IN A PULL IN, WHICH ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.K WOULD BE

CONSIDERED A SAFE PARKING PULL IN. YET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL,IN THE ASHWORTH

DEVELOPMENT TERRITORY C.C.C HAS ALLOWED THE MOST ATROCIOUS PARKING ON DOUBLE

YELLOW LINES TO CONTINUE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS & MORE. IN ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT

EXAMPLES OF A BEAUTIFUL AREA IN CORNWALL BEING DESTROYED. JUST ASK ANY LOC AL PERSON

WHAT THEY THINK OF C.C.C.

• When I first put in the annual usage (kwh)it showed a saving of £82 per year. However when I went

back within that week - it showed that it would cost me more to switch than to stay with my present

supplier. The only thing I wasn't happy with was that the cheapest company had a standing charge.



• I can't use your website because my postcode can't be found, despite the fact it's 9 months since

Royal Mail made it available on their website.


• felt like you were nothing more than a price comparison site in the end. felt a little let down.

• Great idea but not able to provide better rates than I could already get and similar services are

available through e.g. Switch with Which

• No different to normal switching service

• scam for uswitch

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• Uswitch are just as good!

• You just use U switch and I can use that myself, this organisation should be so much more


• Did not get a better price

• Savings were much lower than expected

• Too expensive

Other

• Because the amount of people signed up to it is unknown therefore it feels too much of a gamble as

once committed you have to switch and I may not have got a better deal

• Sounds like a great idea but results were very misleading ?

• There were concerns due the timing of the switch. After contacting your number, no one came to me

putting me of my change

Exeter


• Could use uswitch or any search engine

• More choice on uswitch

• EXETER Together would cost me £350 MORE a year


• There was difficulty regarding "Methods of Payment" on filling in relevant details. The way we pay for

our Gas and Electricity was not an option on the form.

Extended comment

• I understand that you want to get people out of fuel poverty. I don't think spending a large amount of

money and serious staff resources promoting this scheme is the best way to do it, and feel that the

conversion rate is appallingly low for the effort put in. If a small part of the money spent on the

promotion had been put into a carefully positioned mailshot I would have expected a better switch

rate. If the remainder of the money had either gone to the participating energy companies to add to

the pot being split between switchers, or to the Housing Associations for additional insulation

improvements. Aren't we trying to reduce energy use as well as annual bills? Does this actually

encourage people to save energy? I was also concerned at the 'savings': I didn't feel that this was

sufficiently explained at the offer stage - presumably if you use more electricity next year your bill will

be proportionately higher - not this year's total minus the money off offer? I also think the Exeter

Together was misleading if it was to encourage others from outside the area to join in - AND the time

slot was too limited.


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• I assumed I had no cancellation fees on my old tariff until I had completed the change, when I saw in

your notification that I would face such fees. It's not your responsibility I know, but I was disappointed

if you knew about my cancellation fees not to have been told earlier in the process. I chose not to pull

out then, as I didn't want to stay with a tariff having cancellation fees, but the projected saving was

paltry (around £20 when cancellation fees were taken into account, but only because of the cash-back

on your scheme). I sense that you had a marketing objective in not telling me my old tariff had

cancellation fees until the process was complete, which blunted my initial belief that you had a deeply

ethical motive. I am now cynical about your scheme.

• I don't quite understand if people will still be able to join after the initial signup period.

• May as well go via uswitch. Communications post-switch from provider non-existent and in fact I had

to contact them to confirm it was going ahead.

• website did not recognise my postcode


• I was surprised that you had not checked out the energy provider (First:utility) before going into

partnership with them. They got terrible reviews on the review sites, with poor customer

service/inaccurate bills/overcharging/ignoring emails and phone calls being common complaints.

Although their deal looked tempting, I didn't want the hassles of dealing with this kind of thing - my

current provider (Atlantic) is a bit more expensive, but their customer service is excellent (and they

get generally good reviews).

• The companies that I was recommended to switch to have terrible reviews

• Website didn't work - my computer didn't want to load it as it lacked a security certificate. Phone

number was constantly engaged, so gave up glad i did as it gave me time to check out the provider

first utility - the amount of complaints about the company was astounding, so glad i couldn’t get on

line or via phone.

Sustainable deal not good enough

• We chose our energy supplier (ecotricity) based on their environmental credentials, not price. Your

site did offer a green tariff, but was only a token gesture from Edf and other large suppliers.


• Just another comparison site

• Uswitch sales scam from where I’m sitting

• you are just a price comparison organisation there are others and you could not save me any money.


• According to the on-line survey I would only have saved about £60 and I would have had to pay £30

for changing over so I didn't think it worth it at present. I will look again when my current contract is

over.

• Did not offer any price advantage over other switching sites

• Exeter Together recommended that I changed my gas & electric supplier to another company that

would cost over £100 more.

• I found that I could save about £25 p.a. by switching. Unfortunately that is less than it would cost to

leave my fixed price 2 year contract.

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• It would have lost me at least £350 as that was the best 'saving' it could find - MINUS £350

• More expensive than our current deal.

• More expensive than present supplier

• Not the cheapest tariff by a long way

• The cheapest deal that Exeter Together could give me was over £100 a year MORE than I am currently

paying. I am struggling to pay my bills as it is, so I was really hoping for a significant reduction, and

was very disappointed that this was not the case.

• The cost increased with Exeter Together so it seems pretty pointless.

• Though switching supplier to secure the best energy deal is of course a good idea, I found the exeter

together website very confusing. In the (admittedly short) time I spent looking at it, I could not figure

out the difference between it and any other energy comparison site. There seemed to be a mention

of some cash-back relating to the number of people switching, but it was unclear. I followed a link

and found myself on a Scottish website. All very muddled.

Other

• Because the amount I have to pay in advance £300 is too much for people who live in a council house

and don't have money

• Unable to get correct information

• your web site page for the calculation was not running so i called the free number that was displayed

and i have changed energy supplier, but you say i have not joined Exeter Together

Scotland


• Another search engine found me a much better rate which could not be matched by ST

• Other sites better


• Because most people in Orkney are on economy 10 or economy 7 tariffs which were not available. so

pretty much a waste of time here

• i tried to switch over to you but was told my house wasn’t supplied by the national grid! I don’t

understand this as my current supplier is Scottish gas

• They were unable to do a comparison with my current Supplier - Staywarm

• total failure to find a tariff

• Wasn't any help to me as I have a pre-meter for electricity so couldn't help or switch me ?

Not enough time

• too short time to switch and no option for not using direct debit payments.

• Your article in my local paper warned of a deadline only 3days away , your phone lines were either

busy or not in operation for a great deal of the time, took 2 days to finally contact you. Your operative

wasn't familiar with my existing tariff


• Didn't give an accurate comparison, the details you held for my existing tariff were wrong

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• Even although I was already on a much better deal than currently available via yourselves you still

sent me emails encouraging me to switch.

• I currently pay £54 by DD monthly. Scots together came up with a monthly payment of £77.50. I

made three different attempts but have not signed up to change my provider. However I receive

frequent communications from you Including one with telephone numbers which I could use to speak

to a real person ,up until (p.m. last night. I cannot count how long I listened to messages , nor can I

count how often I telephoned the two numbers. I am so unimpressed that I cannot find words tio

express how I feel. AND WHY ARE YOU CONTINUING TO CONTACT ME ?

• I didn't like the pushy follow-up when only around 40.00 p.a. could be saved by switching

• I have gained no benefit from Scots Together, and received a few unwelcome e-mails from them

• I tried to switch using your web site but could not. Each time I submitted the form it said that the

direct debit field had been left blank, although there was no direct debit field on the form. I rang your

contact no. numerous times but it was always engaged. I gave up. A very annoying experience.

• it looked like the results that I received were incorrect

• Unit prices it gave for my supplier were not correct (too high). And it didn't take into account of fact

that many Scottish Hydro customers in the Highlands are on Total Heating Control Tariff, which many

other suppliers cannot work with.

• We seem to have started getting 'cold' telephone calls identifying that we are paying too high a tariff.

Are these coming from you, or have these people got our number from you? It seems too much of a

coincidence.? I am absolutely outraged!

• your estimate of my bills were way out and i do not pay a standing charge with my provider


• concern over the supplier - their Which? consumer rating is poor

• We were given a quote from first utility which worked out about £140 per year cheaper but when we

reviewed the company itself it got dreadful reviews for very poor customer service with a few

exceptions which rated them good. Due to this we decided to stay with our own provider for the

moment but it will probably start us looking at what else is on offer. Have to say though that after all

the advertising etc we were disappointed that you would advise such a company to switch to. Would

you have given any guarantee if there were problems along the way? Not sure if this was just a big

advertising campaign funded by first utility as they were the only company bar one that came up with

a quote. The other company quote was saving £33 a yr and really was not worth switching to. I have

friends who have switched and as soon as they have about a month later their bill goea up to what it

had been before with their original supplier.

Waste of time

• A waste of time

• An unnecessary organisation

• seemed a rather half-baked idea...

• Waste of time, On a much better tariff than you suggested

• you couldn't match my current provider (British Gas) so the exercise was fairly pointless


• Better switching deals with USwitch; so disappointing

• exactly the same as any other switch site

• its not as portrayed its just uswitch with a different name. False

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• No better than using Uswitch etc I am awaiting confirmation from my existing supplier of Electricity

(SPower) why they cant match Utility First on Daily standing charge before I would consider switching

to save £52 I am on a fixed tariff with SP and rate is same as your best deal with UtilityFirst for kWh

rate there is no indication when UtilityFirst will move their tariff up if earlier than April 2014 I could

loose out. This whole utility thing is a farce ... the Government says they are working to get everyone

on the lowest tariff ... why is there a "lowest tariff" ... if there is a highest tariff then we are being

ripped off ... and WE ARE !!!...... i use oil for heating i live in a rural area with no mains gas ... when will

you do something about domestic heating oil 33p a litre in 2007-8 now 75p a litre from a cartel caller

GB OILS if petrol had gone up at this rate it would be over £2.00 litre now ... go on prove yourselves

and something about this because neither my MSP John Lamont or MP Michael Moore are doing

anything about it Thanks for reading this now act on it

• You offer nothing different. I thought you were a company who were buying supplies and competing

with the "big 6" energy companies. You appear to be an extension of U Switch.


• all quotes were more expensive

• but not as able to give a competitive price

• I got a better deal from uswitch

• I got a better deal than any offered via Scots Together by contacting & staying with my current

supplier

• I spent ages trying to switch fuel and I was told I could not as they could not supply me also I went on

to u switch site and I was getting the exact same company £2 cheaper then what you gave me better

deals through u switch

• I was offered a more expensive price than my currant tariff, & better prices available elsewhere

• I would have been worse off by a large amount

• It didn't find any better deal for me. There is NO better deal for me so Scots Together was irrelevant

to the discussion.

• More expensive than existing!

• My current price was far far cheaper than your lowest

• no cheaper than going to one of the existing companies

• No savings - and usual too many follow up emails not taking into account I'd have been much worse

off switching....

• quote seemed higher than present provider

• Saving if I switched was minimal

• The best you could offer was to increase my energy bill by £77, and you presented this extra cost as a

Saving!

• The savings that could be made by switching were not substantial enough to make me want to switch

to another provider. You would need to negotiate better deals for energy before many more people

would bother to switch and I do not know your organisation well enough to trust it really.

• The young lady found it difficult to read the energy suppliers paperwork and could not save us money

at the end, it would have cost us more.

• Wasn't any where near as cheap as my present provider

• wasn't cheaper

• You recommended a switch to a tariff that on your own calculations would have cost me + £200 pa

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Other

• Disappointing. Can achieve at least the savings offered even as an individual. Larger numbers should

mean better bargaining power - not much effort seems to have gone into driving bargains as 'Scotland

Together'.

• don't know anything about it.

• don't know enough about it

• Don't know enough about it!

• EON representative gave me a quote in shopping centre £60 less on electricity so who is telling the

truth - he says Scottish power are abusing position as dominant supplier in central Scotland

• Haven't paid enough attention to make any recommendations

• I am still confused myself !

• I don't recommend anything to anyone

• I enquired and went through the process of switching energy provider through this process. I was

announced that I had just saved £109.15 per year by switching from Scottish Power to Npower. I

received the Npower contract today which initially shows an extortionate amount of money to pay

monthly by direct debit: £69.95 against my current £25 with Scottish Power. However, when

contacting them, they worked out that they could 'lower' the monthly amount at about the same rate

as Scottish Power even slightly lower but they calculated that I was not saving much by switching,

only £20 odd a year which is a far cry from the promising £109.15 stated by Scots Together. So I am

staying with Scottish Power for now and I am under the impression that Scots Together and co

(associated with U Switch) are a bit of a scam, yet another marketing operation and a waste of

people's time.

• I had not heard of the proposed new (cheaper) energy provider, and felt tied into a current

capped/fixed deal

• I might inform, I would not Recommend for or against

• not much help. already with provider suggested

• not sure how it will work

• not sure what this is actually about and who is running it

• saves time and hassle

• the advice was completely inappropriate to my type of electricity supply

• The recommended supplier has not delivered the tariff initially offered, and tried to offer me a more

expensive and restrictive package.

• They only provided a premium rate telephone number

• Unable to get final price paid unless 10.000 sign up .Don’t know how many people are signing up to

any particular supplier

• Was not worth recommending

• Your name clashes horribly with the NO Referendum campaign by the UK Unionists, whose slogan is

'Better Together"! Your address is not in Scotland, which is a bit unfortunate. Your recommendation

was to switch from Scottish Hydro to British Gas. All these points may seem to you of superficial

importance, I don't know. Unfortunately there is the crowning statement by David Cameron that "we

are all in this together". So the "together" word is very very suspect. My advice would be to get a

Scottish address and a new slogan: "Our energy!" or similar...

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UK Together


• I almost switched to first utility then I read reviews on another site and the reviews from many

customers gave the impression that although on the prima face the company was cheaper than sse

(my current provider) the customer service was appalling and in many cases they weren't that cheap.


• I would say use uSwitch


• it worked out more expensive should I have switched, which I obviously didn't!

• savings not worth the bother

• The quote I got wasn't much cheaper

Other

• However the provision of a price per unit of gas & electricity would have made the option to change

more attractive

• I didn't switch, so I wouldn't tell others to do it

• I don't find this kind of thing crops up in conversation

• inconsistent results

• Site was only accessed following info heard on Radio Devon ONLINE. & I was inquisitive.

• The Software could nor beat my present supplier but still invited me to swap, at a loss?

• tried you on Sunday from what you were offering £20 i could get more on topcashback with first

utility

ANY OTHER COMMENTS:

Cornwall

Adapting to energy costs

• We don't put the gas central heating on as we can't afford to. We dress warmly, use hot water bottles

and extra blankets to keep warm.

Campaign

• I felt I was hounded a bit with the number of emails sent to me

• If we are not eligible for your help ,please do not send out invites to join you .

• If you can't save me money, don't send me more emails encouraging me to switch.

Disappointed

• Disappointed that Cornwall Together could not improve on my existing deal on two attempts. I also

have solar panels and will keep looking at energy costs.

• I was very disappointed in the whole process with Cornwall Together I really thought that group

buying power would help me but all I appeared to get was advice on switching.

• It was disappointing. I would have expected the buying power to pull in a better deal than I can do

individually.

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• very disappointed

• Very disappointed

• We really need help to bring these costs down so I'm very disappointed you couldn't' t advise us.

Keep up the good work!

• brilliant idea St Agnes has its own oil consortium works well. Not sure re electricity hassle keep

changing.

• Elaine was very explanatory and helpful on the phone.

• Good luck with this on-going project. Keep up the good work!

• I am very pleased to have joined.

• I have now come off Pension Credit and am now in receipt of my State pension. I would certainly

consider Cornwall Together in the future

• I love this idea and will continue to support it but I would like to see a drive for local micro generation

both domestically and commercially to be available through this scheme

• I'd always assumed that my provider was the cheapest and it was hard to change as they have

provided a good service but thank you for your help and savings.

• It is a very good idea in these hard economic times

• It's always nice to know that someone is doing the hard work for you

• just like to say how nice the girl was that did the switch

• Keep up the hard work, it will get better and better!

• THANK YOU

• Thanks for your help and for the kindness and helpfulness of the person I spoke to on the phone.

• The % spent on energy will continue to rise. Important to keep up the good work and involve a larger

% of the population.

• The road show team were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The campaign made me realise how much

we can do for ourselves in Cornwall.

• This a fantastic scheme and has saved me a lot of money even though I didn't switch

• We are being B****** ripped off & can do very little about it. Thank you for trying to help us

pensioners.

• Well done for raising awareness of the need to shop around but please have another look at your

questionnaire taking into account my earlier comments.

• Whilst i did not sign up for the electricity companies you recommended, i am still very interested in

receiving your e mails. Keep up the good work.

• you skim the surface in demonstrating how ripped off we all are

Specific energy needs / extra fuel info

• *BUT also spend £100 a month on expensive solid fuel for aga that heats hot water and gives

background heat - but came with house that I rent so no choice. Have only very limited recent

double-glazing and an open fireplace that no longer draws. Cottage is open plan and very hard to heat

on a very low income and there is no help for especially ecological green heating systems. And I feel it

is very bad that we pay a premium to electric companies in order to subsidy green energy for e.g. for

often well-off farmers (as well as wealthier home-owners) who get paid to put up turbines and then

get free or subsidised electricity!! TOTALLY unfair and illogical - it is low income people who should

be subsidised and given help to be more green in their energy usage, especially when they use so little

compared to these other categories and are therefore 'greener' in essence. When will anyone realise

this?!

• £1900 for oil in addition

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• £660 A YEAR on electricity and £1,400 a year on oil. no gas.

• 70 on electricity but £150+ on oil!! very worried about maintaining this when we retire.....or get made

redundant!

• above annual figure includes cost of heating oil as we have no mains gas in the area

• Also have Oil costs of £1100 per year approx

• Also spend £1200/yr to £1500/yr on heating oil, and £48/month in winter, on coal

• Because we have no gas in our village ( a disgrace) and our home is unsuitable for conversion to oil or

canister gas we are restricted to electricity and so cant have dual fuel discounts from a single supplier

so pay more for our electricity. This is a poverty/needs based project - if it were rights based i might

have made a saving.

• Bottle Gas for Hob £50.00/yr Also Phone & Broadband about £30+ per mth

• do not have gas installed only electric and oil - monthly spend above does not include price of oil

which is approx £1200 - £1300 per year

• Electricity only, my 2012 spend on slid fuel was £320 - 2012

• Heating oil: by shopping around I can usually get a good price that more or less matches historic oil

prices from the club.

• Highest cost by far is oil

• I also have a wood-burning stove that if fired up enough will heat radiators. I would LOVE to have

solar PV but my roof is too small to qualify for the free installation, I can't afford to buy panels, and I

don't altogether trust the process of the free one. Maybe you could arrange a deal for this and also

for the solar thermal FIT.

• I also spend £1000 on oil and £500 on logs so my total fuel bill is nearly £3000 - roughly 1/5 of my

income.

• I also spend about £250 on wood

• I also spend around £1300 per annum on heating oil

• I also use a multi-fuel burner and oil central heating

• I also use heating oil costing approx 1,200 per annum.

• I also use heating oil costing on average £1200.00 pa

• I don’t have gas so makes the expenditure look low as I have oil it is not anywhere near as cheap as I

have listed

• I don't struggle to pay for heating as I have just don't use it as it's too expensive. I use wood that I cut

myself so it's free. I asked to be connected to mains gas about 300m from main, the cost quoted was

£43,000, with me digging the trench !

• I have a solid fuel rayburn & a wood burner

• I have electric storage heaters which are inefficient, and expensive, and I can not afford to run more

than three/four heaters in a three bedroomed house

• i spend another 300 on wood and coal

• I spend much more than this on oil and you don't include ot in your questionnaire. Ispend nearly

£2000 on heating fuel.

• It was very cold at the Godrevy info morning with the campervan... only one nice girl helping an

elderly gent. Stood around freezing/waiting. But when we left there were 3 additional staff - where

had they been for the last 10 mins or so?

• main source of heating and hot water is coal fire - approx £77 per month for 8 months of the year

• Main source of heating is oil not included in monthly spend above

• Main source of heating is Oil so not included in Q24

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• My main concern is heating oil which accounts for 2/3 of my energy bill. I am considering joining the

Community Energy Club but already belong to a local oil syndicate which achieves savings which are

comparable with the club's.

• No gas in Lanivet as in many places in Cornwall. A lot spent on oil, would like oil to be included in the

Cornwall together package.

• not on mains gas and require lpg 47kilo cylinders during winter for heating.

• oil @ £85/month

• Oil annual spend approx £1,640

• Oil costs are in addition to the above electricity costs.

• Oil Is the biggest outlay at £100 per month average. plus boiler service costs. P.S. I am in a club for oil

purchase

• Oil spend £3k pa

• Our main energy bill is for oil

• please advise if there is a possibility of lpg offers

• The bungalow is all-electric, there being no gas laid to the district. Night stores are used for heating,

the place is well-insulated and extra clothing is used to minimise body heat loss. The hot water tank is

double-insulated and a thermos flask is used to retain water boiled early in the day for later use. The

oven is seldom used, cooking is done on the stove top, and the use of ancillary heating is kept to a

minimum. Curtains are permanently drawn in little-used rooms. There are no energy intensive

labour-saving machines like washing-up machines and tumble driers. Instead a de-humidifier, run

only at night on cheaper electricity, ensures that there is minimum chill factor in the internal air at a

given temperature.

• The main problem heating the house is the cost of oil. We have an oil fired AGA. We cannot afford to

operate our oil central heating, but heat by woodstove and electric heaters only in rooms when and

where needed.

• The majority is on bulk LPG

• We have a wood burner which also heats our water and central heating, so our gas and electric bill

depends on whether we get free wood

• We have no gas supply in the village where we live so use oil. I recently joined the oil buying group

through you but found the same as with the electricity it was no cheaper going through them and I

think the companies they approach are generally less competitive than my usual supplier, so by the

time the discount has been added its the same price as I can achieve independently. Cornwall

together is a great idea but I wonder if the bargaining can be a little tougher on your side to get even

better rates??

• We have no mains gas. We have oil central heating.

• We keep our home mostly warm with our own firewood and buy some coal in the winter

• We use wood and solid fuel as the main heating and cooking - have removed the oil central heating

as it was so expensive!

• what about oil?

• Why arent I on the national grid???!!!

• Will be interested when LPG is in your equation

Suggestions

• I have my boiler service contract with British Gas it cost me £18 .84 per month IT would be helpfull if

you could look into linking this up to the Energy suppler and drive both of the costs down. If not look

at the possibility of the servicing only wih a Cornish Service/Emergency company.

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• I would love someone to help me find an alternative that would be successful. The concept you have

pioneered is fine but a little naive and doesn’t include my circumstances in the mix.

• none of your road shows came to saltash or calington my supplier gives an annual loyalty refund of

one months direct debit back each year

• Suggest you change from can't do to how you do for tariffs not currently covered by your scheme

• This is a great idea, but with contractual charges apply to us which made it uneconomical to switch at

this time. There needs to be greater flexibility among suppliers to make switching a fairer option.

• To make a switch worthwhile there has either to be a substantial saving or a guarantee that the price

will be maintained below the level of the competition for, say, at least 3 years.

• Water rates are our biggest expense of all!

• Will try the oil deal if you have a price to compare to!

• would be great if you did this for heating oil, thank you.

Switching process - website, telephone, general process, length of window etc.

• can someone please get in touch with me about how this works and when i will be switched over

many thanks

• Did not change as I am not available every month to read the meter.

• Found the information online a bit confusing. Transferred to phone line and was more confused as did

not get the same results as online so was switched to n-power fixed price tariff which was not what I

would have chosen if I had more time to think about it. The chance to use a greener supplier would

have been welcome but felt I was a bit rushed into it, before I had the chance to think about it.

• Had to hold to long to speak to an advisor

• I had a problem accessing your web page. A phone call to the help line did not solve the problem

initially but I was told the management would be informed of the problem. The problem was solved

by the next day.

• It would have been a good idea, if your postcode database had been up to date. It was incredibly

disappointing.

• Just to re-iterate my confusion in not being allowed to compare a social tariff has meant I've been

unable to get involved in this great project

• this site isn't anything special not that helpful either as your tariffs are inaccurate

• website was a problem as it came up as unsecure when trying to switch

Will try again at a later date

• A further complication for me just at the moment is that I am puzzled by an increase in useage and

need to monitor my electricity for a while. But if the pproject runs a gain I shall definitely be

interested.

• Cornwall together is a good idea. I will check again

• good idea but no good for our usage right now. Thanks for trying! Good luck. PS Happy to get more

involved with community projects like this if you need people!

• I think Cornwall Together is a really good scheme but sadly this time if I had signed up with you it

would have cost me about £85+ more per year than with my current provider. I wouldn't rule out

switching in your next round though if it saved me money.

• I will check again with you next time but I am happy with my existing arrangements at this time.

• No point swithching at present, but will be worth switching after June.

• Please let me know when you arrange another sessions so I can look into changing electricity supplier

• Please let me know when your next bargaining round is going to take place as my current contract will

end in July 2013 & 1 will be free to sign up then

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• The concept is excellent and I would always be willing to re-evaluate on an annual basis changing to

Cornwall together

• we would think about changing again in the future

• Would be pleased to look at it again if you have a further scheme by June. Please keep me informed

Wouldn't have saved much or any money / found better elsewhere

• A good idea, but would have been significantly more expensive to us (by over £1,000)

• A saving of say £200 is not big enough to risk changing.

• At present I cannot see that you get better deals than those I could get myself on comparison sites. I

am also not clear whether the prices quoted take into account the one month's payment given back

by my current supplier (Atlantic)each year.

• Current supplier was cheaper

• Disappointed (and surprised) to find that we would have to pay more for electricity with Cornwall

Direct and considerably more for oil (Community Energy Club was going to cost us 7p more a litre.

What's going on? Surely you should be able to negotiate better prices than we can.

• I am hoping that by next year CT will be offering me a deal that is so good I have to join even if it does

mean paying a penalty to my current supplier!!

• I was slightly confused that the company that I switched to was offering the same tariff in the market,

and the Cornwall Together recommended supplier was a more expensive option.

• I was very pleased that my current deal was still the very best.

• I went on to website at request of aged mother to see if she could make any savings by changing - she

couldn’t

• The Cornwall Together deal was over £400 pa dearer than my present supplier, mainly because the CT

deal did not give a cheaper rate for economy 7. There is no mains gas in our village.

• The EDF long term deal I already have is better than any you suggest

• Unfortunately, switching to Cornwall Together would only save us £20 a year. We are already very

frugal when it comes to heating. But I would still recommend you to all my friends and family.

• Would be happy to change if it would save money

• Your recommendation was over £500 more expensive than the supplier I currently have.

Other

• 190 inc. business

• all said above I think

• And I got a rebate!

• As I am only just about to move into the house I am unable to give accurate figures.

• Both Brent crude and WTI ( West Texas Intermediate )prices usually habitually bottom in price in

August and October / November. WTI used to command a premium over Brent as the latter is a

heavier oil and needs more refining. Brent now commands a premium over WTI for no reason other

than speculators and governments tax takes.

• Cold

• Cornwall together were unable to offer me a better deal this time which is why i did not swap.

• disappointed with deal as no capped rate and more expensive than second quote on your site and my

existing plan

• do your really need to ask all those questions - what action are you going to take on the answers?

• don’t like direct debit most cheaper suppliers insist on this to get cheaper prices

• Electricity £65 per month. Central Heating propane Gas Say £22 per month. Heating primarily by multi

fuel stove avery effective.

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• Had I not recently changed energy supplier and not moving soon I would have signed up.

• Having tried Cornwall Together comparison prompted me to ask for a better deal of existing supplier

(EDF) and got it otherwise I would've switched.

• Husband currently unemployed, hence low income.

• I also receive a month's rebate (loyalty) from my provider once a year, and I tend to overpay and

therefore have monies refunded. At the moment, that is!

• I am not convinced that government plans to make suppliers reduce the number of tariffs is going to

have much effect 20% who change suppliers will see bills go up. Remaining 80% may see them go

down by £30/40/yr. Current prudent suffer. Remainder don't get the savings they think they will.

Everybody cheesed off!

• I am only in the process of switching energy supplier through Cornwall Together, so it is early days

yet.

• I can't afford to maintain or refurbish my home. I was working, hoping to defer my pension for 5 years

to build up £35K to renovate & repair it (or move, once my two sons leave). Unfortunately I became ill

and have had to claim my pension.

• I find it to be disgraceful that we have to pay VAT on the already excessively high fuel costs.

• I found out about Cornwall Together at the Eden Project and I attended a community hall event in

Lerryn (you didn't offer these options in questions 1 & 2.) Thank you.

• I have answered Q23 as Don't know as I do not wish to disclose my income otherwise I could not

answer Q24 without disclosing my income

• I have solar PV, which helps to keep my electricity costs lower.

• I run may gas heating 24/7 all year

• i think that a lot of money and resources have gone into this project and essentially I don't see it

offering anything new. Sorry!

• I understood from the leaflet and other information put out by your organisation that there would be

savings to be obtained from being part of your group. However I now find that that would depend on

how many consumers you can enrol by a certain date. there is an uncertainty about that. If I had gone

to u switch apart from your recommendation I would probably have been directed by that

organisation to the same supplier that I have now been directed to; so what is the benefit of linking

with Cornwall together?

• I use EDF and your comparison sites were not cheaper

• I want to change

• I wanted a 100% renewable, ethical option as I have with Good Energy - you didn't offer me that and

I'd never heard of the company you suggested.

• I will review the matter shortly. A lot of our electricity use is on washing machine and tumble dryer.

• I wish CT were what I origonally supposed, I would be with them all the way. I don't understand how

the system is working so I don't trust it.

• I worked on the project, so was exposed to the facts and figures and so on in a more intensive way

than the average person who switched.

• I'm presuming that the deals on offer are for some sort of Green Tariff from each supplier. This was,

however, not apparent to me when I made the comparison. If it was stated, I missed it, and would

suggest that be made more prominent.

• its a good idea but does not live up to expectation

• it's a shame that this project did not work out for me, i would not save enough money to make it

worth while switching. This is not the real solution, the problem is that the government is just using

the energy/green crisis as an excuse to tax us all, when it's all a load of bollocks.

• My change over hasn't happened yet - so I don't know how smooth it may be.

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• My main reason for changing is to reduce our fuel bills, due to long term illness and the need for early

retirement.

• NB That was for my previous house which was oil centrally heated

• Need a lot more time and reliable information to convince me.

• Not been worth bothering with

• of course this varies on the winter months, we have a solar panel which helps in the summer

• ou did not give me the impression that you were a company

• Our prices (and therefore Direct Debit) are about to go up a little but this was taken into account

when comparing prices with Cornwall Together.

• Please give consideration to people like myself and countless others, who are on prepayment meters

to help with low income and budgeting, but who appear to be penalised because there is not an

option to switch to Cornwall Together if you are on these types of meter. Thank you

• Q17 is erroneous. I had to specify house or flat when I had already stated other as bungalow

• spend less than 5% of annual income

• still waiting for switching to take place

• Surprised that the best dual fuel switching deal offered included two standing charges. Of our current,

two separate suppliers only one had a standing charge. This means that although the basic unit cost

was more attractive with the switching supplier it is actually less green as any cutting down on fuel

usage is in reality less beneficial cost wise due to the extra fixed cost introduced. With the double

whammy of two fixed costs the energy supplier wins with the user struggling to make much in the

way of further usage cost savings when dealing just in pennies.

• Switching was easy. Questionnaire not clear or easy to complete. Too any boxes too close together to

fill

• that's the tariff EDF has put us on at the moment

• The answer to No 24 is based on the last bill which is over 5 months ago so does not include this very

cold, wet winter or the increases in fuel during that time, so I anticipate my monthly spend will end up

being far more than £90.

• the new charges are disgusting, we are not happy about the standing charges policy , it will now be

another big add on to our bills

• The tariff checker wasn't for me - particularly as the 'save more if more people join, but be tied in'

promise seemed a bit of a gamble. The oil co-buy scheme looks interesting, though.

• used the process to find out how our local scheme is going to work

• we are all electric

• We didn't switch because the recommended supplier would have cost £59 per year more plus the £30

penalty fee for withdrawing from our current supplier's tariff.

• We realise our energy payments are small but we have a wood burner which keeps the whole house

warm, also we have solar panels which helps with our electric consumption.

• We receive FiT payments that are paying off our investment in the solar electric panels and keeping

down the bills, thankfully!

• Why is there a deadline for joining?

• Will I be able to join in the future.

• You don’t ask about oil, but that is a horrendous cost and we spend several thousand pounds on oil

for heating and cooking. Lots of people in Cornwall depend on oil so I don’t understand why you

ignore it.

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Campaign

• It's a great initiative but should have been marketed more. It was just by chance that I noted this on

Solihull council twitter account otherwise had no clue this was happening.


• If councils can get together to help find cheaper ANYTHING for home owners and tenants by bulk

buying that is a step in the right direction.

• many thanx any help is important to us

• Thanks


• I had one query not covered by FAQ so had to telephone for advice it took nearly 8 minutes to get to

speak to someone who was then very helpful. Phones need answering more quickly even on a Sunday

when I called.

• Sad I got to hear about it so late in the day less than a day before deadline and I used to be a Director

in Birmingham. tried to get a quote online but system failed to give me a figure.

• Telephone response was not very helpful- it just referred me to the website


• If the cancellation charges had not been so high I would have changed

Other

• £101 is total monthly for gas and electricity (dual)

• hopefully with the switch i will spend less than the 137...

• I'm not sure that your initiative gives best deals as against other energy comparison sites. Do the

companies guarantee best price for us in actuality or is this whole approach just a way to give the

companies mega numbers of consumers for little effort and for no great shakes of a discount. Can you

as organisers be sure we are getting best possible price if not you are unwittingly acting as

salespersons for a non deal. Could you publicity in future address this possibility?

• my house is concrete with no wall insulation and minimal loft insulation. It is extremely difficult to

keep my house warm and i have now brought electric heaters for each room as I can't afford to put

my central heating on as my gas is ridiculously expensive! My current supplier (Southern) can't offer

any explanation as to why my gas bill is so high for such a little house that only has 1 adult and 1 child

in it and they cannot offer me any kind of help. my boiler isn’t efficient and as usual the road I live on

seems to have been forgotten about and looks unlikely to get the exterior insulation that many

council properties in my area are getting.

• Please do not use my information for any other use than the analysis of the outcomes of this project.

Please remove my details after this work has been done. You must not use this information for any

other purpose or give it to any other body.

• Scottish Power have given me good prices & service

• The whole energy market is a waste of time to give the illusion of choice. Time to re-nationalise all the

utilities.

• We will hope that this does save on power bills

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• Well, I'm not in Birmingham or Solihull, so make what you will of my comments. I was asked my

opinion after registering with Exeter Together. Please fix your link.

Exeter


• could spend more, house cold all day in winter, heat in evening only, fortunately have good supply of

hats :)

• I do not have gas or central heating and unless it is really cold put on more jumpers rather than

putting an electric fire on.

• Try to keep spend on gas/electricity low so use heat sparingly. At times house cold (9.5 degrees

cetigrade).

Campaign

• The only thing I did not like was the colour of the overall marketing scheme. I feel it is Labour party

orientated and with Ben on the front of the campaign? Sadly I felt the last few days were a bit over

the top on the campaign but maybe the countdown of members required might have worked. I have

no idea of how many involved but the most unlikely people have switched into the scheme. Perhaps

a second tranche would really work?


• Although I didn't end up saving a huge amount - the process was interesting and the encouragement

of the £40 cash back was a good incentive

• Thank youn :-)

• Thanks


• I also have oil central heating - at annual cost of £1500 approx

• No mains gas - use oil instead

• Oil

Suggestion

• All utilities should be nationalised, saving us all a lot more money than this multi layered chimera of

choice.

• Energy is too expensive -from all suppliers! Cut the green subsidies and use gas and develop shale

energy.

• What about using the power of corporate bargaining in other areas? Am thinking of home insurance

for people whose homes are at potential or actual risk of flooding. My house is in an area designated

a flood plain. Am really concerned people in this position will be unable to get affordable home

insurance once current agreement with the insurers runs out later this year

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• Despite some efforts there was a widespread lack of knowledge of this in the local community. Just

check the date that the city council sent letters to tenants against the closing date! Dreadful

organisation by Exeter City Council.

• I was happy with the initial switching process but since then (6 days)I have not heard anything from

the new provided - not even an acknowledgement email.

• I wasn't given the chance to enter details of both my utility suppliers. I entered the details of one

supplier (Sainsburys) - and then suddenly I was 'into the system', with no chance of adding details

about my Eon supplier. Q16 - the survey won't accept 'other' without you first checking either 'house'

or 'flat' - it needs its own check box.

• Slightly worried at this stage that the quoted unit prices from Exeter Together and from First Utility

are not the same, but this may be due to tax being included. I will check

• Sorry, I don't have access to my billing info

• The option I wanted to switch to as part of Exeter Together wasn't available when I selected it as I'm

not on the grid with a new build house


• Although I didn't switch this time, I may do in future. I like the fact that this process tries to give some

buying power back to the consumer.

• Hope this scheme is available next year

• I was very disappointed not be saving any money, but it was quick and easy, so would definitely try

again in the future.


• Great idea but my current supplier (who I have recently changed to with a fixed price until November

2013) was cheaper

• Npower gave me a better deal than Exeter together

Other

• Although I have stayed with e-on for several years I have changed tariff several times.

• great idea - wrong partner

• Hope you will provide a good and affordable service which will remain constant for many year. All

failure will disappoint many people in Exeter.

• I do not wish to continue with together scheme.

• I don't really understand how Exeter Together works

• I keep the bill down, by staying cold most of winter.

• I try to use as little energy as possible because I believe with limited stocks world wide that is the

prudent way to go. As a result of my prudence the suppliers penalize me by charging more for the

initial usage despite government warnings of the diminishing stocks of gas and crude oil. I would

welcome any action that would reduce the initial charge per unit. Similarly with water usage where

blanket charges for waste water is no longer tied to consumption.

• I was surprised that the prices which the new provider sent the other day in a letter where slightly

higher than the ones which were quoted in the survey and comparison before switching. So I might

not make any win after all - that I found a bit frustrating.

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• I would have preferred Exeter Together to have gone into partnership with a 'greener' supplier - or

maybe with a supplier of solar panels or similar, or promoted other ways of making my home more

energy-efficient

• In order to keep heating costs down I only heat the rooms I use and I frequently put on more clothes

rather than turn heating up, and have been known to go to bed earlier to keep warm.

• In respect of fuel cost comparisons we cook entirely by gas and it would help if there was also

available costs comparisons made between gas and electricity for cooking as this may influence as to

whether one should change appliances

• LPG is used by a lot of people in the countryside and has become hugely expensive as seen by our

spend. we now pay £375 pcm for LPG. It would help enormously to cut this cost.

• Monthly spend is £60.00 elec ,£60.00 heating oil. NO Gas !

• My only concern is the raft of poor reviews that first:utility have online for poor customer services

and messing up people's billing by overcharging etc - if this happens to me then I will switch again

immediately and let the council know that they are not to be trusted. As somebody who struggles

financially I need to know exactly what payments are being deducted and when, as do most people

on low incomes.

• My property is heated by oil and calor gas. A collective to break the monopoly of Calor would be

helpful. I belong to WOPEC for my oil.

• Our main heating cost is coal and therefore cannot be influenced by Exeter together.

• really not sure yet what my monthly spend is

• Since retiring I am in fuel poverty and struggle to heat my home with rising costs.

• The is for the winter period

• This is my approximate current spend on gas and electricity but this will change shortly as my

daughter is about to move out and other things will change too.

• WE ARE IN FUEL POVERTY ie spend over 10% of our income on energy.

• We would have incurred a penalty of £50 per service for switching which would have negated any

saving.

• Why do councils & the Government still allow developers to build housing without solar panels

already installed????

• Winter time, summer £80

Scotland


• I try to keeping my heating off for to keep my cost down.

• It is a large stone built house with plaster and lathe walls. We keep costs down by wearing warm

clothing and using radiator thermostats in every room - normally set on 1 and only turned up when

the room is in use. We also have a small wood burning stove. Otherwise our fuel bills would be

astronomical. Visitors are warned to wrap up. We would welcome any advance on methods of

insulating our walls for a reasonable cost.

• Keep heating costs down by dressing for the outdoors/wearing multiple layers. Also try to get outside

for a brisk walk during the day in coldest weather - house always feels warmer afterwards. :)

• my combined gas and electric has went from beginning last year from £133 to £157 then £167then

£230 i have now got it back down to £161 a month only me and twin boys in house i got rid of a 860

odd litre fish tank to save energy switich of all appliances at night do not leave pc running and bills still

going stupid .I have found at weekend I’m due eon £260 yet !!

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Campaign

• your flyers would have been more effective if they hadn't been confused with the 'Better together'

political campaign, Quite a few people I know did not pick up a flyer because of this

Disappointed

• Again, please refer to comments at 8 above. Scots Together is a good idea which has not been

thought through properly. Disappointing in this day and age. FAH

• I was extremely disappointed.


• Great idea, thanks.

• I wish you good luck in finding cheaper deals for scots

• Keep up the good work. Let's drive down the costs for EVERYONE.

• Left joining in until the last few hours but am glad I did it.

• THANK YOU

• Thank you for thanking me! This is a great idea and I am delighted to have the opportunity to take

part and will tell others about it.


• All electricity, no gas. Very well insulated property. Heat pump + MVHR. Your system require me to

say I lived in a house, even though I had entered bungalow in the Other box

• Although I have solar panels for electricity and hot water, I still need about £2000 worth of heating oil

per annum + coal and wood for stoves.

• Cook and heat with oil. You could address rural oil prices!

• Have wood/coal burning stove and oil central heating too. High roofs, hard to heat rooms. Would love

to be able to afford solar and turbine. Wish green was easier.

• I also spend money on oil and coal as alternative means of heating my home. The electric spend is

solely for hot water and lighting.

• log burner installed last year that has helped reduce bills

• Most of our heating comes from solid fuel and most of that from wood.

• My property is heated by oil & currently 600litre delivery costs me between £600 & £700 & , if I am

lucky it last me for 8wks or if I am lucky 9wks.

• none of your suggested elec suppliers came anywhere near as cheap as the EDF deal I am now on

until April 2104 .. We are not on mains gas but have bulk lpg - there is next to no competition in lpg

market and switching supplier is very complicated!

• Oil costs - £200 pa + Log burner costs - £1000 pa (approx.)

• our biggest outlay is on OIL Electricity is not a problem. We spend over £200 per month on average

• Scots Together would have been more useful to me if it included oil

• the above is for electricity alone. We do not have access to mains gas so use oil for central

heating/hot water. this is an additional £700 approx

• we use calor gas as we live in a rural area, that was not covered by the switching.

Suggestion

• I'm not knocking your efforts towards collective action: just suggesting they could be positioned

politically with greater effect. Thank you for being there!

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• We can't do much more to make our house more energy efficient without spending a large amount of

money. What would be very useful is to see a thermal image of the house during this cold weather so

that we could pinpoint our main losses of heat (to the exterior). Scots Together should look into ways

of providing householders with such information at a reasonable cost or encourage energy providers

to offer such an image as part of their contract. A thermal image could be useful when it comes to

selling a house. Will we see the results of this survey?

• Would be much better if you made direct contact instead of always telling people to phone you. That

is not a service.


• Felt this scheme was not designed for Scottish customers as it did not cater for customers on Total

Heating Control Tariff. Plus the price it gave that I was paying per unit with my present supplier were

incorrect. I would have phoned but ran out of time - these offers need to be available for more than a

few weeks.

• good service but needed more time

• Hard to find a comparable switch as we have two tariffs/meters, one for general electric use and one

for storage heating.

• I have learnt that the previous supplier can cause mayhem, is it worth the hassle?

• I tried to do a comparison but your website was unable to compare prices with Staywarm my current

supplier

• I would have liked a clearer option when trying to find a green tariff. I didn't find this clear when

under taking the process.

• In the online comparison I was told that the alternatives that you were comparing/offering were more

expensive than what I am paying now. In the email that I received afterwards (because I appear not to

have completed the process) it showed different figures: a possible saving. Not confidence-inspiring.

• It was difficult to use the comparison feature on the website as it did not allow you to put in a figure

for a dual tariff bill, only by electricity and gas separately.

• Like the idea of Scots Together, but it hasn't delivered for me.

• Previous switching resulted in bad experience. Not convinced that it is worth the hassle.

• The deal wasn't really a collective, it was just a uSwitch with a small added cashback. It wasn't a great

deal or particularly accessible for people living in or at risk of fuel poverty.

• The details your system held for my existing tariff were wrong, they were too low and exaggerated

the saving that could be made.

• There was a problem with my switch. I had submitted my actual figures from last year, but my gas &

electricity bills were low because I use wood-fuel and have solar panels. With the discounts for dual

fuel, my gas bill would have been MINUS £55. The letter I got shown my direct debit for £76+, which

turned out to be the default price. After 45 mins on the phone to NPower, we agreed that I would be

£6 each for gas & electricity, and the credit for the gas would pay for the debit for the electricity, so it

would even out. Before switching, I had been with Good Energy since 2007, as they were the only

company to provide 100% renewable electricity. However, they also paid a Renewable Heat Incentive

to gas customers who had a solar thermal panel. This payment (around £55 PA) was not reflected in

the "switch savings".

• Tried to switch but there has been no response from the chosen supplier

• very easy to use website

• We had changed supplier on4 weeks before you arrived. For what we would save it was not worth

further effort

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• I hope there will be another opportunity to use Scots Together at the end of my present fix.

• I would consider switching using scots together if another opportunity comes up in the future.

• KEEP IT GOING AS IMAY USE IT NEXT YEAR.


• At this time we are not saving enough to switch supplier we are also tied in to a deal but we would

want to check savings again and would switch in the future if we make a saving

• didn’t offer me enough of a discount to warrant switching. i could already get almost the amount

offered just by switching through uswitch. get your energy companies serious if they want my

business.

• Expected price to be a lot cheaper. Wasn't that the point? Seems like the deal you negotiated can't

have been that good.

• It was going to cost me more with Scots Together. When I put in my details my current supplier is

cheaper.

• Would have switched but on capped rate that was 2-300 cheaper than the best offer

Other

• 2011/2012 £60 per month. 2013 increased payment

• above figures are £150 oil and £4o electricity

• cant afford any more and possibly nexy year wont be able to afford the two to three hours I use now

• Can't pay council tax and fuel so at the moment we don't pay our council tax.

• Companies should fix their charges in October and not increase them until the next October to enable

customers to shop around.

• Don’t trust your company or motives. Why give savings to charities and not the customer. Is the

'charity' part of your business.

• Having switched to a dual-fuel supplier a few months ago, on the assurance of a reasonable annual

saving, I was shocked that the new supplier increased the direct debit by almost 17% after a couple of

months. (The increase was reduced to about 9%, after protest). I thought that the direct debit system

(I made quarterly payments, previously) was intended to spread payments evenly over the year but

this policy appears to indicate that the new supplier is determined to build up its own credit, in

advance.

• I am out during the day everyday. I am round at my mum's four evenings per week. I don't use much

heating or lighting at home. I don't want to get into arrears. The house is freezing as I only heat and

light one room.

• I don't think people like me should always benefit from lower prices because we can pay by direct

debit, whilst people who struggle on meter are charged higher. Initiatives where the cost could

potentially be evened out or at least shared a bit more has to be the way forward.

• I have been reluctant to use an on-line energy account in the past. I hope the on-line account of the

provider to whom I am switching is as user friendly as claimed.

• I have registered as TD56lf. This is incorrect, the new house will be TD36LF

• I hesitated in switching because it wasn’t actively promoted and I only had a leaflet plus not enough

time to explore other avenues or costs. However I will now actively pursue a change

• I thought I was able to register just now, without having to change suppliers until I knew more about

it. I didn't change because I felt confused

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• I would have loved to switch to you even though you are not the cheapest deal. I particularly like the

fact you help others in poverty

• It made us take a fresh look at suppliers, we have changed because they said we could save approx

£120 a year but our standing orders has gone up by aprrox £15 a month so we shall have to wait and

see.

• looking for fixed contract from April 13 for 18 month period both gas and electric.

• The tariff suggested and which I was signed up for, was eventually discovered unavailable in my area.

• This was an interesting exercise which prompted me to get a better deal from my current supplier.

• Will only know if I spend a full year there

• your scheme was a to talk FAIL

UK Together


• Hoping for the best.

• Thank you for helping me save £15 a month :-).

• We were with first utility at our old house and found them very good to deal with


• We have electricity, oil and a wood burner. There is no gas to the village.


• Issue encountered on registration. Have two houses, a holiday home in Cornwall which I registered

earlier in the week. When entering details for my main home ( which were the same as the Cornwall

one in relation to e-mail address, address for bills - bank details for direct debit etc.) the system did

not ask for the energy code for my home and seems to have assumed that this was another

registration for the Cornwall property. Have taken up with First but too early in the procedure to sort

it out.


• I will look into this option again when the next round comes & hope the pric per unit can be made

clear


• The contract with my current supplier is much cheaper than the cheapest offered by UK Together.

Other

• Finding a cheaper supplier is one thing good customer service is another and just as important. Time

energy and money can be wasted when dealing with a poor supplier

• I run my heating 24/7 365 days using a programmable room stat and 7 TRV with 8 rads

• I think the government should promote things like this one of the hardest things for people is heating

there home and we rely to much on foreign supply to rip us off.

• It is hard to work out my usage because my bills are always being estimated and even though I call in

with readings, they are always making mistakes with the billing. This is something I'm not happy

about, but the bills themselves are not high compared with other peoples. I have invested in double

glazing at the front of the house and I have secondary glazing at the back, which actually needs

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replacing, but it all helps with the bills. It also makes a difference whether I have neighbours above

and below me, as they help to heat the place too.

• The above is the monthly DD I will pay having switched providers. Before this, I was paying £78 a

month.

• the tariff I transferred to did not make the price variability aspect transparent

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APPENDIX 5 CORRELATION TESTS

All postcodes for non-switchers and switchers were assigned an Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) code

according to the most recent Office of National Statistics data2, the result of which was a count of switchers

and non-switchers for each LSOA, a percentage of switchers and non switchers for each area together with

their respective LSOA Names.

Furthermore, we matched up and prepared further data in order to perform the necessary stats tests:

• Number and percentage of households in fuel poverty3

• IMD index score per LSOA (these were converted in to a percentage, e.g. 21.36 became 21.36%)4

The result of which, each LSOA had string of data in which we could use to test and correlate:

The following columns were used within the correlation tests:

• Distribution of switcher (3) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

• Distribution of switcher (3) and IMD households by LSOA (2)

• Distribution of non-switcher (4) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

• Distribution of non-switcher (4) and IMD households by LSOA (2)

• Relationship between IMD (2) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

The following columns were used within the correlation tests:

• Distribution of switcher (3) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

• Distribution of switcher (3) and IMD households by LSOA (2)

• Distribution of non-switcher (4) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

• Distribution of non-switcher (4) and IMD households by LSOA (2)

• Relationship between IMD (2) and fuel poor households by LSOA (1)

2 Office of National Statistics Enumeration Postcodes (2011) to output areas (2011) to lower layer super output

areas (2011) to middle layer super output areas (2011) to local authority districts (2011) E+W Lookup

[Link:] 3

Department of Energy & Climate Change 2011 Sub-regional fuel poverty data [Link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/200433/Copy_of_2011_Sub

_regional_data_v2.xlsx] 4Department for Communities and Local Government English indices of deprivation 2010: overall [link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6872/1871524.xls]

LSOA Name

% in Fuel

Poverty

(1) IMD Score

IMD %

(2)

Switcher

Penetration

(3)

Non-

switcher

Penetration

(4)

E01018751 Callington West 18% 30.74 30.74% 0.42% 3.25%

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EDEN PROJECT RESEARCH REPORT CORNWALL TOGETHER ...

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