A CREWE resident is 2,001st person to sign up to Cheshire East Council’s new money-saving energy scheme.

The council says Fairerpower, set up in partnership with OVO Energy, will save families on average £232 a year.

Gill Barnes, 59, from Crewe, made the landmark switch and was presented with a hamper by Cllr Derek Bebbington, board member for Fairerpower.

Gill said: "I always believed switching would be time consuming and difficult, however it was really simple and straight forward.

“I was able to complete the switch over the phone, and best of all we are going to save money on our bill.

“I always believed switching would be time consuming and difficult, however it was really simple and straight forward.

“I was able to complete the switch over the phone, and best of all we are going to save money on our bill.

“Initial estimates show we should be saving about £140 per year, so I just need to think about how we will spend it now.”

The Fairerpower service is available to people living in all Cheshire East postcodes.

Cllr Bebbington added: “The new company has got off to a great start.

“Importantly, it is helping people who need it most – those who have been paying too much for their energy but have never switched.

“We are proud that so many of them have benefited from this initiative.

“The Council does not get any money out of Fairerpower, in fact we are investing in it. The return we get on that investment is the savings we are achieving for residents.”

Fairerpower also launched a Pay As You Go Tariff which is saving customers an average of £167 a year.

Fairerpower’s energy and customer services are provided by OVO Energy, the Council’s partner.

OVO came top in 10 out of 12 categories in the uSwitch Energy Awards 2014, including Supplier of the Year.

To find out how much you can save and how to switch, visit fairerpower.co.uk