14 NW authorities have been awarded a total of £4.7million from the Government to help reduce fuel poverty, boost energy efficiency, and encourage collective switching and purchasing in regions across Great Britain.   This funding will be used by local authorities and third sector organisations to help keep people’s energy bills down and ensure homes are warm this winter, and in the future.   The funding is split between 3 themes:  

• helping vulnerable householders keep warm this winter 
• kick starting the Green Deal with ‘Pioneer Places’ projects 
• setting up collective switching schemes – ‘Cheaper Energy Together’

  The authorities receiving funding are:  

• Preston City Council
• Halton Borough Council
• Sefton Council
• Oldham Council
• Wirral Council
• Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Lancashire County Council (and Lancashire District Councils)
• Wigan Council
• Bolton Council
• Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Cheshire East Council
• Warrington Borough Council
• Carlisle City Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

  For more information on the funding awarded nationally see: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn13_007/pn13_007.aspx