The Government has announced a £40 million competition for local authorities aimed at driving local initiatives to boost energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty and encourage collective switching and purchasing. The competition, run by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), has three strands, each with a separate pot of money. Full eligibility is set out in the competition scheme guidance but some basic points include:

 One application can be submitted for all 3 funds

 Local authorities can join together to enter a joint application

 The application form and process is relatively straightforward

 Key criteria include: value for money, impact on fuel poverty, & potential to generate further investment

 The closing date for applications is 30 November 2012

 Awarded funds must be spent by the 31st March 2013

Full information, and the application form (1 form for all 3 schemes) can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/funding_ops/lacomp/lacomp....

£25 Million Fuel Poverty Fund

This competition is aimed specifically at helping low income and vulnerable people keep warm this winter and aims to help cut heating costs by installing measures like efficient new and replacement boilers and loft and cavity wall insulation.

£10 Million Green Deal Pioneer Places Fund

£10million is available for Local Authority Green Deal ‘pioneer’ projects in England. This money can be used for a variety of schemes aimed at promoting the Green Deal, from whole house retrofits to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency to local residents, to community engagement events to raise awareness of what can be done.

£5 Million 'Cheaper Energy Together' Collective Switching Scheme

Funding is also available to support the development of innovative collective switching, or collective purchasing schemes by local authorities or third sector organisations in England, Scotland and Wales, where consumers group together, through a trusted third party, and use market power to negotiate lower energy bills. This money is aimed at collective schemes which have a particular focus on encouraging participation by vulnerable consumers. Further information on collective switching can be found on the collective switching page of the DECC website.

One such recent scheme in the NW is www.powerupyourcommunity.co.uk run by South Lakes District Council. Full information, and the application form (1 form for all 3 schemes) can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/funding_ops/lacomp/lacomp....