TIME runs out today to register interest in Swindon’s latest collective switching scheme, which could shave pounds off people’s energy bills.

Registration closes today and so far more than 11,000 people are participating overall in the scheme, involving councils across the country, to see how much they could save.

This is the third scheme which Swindon has been part of and last time 88 per cent of Swindon residents stood to save an average of £172 a year on their bills.

Using people power to cut prices, the scheme works by using the combined buying power of residents from the Borough and across the country to negotiate cheaper tariffs with energy companies. Rather than switching provider as an individual, residents register to switch and save as a large group all at the same time to achieve economies of scale.

After registration closes energy providers then compete in a ‘reverse auction’ process, meaning those with the cheapest tariffs are selected and will contact registrants with their proposed new deal. The customer, then decides whether they want to switch.