A PIONEERING energy company has signed up its 500th customer saving residents £100,000 on their energy bills.

Southend Energy was formed in May as a partnership between Southend Council and OVO Energy.

The landmark was passed when Mrs Elise Thomas, 86, from Leigh, switched to the new service, which aims to give a fair deal for Southend residents and businesses, with bespoke tariffs negotiated by the council.

To mark the occasion, Mrs Thomas was presented with a hamper by Graham Longley, councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and economic development Mrs Thomas called Southend Energy after receiving a leaflet in Outlook magazine to be told that she could save £437 a month. She said: “I had been with the same company for ages and ages, so long I can’t remember the last time I switched. It must have been more than 20 years. They had been all right but their bills were massive.

“I don’t have a computer, so can’t go online to compare with other suppliers easily. Then a leaflet came through my door, and by chance my son had told me that OVO were very efficient. I think that was the one little nudge I needed to do something about it.”

So far, the new service has saved Southend residents an average of £242 each, which is cumulatively an approximate £114,500; enough to buy a flat in the area.

Mr Longley said: “The new scheme 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.

“Switching is easy and we’re offering fair energy tariffs, fair contracts and fair treatment. There will be no exit charges, and through our partnership with OVO, we will add a 3 per cent Interest Reward on to all credit balances. We will also give customers plenty of reminders about when their first-year contract is up for renewal so they can search the market for a better deal if they choose.”

To find out how much you can save and how to switch, visit: www.southendenergy.co.uk or call 0800 408 6711.