CREWE and Nantwich residents could be in line for cheaper energy bills after the borough council officially signed a deal with a ‘recognised’ energy supplier.

Cheshire East Council is the first local authority in the country to sign up with Ovo Energy, which aims to offer substantial savings against the national average tariff rates charged by the ‘Big Six’ suppliers.

It means that Cheshire East will be the first council to sell energy in the UK since nationalisation in 1948.

Clr Michael Jones, leader at the authority, said: “The alleviation of fuel poverty is a key priority for us.

“This is yet another innovation for Cheshire East Council which will have a direct financial benefit for residents.

“We have already frozen council tax for four consecutive years. Now we will ensure that low-income families who are worried about paying their bills can buy energy more cheaply and will not have to choose between heating and eating.

“I want the people of Cheshire East to live well and for longer and not to have to worry about meeting huge energy bills.”

The new deal, branded as Fairerpower, will potentially benefit households in the Knutsford area and also those living in other parts of the north west region.

Businesses could also take advantage.

An estimated 9.5 per cent of domestic customers in the borough are in fuel poverty, which is 0.9 per cent below the national average.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and chief executive of Ovo added: “We launched Ovo Communities because we really believed the UK energy market was ripe for big changes. We want to provide a platform where people can come together, create their own systems, build their own innovations and create genuine partnerships.

“As our first local council partnership, we are really excited to have the opportunity to literally put the power back into the hands of the people in the North West region.”

Cheshire East Council is in negotiations to form a strategic partnership with the borough’s largest registered housing providers – Plus Dane Group, Peaks & Plains and Wulvern Housing – to offer the deal to their tenants within their prescribed postcode areas, and would encourage any other social and public sector organisations, in and around the north west region, interested in joining the partnership, to contact the council.

Before choosing Ovo, the council carried out a rigorous procurement and evaluation process to ensure the that the successful solution, and partner arrangement was financially sound and meets the council’s criteria of stability, customer service and priceing strategy.