Almost 80,000 people who signed up to One Big Switch, a consumer network, will be able to save money on their household bills thanks to a special offer the group has “unlocked”.

Thousands of people have signed up to one of the country’s largest consumer networks in an effort to use people power to save money on household bills.

Energy retailer Energia have made group discounts of around €325 per household available to anyone who switches to them through One Big Switch.

More than half of people with health insurance claim their premiums have "skyrocketed" due to the exodus of 300,000 policy holders from the market since 2008.

Hospitals have been told to break official health policy and charge private patients who receive treatment in public areas — even if they are cared for in corridors, "therapy chairs", or trolleys.

More than 660,000 people could drop their health insurance if premiums increase between 1% and 10%, campaigners for more affordable health insurance have warned.

The campaigners who secured deals for over tens of thousands of people on their electricity bills are looking to do the same for health insurance.

A consumer movement that negotiates group discounts on utility bills for thousands of householders is taking its people power approach to water charges.

Householders who fall behind with quarterly water bills next year face the prospect of losing the free water allowance for the following quarter, according to the Department of the Environment.

One Big Switch members are set to save hundreds of euro on electricity bills.

Householders are hurting from high electricity prices, but most are too busy or find it too difficult to shop around for a better deal.

Almost 16,000 people have signed up to the Big Energy Switch — just over a week after the campaign to unlock group discounted electricity and gas was launched.

A new campaign is hoping to recruit thousands of consumers in a bid to negotiate group energy deals for residential and business customers.