Sector body the Gas Forum has confirmed that this could result in a massive reduction for customers – welcome news for business gas customers already concerned about increasing overheads.

The money was granted to National Grid to connect up its National Transmission System to Canatxx’s planned gas storage facility at Fleetwood – a facility which has never got off the ground despite multiple planning applications being submitted.

Kyran Hanks, spokesperson for the Gas Forum, told Utility Exchange: “The regulator has explained that it made a mistake in its licence drafting. This could mean a windfall profit of up to £40m for National Grid over the next five years, the cost of which would be picked up by gas customers. This is clearly wrong. The project no longer exists and nor does the gas pipe that National Grid is being paid for.”

Should the amendment be accepted, this will be excellent news for those concerned about business gas prices – forecast to rise sharply in the near future.

Meanwhile, there was more positive news for business electricity customers with the unveiling of the largest tidal energy turbine in Invergordon, Scotland.

The beast is 22.5m tall and weighs 130 tonnes. Built by Atlantis Resources, the giant turbine has two sets of blades to harness ebb and flood tides and will generate large amounts of renewable electricity for up to 1,000 homes and businesses.

For business gas price comparison and advice, contact Energy Advice Line.

You can read the full stories in Utility Week http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/uk/gas/national-grid-licence-change-c.php and at BBC Scotland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-10942856

The app will allow the estimated 60,000 British Gas Business customers who used an iPad or iPhone to business to control their energy bills on the go. Users will be able to update their gas or electricity readings.

Nearly 20 per cent of all calls to British Gas Business are from companies and organisations with meter reading related issues. British Gas Business says the new tool will enable customers to save time and also potentially saving money by not getting estimated bills.

British Gas Business is the first energy supplier to develop this latest innovation for the UK business market and follows the highly successful launch of the British Gas iPhone app in December 2009 to residential customers – downloaded by over 70,000 people.

Kanat Emiroglu, managing director of British Gas Business said, “The iPhone app is just the latest example of how we are listening to our customers and responding to their needs with an innovative and simple solution. The meter reading app is an ideal budgeting tool for our small and medium sized customers by putting them in control of their energy bills in an easy and user friendly manner.”

Commenting on this Julian Morgan, MD, Energy Advice Line was quick to point out that technology ideas like this are admirable but for business gas users they should first spend some time comparing the prices of the potential suppliers through an independent web site like the energyadviceline.org.uk. Then they might not only save themselves the price of an iphone or ipad but a lot more besides that would help their businesses survive in difficult times.

Read full article here www.b2bm.biz

By producing biomethane from waste through anaerobic digestion or thermal gasification the UK could help secure gas supply and keep prices as low as possible.

We hear a great deal about renewable technologies when it comes to generating electricity. But business gas customers will also know that the same concerns about price and supply exist for both utilities.

There has been less investment in renewable gas technologies and currently anaerobic digestion and thermal gasification are not commercially viable.

However, National Grid, which supplies gas and electricity in both North East USA and the UK, has been researching how to make these technologies more affordable.

In another story from Energy Efficiency news, it emerges a UK brewery, Adnams, has created its own anaerobic digestion system, feeding renewable gas directly into the national grid, in partnership with British Gas and National Grid.

The plant will generate 4.8million kwh per year, and in future enough to power both the brewery and its fleet of lorries, with 60 per cent left over to put into the grid.

For business gas price comparison and advice, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read about the possibility of renewable gas generation in Energy Efficiency News.

And read the Adnams story here.

One of the ‘big six’ business energy suppliers, British Gas’s profits have almost doubled in the first half of this year.

Centrica, its parent company, has posted the massive leap in profits thanks to the coldest winter in 30 years. Wholesale energy prices have also been low, but none of this will be passed on to customers. British Gas argues that wholesale gas prices are set to rise once more.

While business gas customers on fixed contracts will be protected from any price increases for the duration of their contract, they could face sharp increases at contract renewal time.

That’s why shopping around for your business utilities is important. For advice on getting the best deal for business gas and electricity, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read the full story at the BBC.

The telecommunications giant has joined forces with Arqiva, specialists in broadcast infrastructure, and business consultants Detica to take advantage of the proposed smart metering initiative.

Under the scheme, by 2020 28 million homes and businesses will have smart meters installed. These will enable users to monitor how much energy is being consumed – vital to businesses aiming to keep overheads of business gas and electricity as low as possible as it then means steps can be taken to use energy more efficiently.

Smart meters will also help utility companies make their networks more efficient, and may lead to the introduction of specially tailored energy package based on customer usage data.

BT is proposing a long range radio scheme, which a BT spokesperson told Telecoms.com “can provide truly nationwide coverage and dependable reception indoors.” This makes it more reliable than mobile telephone communications.

Smart meters were first introduced as standard in the UK in 2008.

Read the full article in Telecoms.Com.

Research from energy analysts ICIS Heren, wholesale gas prices have risen sharply, and come this winter these price rises are likely to be passed on to consumers.

While business energy customers, who are on fixed deals, may be protected from price rises initially, when the time comes to renew business electricity and gas contracts, a nasty surprise could be waiting.

These increases come at a time when economic forecasters are warning the global economy may be heading for a double-dip recession.

Just as SMEs are starting to see some signs of recovery, global bond markets report a sharp slowdown in growth across the world. The prospect of deflation is becoming ever more realistic.

Keeping a close eye on overheads such as business gas and electricity has never been so important.

Energy Advice Line can keep a note of your contract renewal date so that you don’t risk missing out on getting the best deal by shopping around.

EAL can also advise you on switching business energy suppliers, and help you find the best prices.

We’d like to know your thoughts on the state of the economy and how it’s affecting your business. Are you concerned by the prospect of increased business energy prices? Leave a comment and let us know…

You can read the full story about the end of cheap deals in The Daily Telegraph.

And the full story about fears of a double-dip recession here.

The study, undertaken by the university’s Centre for Resource Management Efficiency, highlighted the unsustainable nature of landfill sites as a means of waste disposal. By addressing this concern along with the need to meet strict targets for renewable energy generation over the next ten years, it may be possible to tackle two problems at once.

Energy from waste is one of the green energy solutions that is less well known. For business energy customers concerned about reducing their carbon footprint, wind and tidal generation are among the more popular options.

These days, small business owners are all too aware of the onus to reduce carbon emissions. However, for many, there is a perceived conflict of interest with reducing business energy costs.

For free and impartial advice on a wide range of business electricity and business gas contracts, from the cheapest to the greenest, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read the full Cranfield University report here.

Many commentators still believe a hung parliament will be the most likely outcome, which will come as worrying news for a lot of business owners.

According to a recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce, 65 per cent of firms polled were concerned about the prospect of there being no clear winner after today’s polls close.

Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have commented that a hung parliament could slow and weaken the UK economy’s recovery. Meanwhile, Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats are the party set to benefit most from such an outcome, with Vince Cable widely expected to become chancellor should a coalition government be formed.

The main concern for most SME owners is indecision and lack of clear leadership, which, according to a letter from easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and others to the Daily Telegraph, posed the threat of “putting the economic recovery at risk.”

No matter what the result of today’s election, one message has been clear from all main parties throughout the campaign: the road to economic recovery is hard and steeped with pitfalls. Whoever holds the reins at 10 Downing Street tomorrow, businesses will still face a struggle. That’s why now is a good time to consider reducing your business’s overheads, including such things as business electricity, business gas and business telecoms.

For free, impartial advice on all business energy queries, including how to switch business energy supplier, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read Stelios’s letter in The Daily Telegraph.

The lights could go out for business electricity customers by 2016, OfGem warns

Business energy customers could be among the first to suffer if power cuts predicted by 2016 are allowed to happen.

Industry regulator OfGem issued a stark warning to the government and domestic and commercial energy customers today that demand for gas and electricity could outstrip supply in the not too distant future. They have depicted a worst case scenario in which levels of supply could fail at peak times, particularly in the winter months.

This will set alarm bells ringing for commercial gas and electricity customers, many of whom will be on interruptible energy contracts. Interruptible contracts mean that these customers can be forced to stop using gas and electricity first should a shortage arise. Many business gas customers were affected by disruptions to supply in January 2010.

According to OfGem, there could be power cuts of up to 40 minutes for a household in 2016, further increasing to 120 minutes in 2017 if nothing is done. This comes on the same day that the Environmental Industries Commission warned that the three main political parties’ manifestoes did not go far enough in supporting green energy generation.

Business electricity prices will rise sharply if alternative energy sources are not utilised. Last week, energy supplier E.ON opened a large offshore windfarm, while several other projects have been approved for the sea off the north coast of Scotland.

With the election just weeks away, commercial electricity customers will wait with anticipation to see which party is returned to power. All are aware of the need to tackle the dual concerns of energy and climate change, as domestic and commercial energy customers continue to struggle with increasing prices.

For advice on business energy and business electricity comparison, contact Energy Advice Line.

This independent advisory service can help you find the best prices for commercial gas and electricity.

Read the full business energy blackout warning in the Daily Telegraph.

And read the New Energy Focus story.

Picture credit – CCA: Spooky Lightbulb by Dyanna from Flickr

British Gas's SAVE scheme has helped businesses stay out of debt, but keeping an eye on business energy costs is vital to help your company thrive.

On the anniversary of its SAVE scheme for small businesses (that’s Small business Advice and Value Expertise), British Gas claims that it is doing all it can to help small and medium sized business who are struggling with their business energy bills.

British Gas established the scheme in the depth of the recession. Speaking to This is Money, a spokesperson said that they established the scheme after realising many firms were struggling to pay their bills. “We knew that small business owners wanted a single point of contact for help and advice on their energy requirements,” they added.

To do this effectively, British Gas developed a five-step credit rating system that enables it to identify and target those SMEs at most risk of falling into business energy debt or defaulting on their payments.

The credit solutions team can give advice on reducing energy consumption as well as sending out energy saving products, and to date more than 10,000 small and medium sized businesses have taken advantage of the scheme.

This is all positive new for business energy customers; however, there is no dedicated hotline or website for businesses that are having payment difficulties to access, and often to really save on your business electricity and business gas bills it’s best to shop around for a new energy contract.

British Gas has received much criticism for “assumed renewal” tactics in the past, and it’s widely known that if you stay with your existing business energy supplier at contract renewal time you are not going to get the best prices or deals.

When you are nearing the end of your business energy contract, then is the time to get on the phone to find out what packages other suppliers are offering.

By using the services of an independent advisory service such as Energy Advice Line, you can take all the stress and hassle out of this process and get a business energy price comparison in just one phone call.

You can also use EAL’s free, online price comparison services, which presents the prices of the UK’s most competitive energy suppliers – negating the need to wait for a call back before you make your decision.

You can read the full British Gas story at ThisIsMoney.

Picture credit – CCA: Gas by Tom Pagenet from Flickr