Posts Tagged ‘Business Gas Prices’

Business electricity and business gas tariffs start to fall

12 January 2012

THE UK’s leading business energy price comparison and switching service for business has urged firms to be cautious amid reports of business electricity prices and business gas tariffs  falling in 2012.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, said despite reports that energy prices could be slashed as part of a supplier price war,  business energy users should remain vigilant in a volatile energy market.

Recent reports have suggested that due to the mild winter, energy companies have abundant supplies of gas and therefore could afford to cut retail energy prices by as much as 10%.

Some smaller suppliers have already announced price cuts and energy regulator Ofgem has warned larger firms like British Gas that it expects them to pass on any such savings.

Business energy users, as well as domestic customers, would be expected to benefit from lower business gas and business electricity rates if commercial gas suppliers passed the savings on.

But Mr Morgan said firms should not assume that business energy suppliers would automatically lower commercial electricity prices or gas tariffs. He said it was still essential to compare business electricity and gas prices to get the best available deals on the market.

“Energy prices are still extremely volatile and firms should not assume their business energy suppliers will pass these savings on to them,” Mr Morgan said.

“In any event, rises and falls in energy prices take some time to flow through to business energy customers as most firms are on fixed-term contracts – prices fluctuations only kick in once these contracts come up for renewal.

“In a competitive market like this, where business electricity and business gas suppliers are fighting for market share, it’s actually more important than ever to compare commercial electricity and gas prices. It’s the only way to find the cheapest deals.”

Last week, Ovo energy became the second small energy company to drop tariffs for its 70,000 customers. British Gas chiefs are reported to be considering a price cut before its parent company Centrica announces its profit results this week.

The Energy Advice Line is a business electricity price comparison service that enables firms to compare the market for the best possible commercial energy deals at the touch of a button. The service has a team of business experts who can give advice about business energy contracts and how to avoid expensive contract rollovers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

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National Grid faces £8million fine for inaccurate reporting of gas works

8 January 2011
National Grid will be fined £8m by gas and electricity regulator Ofgem for inaccurately reporting information, including claiming twice for work on mains pipes.
National Grid is paid to maintain the UK’s gas and electricity network, and domestic and business gas customers pay for gas distribution and the replacement of ageing gas mains (some of which are up to 80 years old).
This combined charge makes up about 20 per cent of domestic and business gas prices.
It should be noted that National Grid have not benefitted financially from the inaccurate reporting and any fall-out for gas customers has been corrected.
Ofgem revealed that the inaccurate information came in during the financial years of 2005-06 to 2007-08. Some employees have parted company with National Grid as a result of the misreporting.
National Grid Gas started replacing the ageing pipes in a programme that started in 2002 in a programme that will last 30 years. But a whistleblower revealed that financial claims were being made twice for the same work or were being made in the wrong year.
When the misreporting was highlighted, National Grid ensured that the extra charges did not filter through to domestic and business gas customers’ bills.
Lord Mogg, Ofgem’s chairman, told the BBC: “Ofgem’s work to ensure consumers receive value for money for network investment and replacement relies heavily on receiving accurate reporting from companies. Ofgem’s actions today reinforce our strong message to all energy companies that misreporting cannot and will not be tolerated.
“National Grid has co-operated with our investigation, has accepted our proposed findings, and is taking action to seek to ensure this does not happen again. The penalty we are proposing to impose reflects this and would have been much higher otherwise.”
National Grid’s executive director, Mark Fairbairn, said.
“National Grid prides itself on the professionalism and integrity of its workforce, and we take very seriously any instances which fall short of our high standards.
“National Grid has taken all necessary steps to ensure that it has not benefited financially from the inaccurate reporting and that there has been no prejudice caused to customers.”
For advice on saving money on your business gas bills, contact Energy Advice Line.
Read the full story at the BBC

National Grid will be fined £8m by gas and electricity regulator Ofgem for inaccurately reporting information, including claiming twice for work on mains pipes.

National Grid is paid to maintain the UK’s gas and electricity network, and domestic and business gas customers pay for gas distribution and the replacement of ageing gas mains (some of which are up to 80 years old).

This combined charge makes up about 20 per cent of domestic and business gas prices.

It should be noted that National Grid have not benefitted financially from the inaccurate reporting and any fall-out for gas customers has been corrected.

Ofgem revealed that the inaccurate information came in during the financial years of 2005-06 to 2007-08. Some employees have parted company with National Grid as a result of the misreporting.

National Grid Gas started replacing the ageing pipes in a programme that started in 2002 in a programme that will last 30 years. But a whistleblower revealed that financial claims were being made twice for the same work or were being made in the wrong year.

When the misreporting was highlighted, National Grid ensured that the extra charges did not filter through to domestic and business gas customers’ bills.

Lord Mogg, Ofgem’s chairman, told the BBC: “Ofgem’s work to ensure consumers receive value for money for network investment and replacement relies heavily on receiving accurate reporting from companies. Ofgem’s actions today reinforce our strong message to all energy companies that misreporting cannot and will not be tolerated.

“National Grid has co-operated with our investigation, has accepted our proposed findings, and is taking action to seek to ensure this does not happen again. The penalty we are proposing to impose reflects this and would have been much higher otherwise.”

National Grid’s executive director, Mark Fairbairn, said.

“National Grid prides itself on the professionalism and integrity of its workforce, and we take very seriously any instances which fall short of our high standards.

“National Grid has taken all necessary steps to ensure that it has not benefited financially from the inaccurate reporting and that there has been no prejudice caused to customers.”

For advice on saving money on your business gas bills, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read the full story at the BBC

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Business Gas
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Julian Morgan, MD Energy Advice Line
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Business Gas Bills Set To Rise As Met Office Confirms Coldest Winter Since 1890

7 January 2011
The Met Office have confirmed what most of us felt in our bones; December 2010 was the coldest on record since 1890. There has been much talk in the media of what this will mean for household gas bills – householders paying more money – but business gas customers should not be forgotten; they too will be using more gas and facing higher bills.
According to a report in The Guardian, domestic gas bills will be on average £44 more expensive than if temperatures had been at their December average. Business gas customers will be looking at similar or steeper prices.
The Met Office said that average temperatures for December were -0.4ºC, which is more than 5ºC lower than usual. Businesses across the country will have been cranking up the thermostat to keep their staff and customers warm, as well as heating empty buildings to prevent costly disasters such as frozen pipes bursting.
Much of the press coverage on rising gas and electricity bills continues to focus on domestic energy bills – and this is a concern that everyone faces, as we all have to heat our homes.
But as a small business owner you cannot help but feel a little neglected and overlooked. The fact is, rising utility bills can make all the difference between profit and loss, and in some cases company survival. Pressure must be applied from the small business sector too to say enough is enough to huge increases in business gas prices.
You should consider taking the opportunity to compare business gas prices in order to find the best deal – shopping around can save your company significnt amounts of money.
Energy Advice Line has access to all the big six business gas suppliers and can negotiate special rates to help small businesses.
Contact Energy Advice Line today to compare business gas prices, and read the full story in The Guardian.

The Met Office have confirmed what most of us felt in our bones; December 2010 was the coldest on record since 1890. There has been much talk in the media of what this will mean for household gas bills – householders paying more money – but business gas customers should not be forgotten; they too will be using more gas and facing higher bills.

According to a report in The Guardian, domestic gas bills will be on average £44 more expensive than if temperatures had been at their December average. Business gas customers will be looking at similar or steeper prices.

The Met Office said that average temperatures for December were -0.4ºC, which is more than 5ºC lower than usual. Businesses across the country will have been cranking up the thermostat to keep their staff and customers warm, as well as heating empty buildings to prevent costly disasters such as frozen pipes bursting.

Much of the press coverage on rising gas and electricity bills continues to focus on domestic energy bills – and this is a concern that everyone faces, as we all have to heat our homes.

But as a small business owner you cannot help but feel a little neglected and overlooked. The fact is, rising utility bills can make all the difference between profit and loss, and in some cases company survival. Pressure must be applied from the small business sector too to say enough is enough to huge increases in business gas prices.

You should consider taking the opportunity to compare business gas prices in order to find the best deal – shopping around can save your company significnt amounts of money.

Energy Advice Line has access to all the big six business gas suppliers and can negotiate special rates to help small businesses.

Contact Energy Advice Line today to compare business gas prices, and read the full story in The Guardian

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Business Gas
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Julian Morgan, MD Energy Advice Line
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Business gas – possibility of renewable generation?

29 July 2010

Up to 16 per cent of the UK’s gas needs could be met by renewable energy, according to National Grid.

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.

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British Gas see 98% rise in profits, don’t cut prices

28 July 2010

British Gas profits have risen by 98 per cent, but the energy giant will not pass this on to customers in the form of price cuts.

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.

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Rising business energy costs and double-dip recession fears for SMEs

2 July 2010

Business energy consumers should expect sharp increases in business gas and electricity prices in coming months, according to a stark warning in The Daily Telegraph.

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.

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Energy Advice Line takes the bite out of cheese company’s business energy costs

22 April 2010

At Energy Advice Line, we always welcome feedback and like to hear how we’ve helped our customers cut business gas and business electricity costs. So we were pleased to hear this story from CK Food Processing, a company that supplies cheese to restaurants and fast foot outlets.

Business name: CK FOOD PROCESSING LTD

Sector: FAST FOOD SUPPLIERS

CK Food Processing Ltd is a company that’s passionate about cheese, supplying high quality pizza cheeses to restaurants and pizzerias across the UK. Their core beliefs include providing value for money on all their cheese products, and a key part of this involved keeping overheads such as business electricity and business gas down.

The Hull-based company has been in business for six years, and when the time came to switch their business energy contracts, CK Food Processing’s Usman Dawood decided he wanted to shop around for competitive prices.

He found Energy Advice Line through a Google search for business energy price comparison and used the telephone service to begin the switch process.

“The switch process was pretty smooth under EAL,” Usman comments. “We haven’t worked out exactly how much we’ve saved yet, but I’d recommend EAL to other small businesses looking to switch business energy suppliers.”

CK Food Processing employs around 25 staff and like many businesses of this size, finding time to contact commercial energy suppliers and be kept on hold ad infinitum in a call centre queue is impossible.

The Energy Advice Line’s teams have fast track access to the top six business energy suppliers to enable questions to be answered quickly and efficiently.

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Commercial energy customers’ concern over predicted power outages in 2016

21 April 2010

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

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

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