Due to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) costing more than expected, all companies that pay a business electricity bill could face extra charges. Since the 1st April, any household or business that generates their own renewable energy receives a subsidy for every unit of energy they produce. This subsidy is paid for through the bills of those who choose not to … Read More
Ofgem Condition 7A rethinks ‘micro-business’
The industry regulator is widening the scope of its Standard License Condition 7A (SLC7A) to cover 150,000 more small businesses. Since January 2010, Condition 7A has stopped energy suppliers from using sneaky tactics designed to roll customers into expensive long-term contracts if they don’t terminate their contract in due time. The condition means that smaller businesses can now terminate their … Read More
Ofgem report warns of blackouts by 2015
A lack of excess electricity generation has led the energy regulator to admit there could be shortfalls in supply in the near future. A report recently published by Ofgem predicts that the UK’s spare generation capacity will drop from its currently level of 14% to 4% by 2015. Under special terms in business electricity contracts, it would be companies that … Read More
Ofgem staff pocket £1million in bonuses
Figures show that the energy regulator has given some staff bonuses in excess of £20,000. Scandal? Fair? Or just a gravy train? The information was revealed after shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint submitted a written request in parliament. In summary: Two people received over £20,000 in 2010. 14 people received £10,000 in 2010 – 2011. 38 people received £5,000 in … Read More
How honest is your business energy broker?
There are a multitude of services that Third-party intermediaries (Tpis) offer, and varying ways they obtain clients and earn remuneration. This means that choosing the right Tpi is essential. It is now widely accepted that up to 70% of business energy procurement is facilitated by brokers and Tpis such as ourselves, but there is no official Ofgem license or even … Read More
‘Big six’ make small price reductions
All of the big six energy suppliers have now cut their prices, following electricity and gas price rises in the second part of 2011. All of the largest players in the energy market have now cut their standard domestic tariffs to some extent, but all of them have made reductions that amount to a fraction of the price rises they … Read More
Ofgem wants ‘better protection for businesses’
In a press release on Monday, Ofgem proposed new measures designed to shake up the business energy market, and encourage energy suppliers and brokers to provide a better service.
Rising gas prices push up energy bills
Wholesale natural gas prices are 40 per cent higher than they were this time last year. Despite criticism that green taxes and subsidies are pushing up energy prices, Ofgem remain certain that it is rising wholesale electricity prices that are to blame. An Ofgem report stated that wholesale gas is now 40% costlier than it was at this time last … Read More
‘Keep switching’, says Huhne at Energy summit
The UK has “relatively good electricity and gas prices”, the Energy Secretary said at the Energy Summit held on 17 October 2011. Mr Huhne said on Radio 4’s Today programme, that energy companies were “not the Salvation Army”. He added “We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders but they need to be operating in a fair and … Read More
EDF Energy announce price rises
EDF Energy have today announced they are to increase their energy prices from 10 November EDF Energy are the last of the big six UK energy suppliers to announce their domestic price rises for this year. The company will raise its retail gas prices by 15.4% and electricity prices by 4.5% from the 10 November. EDF Energy claims it has … Read More