Energy Bill Relief Scheme – Businesses
Monmouthshire’s Business Resilience Forum has recommenced, following a break over most of 2022 to look at the impact of the latest energy crisis for businesses and how support can be provided for businesses within Monmouthshire as the Cost Of Living Crisis continues.
The Monmouthshire Business Resilience Forum is made up of members from Federation of Small Businesses, Welsh Government, Caldicot Town Team, Chepstow Chamber of Commerce, Abergavenny Business Network, Monmouth Chambers Of Commerce and other local partners and council members.
The latest meeting of the MBRF consisted mainly around the latest Energy Bill Relief Scheme put in place recently by the UK Government.
This scheme will provide energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain. Discounts will be applied to energy usage initially between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023.
The scheme will be available to everyone on a non-domestic contract including:
- businesses
- voluntary sector organisations, such as charities
- public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes
who are:
- on existing fixed price contracts that were agreed on or after 1 April 2022
- signing new fixed price contracts
- on deemed / out of contract or variable tariffs
- on flexible purchase or similar contracts
The discount is applied automatically by your energy provider and you do not need to do anything to activate this scheme.
The Gov.UK website provides more detailed information in relation to this scheme, including case studies and exemptions. You can find this direct link here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers
It is worth noting however that if you are on a variable / base rate tariff with your energy provider there are still competitive deals available in the market. One example given is our own pop up shop in Caldicot Town Centre, Core.
Yorkshire Gas & Power cancelled our fixed term contract, reverting us to the variable / base rate from 1st October 2022,
Our energy costs would have been as follows;
Electricity
Electricity Unit rate – 143 p/kwh (£1.43 per unit used)
Standing charge – 499 p/day (£4.99 per day)
Capacity Charge (half-hourly meters only) – £7.50 per kVA per month
However, from shopping around the energy market we were able to find a provider, Pozitive energy who have offered the following based on a 3 year deal;
Electricity
Electricity Unit rate – 68.56 p/kwh (£.68 per unit used)
Standing charge – 44.2 p/day (£.44 per day)
Night Unit Rate – 64.29 p/kwh (£.64 per unit used)
Importantly, there is only a 30 day cancellation period, with no early cancellation charges or fees.
It is very important to add that the above is just our example of the price changes and individual businesses and offers will vary based on a number of factors.
Welsh Government are planning on providing support through Business Wales for manufacturing industries with a view to providing financial and practical support to those SME’s who may benefit from making energy efficient changes. Further departments within Welsh Government are looking at ways to provide support to help other areas of businesses across Wales with similar schemes. Publications will be announced through the Business Wales Website https://businesswales.gov.wales
We will update you with any further information or support networks or any important updates as and when they are announced.
