As the worst of the Energy crisis took hold in 2022 which saw Energy prices quadruple the Government stepped in to offer much-needed relief for businesses throughout winter. The EBRS discount scheme was effective from October 1st 2022 and ran until March 31st 2023 and provided essential relief for businesses from the existential risk of rising Energy prices, however, that support was essentially removed from April 1st 2023 leaving a large number of businesses subject to the largest invoices since the start of the Energy crisis.

Business Energy customers have been impacted by last year’s escalating Energy costs to varying degrees depending on the date that their contract was agreed upon. Customers signing contracts between March and December 2022 were the worst affected. The EBRS discount scheme offered customers as much as 55p per kWh discount from October 1st until March 31st but from April 1st the EBDS scheme will offer a max discount of 1.9p per kWh.

Suppliers have different ways of displaying prices and EBRS discounts so If you entered into a contract between September 2022 and December 2022 you must confirm what your pre-discount price is so you know what you will be expected to pay for your Energy until your current contract expires. Most customers will receive their first invoice without an EBRS discount in May (for April’s consumption).

The good news is that Energy prices have been trending downwards since January of this year so if you entered into a new contract last year your next renewal will reduce your energy bill significantly. If you’re concerned about keeping up with the cost of your existing contract the best thing to do is to speak with your supplier, they may have other options for you to help make the cost manageable.

As a customer you do not have control over the fluctuating Energy market however there are a few things that you can take control of as a consumer of energy;

Reduce your consumption

The quickest way to reduce your cost is to reduce what you use. Do you know what consumes the most Energy in your office? Is there Energy wastage that you can remove? The heaviest Energy consumers in the office are desktop monitors, servers and air conditioning units

Think about when you contract for Energy

You might not have to wait until your existing contract ends to fix your next one, Energy prices are impacted by events that increase demand and/or reduce supply. Keep an eye on the market and speak to your supplier about your contract when things look favourable, they may offer you the opportunity to blend and extend

Pick the right supplier

Energy suppliers all procure Energy from the same or similar sources. It can be tempting to seek out the cheapest price but that can often come with hidden costs. Searching for the best Energy supply partner for your business will be more effective and efficient in the long run. The right Energy supply partner will offer you advice and guidance to reduce your consumption, help you with your sustainability strategy and keep you well-informed of policy and pricing changes.

For additional information and support about your Energy we have useful tools and information on our website and socials click HERE.