Gas - Burning Money ?

 The UK has had some real challenges over the last 12 months with it's gas supply, and the price dramatically increasing as a result, although other geo-political factors have also had an impact.

Even in a period of good, regular supply the UK only ever has a storage capacity of circa 4 days worth of gas.  Additionally, up to 56% (on any particular day) of the UK’s electricity is currently generated by burning gas to convert into electricity so the supply and price of gas to the UK has a direct bearing on all businesses who rely on gas.

The key to making savings on your future expenditure is in understanding your usage – if you/we can MEASURE what you use, we can analyse your usage and suggest where/how improvements may be made. This is where the services of a good broker are essential.  Finding an energy consultant who can help you make savings or, at worst, mitigate the increase in your expenditure is essential.  It is important to remember that there is no cheap, poor quality or sub-standard gas – it’s the same product coming through the same pipes – the only difference is in how much you’ll pay for it.

The following points are worth noting and may well help you to save money going forwards:

• Brokers are often able to undercut your existing supplier’s renewal prices.
• Brokers can look at the whole of the market to help you source the best available contract(s) for your business.
• Energy brokers all receive the same prices from suppliers so the main difference in their prices is how much margin they add on to your Kwh rate. A larger broker with hundreds of staff will have significantly more overheads and thus may potentially not be as competitive as a smaller broker who can provide the same services, often more personally.
• Even if you have an existing broker, it is prudent to get an alternative quote to see how competitive, or complacent they are in sourcing your energy.

Having attended several UK conferences and been given the opportunity to speak to delegates with businesses ranging from single premises to a portfolio of 50+ premises across the UK it is apparent that the topic of energy usage, prices and the resultant impact this overhead has on their businesses is now more relevant than ever, therefore the effective measurement of your usage and obtaining quality advice and options is essential.  

Given the increasing complexities of purchasing your energy we would always encourage businesses to take the time to find a competent energy consultant where they are confident in their knowledge, abilities and the advice and services they offer.  A good energy broker can then discuss the market, the pros and cons of suppliers and their products, look out for onerous clauses in their contracts and allow you to make a more informed decision.

Please get in touch for a free, no-obligation discussion – even if you are still in contract for some time to come.