Business electricity users worry is on rising bills, says poll

Over half of UK firms are worried about the financial impact of rising business electricity and gas bills, according to a new poll.

The survey by OnePoll found that although 51% of businesses were worried, less than 20% of businesses had made their finance teams responsible for energy tracking and management.

The survey questioned 500 business decision-makers from across the UK and found that just 19% were responsible for monitoring how much energy their organisation used.

In most cases the job fell to office managers, facilities managers, and reception or security staff. However, in 14% of firms no one was responsible for tracking or monitoring energy use

Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, the UK’s leading price comparison and switching service for business electricity users, said the survey underscored the need for businesses to make their energy costs a higher priority.

With energy now a significant item of operational expenditure, firms needed to treat electricity and gas like any other essential business supply,” Mr Morgan said. “This meant carefully monitoring energy use and trimming waste where appropriate, and ensuring that the electricity tariffs being paid were the most competitive on the market.

“Businesses automatically make sure that their IT requirements or stationery, for example, offer the best value possible. However, most firms do not regard their business energy and gas supplies in the same way, and they are missing out on significant savings as a result.

“Scrutinizing the market for the best available deals, and ensuring that you never, ever just stay with the same supplier year after year, has the potential to save businesses hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year.

“The process can be time-consuming and complex but that’s where reliable and independent price comparison and switching services can help. We have the expertise to compare tariffs like-for-like and can therefore provide very accurate quotes.

“We also offer a free contract management service; our team of business energy experts provide ongoing support once we have got you on to the cheapest deal.”

The OnePoll research was commissioned to support the launch of Zeco Energy Manager, energy management software.

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK’s leading business electricity price comparison and switching service exclusively for business. It has campaigned for utility companies to change their business energy contracts and billing arrangements to make it easier for firms to switch suppliers to get the best business electricity rates and gas deals.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk