EDF and E.ON catch up, leaving Scottish Power out in the cold.

Both EDF Energy and E.ON UK have announced they are to end auto-rollovers for small businesses, leaving Scottish Power as the last of the Big Six to lock businesses into auto-rollover contracts.

The announcements made on 20th and 23rd August follow those made by SSE, British Gas and RWE npower confirming they would end the process.

E.ON said that before next April, when it will launch new products without an auto-rollover option, it will encourage its existing customers to opt out of being automatically rolled over.

EDF Energy customers who do not contact the supplier at the end of their contract will now have their prices frozen for a year, and will be able to leave at any time during that period without incurring costs.

No more roll-overs from SSE - April 2014

SSE has confirmed it will end automatic contract rollovers for small businesses from April 2014. Whilst this is a welcome move by SSE, parent company of Scottish Hydro, Southern Energy and Swalec, it is a shame this hasn't happened sooner.

The company's decision follows those made by British Gas and RWE npower to end the process.

SSE said it would also, from 2014, extend its existing micro-business back-billing commitment to cover small businesses – this means they will not be back-billed beyond 12 months, where SSE's error has led to underpayment.

British Gas scrap rollover contracts - good news for all SME customers

British Gas will no longer sell auto-rollover contracts from 1 September 2013

A new process for renewing the contracts of existing customers – without an auto-rollover – will begin in June 2014

British Gas is the first energy supplier to commit to ending auto-rollover contracts, and the company is calling on other suppliers to follow suit.

Products without auto-rollover will be launched in September 2013 for new customers.

From June 2014, existing British Gas customers will be offered renewal options that require the customer to make a choice about which tariff they would like to sign up to, and which will not include another automatic fixed-term contract. Customers will be able to choose from a range of fixed-term or variable options.

Existing customers who reach the end of their contracts before June 2014 will be able to move to a non-rollover contract if they contact British Gas to discuss their renewal.

Stephen Beynon, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said: “At British Gas, we are committed to leading the way in making the sale of energy simple and transparent for all our customers. Increasing numbers of our small business customers have told us they don’t like the way the energy industry automatically moves them onto new contracts, so we’ve decided we will lead the way and put an end to this practice for our customers.
“We’re the first supplier to announce an end to auto-rollover contracts and we're calling on the industry and the regulator to work together to ensure that all customers have a transparent choice of products that never include auto-rollover."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Small businesses are the engine of our economy and I am committed to ensuring that we do everything we can to help them succeed. Whether that is support to grow, cutting red tape or the lowest energy bills, we have to do everything possible to provide the environment in which they can flourish.
“Last year I committed to ensuring that consumers get the best possible tariff from their supplier. I know that auto-rollovers have similarly been a big issue facing small business so two months ago, I set up a cross-industry group on this issue. I am therefore delighted to welcome British Gas’s leadership and I hope that other suppliers will rapidly follow suit.”

We hope that helps you if you have a renewal in the next few months and that this will give you more freedom to shop around!

Historic Electricity Price Data

New page added, showing historic electricity price data from January 2008 to present.

Price shown are a standard index, industrial peak, peak and off peak.  An interesting way to see the level of volatility on the UK electricity markets.

http://www.energybrokers.co.uk/electricity/historic-price-data-graph.htm

Demanding Demand Response

So you have decided to enroll your facility in a demand response program.  You understand that your organization will be protecting the electric grid from blackouts and brownouts during times of high demand, and you are aware of the revenue your organization will earn from this program.  The only thing left to do is to work with your demand response provider and develop a successful reduction strategy to implement during an emergency event.  Although each organization is different and will require a tailored plan, there are eight main strategies that prove to be effective for most facilities.

Plans to boost competitiveness of small suppliers revealed

A proposal that aims to improve consumer confidence and choice by increasing competition in the energy market has been opened for consultation by Ofgem.

The regulator's Secure and Promote licence condition aims to assist effective competition and improve liquidity within the electricity market by increasing transparency and assisting small suppliers' negotiations in wholesale markets.

It will force the Big Six suppliers to publish the wholesale prices at which they buy and sell electricity up to two years in advance, and oblige them to trade at these prices. It is hoped this will provide independent suppliers and generators with more opportunities to buy and sell the power they need effectively.

Energy policies push up business bills

The UK's energy and climate change policies will help cushion domestic consumers from price rises. But they will lead to an increase in average bills for businesses, a new government report has concluded.
According to the report, published on 27 March, medium-sized energy users currently face bills that are already 21% higher, than would otherwise be the case, as a result of government policies. This is expected to increase in future years.
Energy-intensive users' energy costs were said to be up to 14% higher than otherwise would be as a result of policies, and this could increase to 36% by the end of the decade - largely because of the impact of the UK carbon floor price, which came into force on 1 April this year, and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Energy Capacity Gap

MPs call for biomass backing to bridge 'energy capacity gap' Government backing for biomass is urgently needed in order for the UK to meet renewable targets, ensure energy security and support jobs, according to MP Nigel Adams.

 

Ecotricity 'deepens' link between renewable energy and nature with RSPB partnership Britain's first green energy company, Ecotricity, will work with conservation charity RSPB to help protect wildlife when developing renewable energy projects.