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INNOVATIVE PURCHASE SCHEME SET TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR BRITISH GAS BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
Eight household names sign up to offer exclusive purchase power deals to energy provider's customers
Some of the UK's best known companies have signed up to participate in an innovative scheme which promises significant savings for up to 500,000 small and medium sized businesses. Find out more »
British Gas Business – the largest energy supplier to businesses in the UK – is using its own purchasing power to negotiate substantial deals and pass on those discounted rates to its small business customers. It has enlisted the support of eight companies, including household names such as Royal Mail, AXA and the AA. The scheme, called Purchase Power, could help UK businesses save thousands of pounds each year.
Those companies that have signed up to offer exclusive savings and benefits to British Gas Business customers provide a range of essential services to small and medium sized businesses. The package is free to join for British Gas Customers and could save members up to £4,500 each year. It includes the following:
Up to 60% off AA Fleetwide products
30% off Royal Mail Sameday deliveries
20% off Dyno-rod plumbing and drain repairs
15% off AXA business insurance
The scheme is the latest example of British Gas Business’ ongoing commitment to support small business customers as we emerge from the recession. In March 2009 the business launched its SAVE (Small business Advice and Value Expertise) initiative in response to customer insight, which showed that smaller customers wanted a flexible approach to help manage their costs and debt. The SAVE initiative also offers advice and practical help to businesses looking to reduce their energy costs through efficiency measures.
Kanat Emiroglu, Managing Director of British Gas Business said:
"With economic conditions remaining tough, life is difficult for a great many of our customers. They've told us they're constantly looking for ways to stretch their finances further. Purchase Power brings together a package of savings and benefits of essential business services and can make a very real difference to our customers' operations."
Steven Seymour, Centre Manager at Crossgates Centre in Leeds and Park View Centre Whitley Bay said: "The last two years have been a difficult climate for business, with increased pressure to reduce overheads whilst still providing a quality service. Despite keeping a very close eye on my bottom line, I don’t always have the time to shop around and negotiate deals from suppliers. British Gas Business’ Purchase Power scheme means that I can have access to substantial savings with minimum effort. For example, I can now save 25% on my annual bill of £3,000 for office and stationery supplies."
British Gas Business 'CRC Manager' launched to address customer concerns over government Climate Change Legislation
New service to help maximise private and public sectors and CRC requirements
British Gas Business has launched 'CRC Manager' ahead of the implementation of the Government's Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme on 1st April 2010.
Find out more »
Over the past 12 months British Gas Business has been listening to its customers and
conducted a wide-ranging CRC education initiative in both the private and public sectors
to help companies and organisations understand the impact of the legislation, and how
best to take advantage of the early action metric.
Responding to feedback from customers who are concerned about the impending legislation,
with many in need of support around CRC, the new service was created and will be delivered
by the Energy360 team from British Gas Business. CRC Manager will make it easier for businesses
not only to comply with the new CRC legislation, but also to use it as an opportunity to drive
cost efficiencies from within.
CRC Manager will assure compliance with the regulations, in the context of a business
energy reduction strategy. The service provides:
Collection and recording of all emissions data
Quantification and monitoring of energy usage and CO2 emissions throughout the year
Forecast annual carbon emissions (electricity, gas and fuels used on sites)
Clarity on the complexities associated with organisational structure issues
Creation or refinement of carbon and energy strategy
Tailored recommendations on how to reduce energy and carbon usage and help to implement them
Jeff Whittingham, Director of Energy Services at British Gas Business, said: "There is confusion amongst many
UK businesses and public sector organisations around the CRC energy efficiency legislation and how the different
variables will impact their business - from understanding league table metrics to the number of allowances they
will need to purchase, making compliance difficult. Often there isn't even an individual within the business who is
tasked with monitoring and adhering to these regulations. By allowing companies to plan their energy reduction strategy,
based on accurate results and forecasts, CRC Manager both helps with compliance as well as using the opportunity to commercial advantage."
"The service forms part of a wider package of energy management services providing advice and support on energy and fuel efficiency,
and puts companies back in control by helping them comply with the new Government scheme."
According to the Government, the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is expected to affect up to 20,000 UK organisations - specifically
businesses with an annual electricity bill of over £500,000, all of whom must make individual commitments towards reducing their
carbon emissions.
Alongside the requirement to reduce their carbon emissions, the annual October publication of a CRC performance league table will
put the spotlight on the best and worst performers. As the legislation comes into effect, this will create both reputational benefits
and risks depending on businesses' position in the league table.
Designed to make it easier for customers to understand their energy spend
British Gas Business has launched a new look gas bill for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers, offering them greater clarity and transparency.
Find out more »
The bill has been created based on research, customer feedback and competitor benchmarking and now represents a clearer,
simpler and smarter energy bill.
Stuart Hough, Head of Marketing and Sales at British Gas Business, said:
"The new look bill is the latest in a series of customer-focussed developments we are making this year. Customers have told us they want
less clutter and industry jargon, clearer instructions and an all-round easier-to-read design from their bill. Making changes to the old billing system
has therefore been a priority for us. British Gas Business has now created a bill that makes businesses' lives easier".
The bills offer more obvious instructions, thereby simplifying SMEs' cash flow management, and focuses on what customers need to know and the next steps
they need to take upon receipt of their bill.
British Gas to lead energy efficiency revolution in schools
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP,
today announced British Gas' role in a £12 million energy efficiency initiative
to help schools and pupils to become energy aware.
Find out more »
The move will help meet the Government's goal to reduce carbon emissions in schools
help local authorities comply with the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency
Scheme (CRC).
From today, all publicly funded schools will be invited to apply for a free energy
display meter giving an accurate real-time reading of how much electricity a school
building is using. Schools will be able to use this data to inform decisions about
how to make energy savings.
Schools account for around 2 percent of UK green house gas emissions, with 9.4 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted annually by schools in England1. The energy display meters, which are provided and installed
by British Gas, are expected to help reduce consumption by 10-15 percent, around
1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and it is estimated that it will save an average
900-pupil secondary school more than £3,000 a year on fuel bills alone2.
Partnerships for Schools will be responsible for overseeing the delivery
of the project, working in partnership with British Gas, as the selected private
sector partner. This contract comes on the back off British Gas being awarded the
Buying Solutions framework to provide Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) services across
electricity, gas, water, and aM&T/ sub-metering solutions to the public sector market.
The initiative will also see school children becoming experts in energy efficiency,
as pupils will be able to see in real-time on large 'dashboard' displays how their
behaviour, such as switching on lights, computers and electrical equipment, affects
the school's electricity use. The project is being supported by the British Gas
Generation Green educational programme which has created a range of learning resources,
including lessons plans, which are specifically designed to be used alongside the
'dashboard' displays.
Speaking at Pimlico Academy, one of the first schools to sign up to the initiative,
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP said:
"School children of today have a real desire to become the environmental champions
of the future - and we need to harness this interest. This £12 million investment
will enable schools to lead the way on an energy revolution, helping staff to reduce
energy consumption, and helping children to better understand the importance of
their behaviour in tackling environmental issues."
Kanat Emiroglu, Managing Director of British Gas Business said:
"British Gas is committed to supporting the public sector in meeting government
targets to reduce carbon emissions and we are proud to be at the forefront of the
biggest revolution in energy efficiency since the switch to natural gas in the home
in the 1970s.
British Gas is the largest provider of advanced and smart meters to the public and
private sector. Smart and advanced metering, combined with our Energy Services and
our multi-site expertise, are already showing how our customers can be put back
in control of their energy usage, helping them use less energy, cut carbon emissions,
comply with government legislation and save money."
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships of Schools, said:
"The use of display meters is a great way to engage young people's interest in the
environment and energy efficiency. In Building Schools for the Future schools where
display meters are already in operation, there has been a real enthusiasm for using
the information generated in lessons and changes to behaviour both in schools and
at home. We're looking forward to making this opportunity available to more schools
across the country."
The display meters project was announced today in conjunction with an awareness
campaign designed to help schools reduce their overall energy costs. It will be
supported by a broad coalition of public, private and third sector partners, all
of which have a shared interest in reducing energy usage.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has a long term goal for schools
to be sustainable by 2020. The Zero Carbon Task Force was set up in 2008 to advise
on how best to achieve this, and two key recommendations made by the Task Force
in March 2009 were the use of energy display meters and a comprehensive awareness
campaign to help change energy efficiency behaviour in schools.
All primary and secondary state schools in England will be eligible to apply for
a free sub-meter. An information pack will be available to all schools, and schools
will be given instructions for how the meter should be used, and guidance on how
it can support teaching and learning. For more information, schools can visit: www.teachernet.gov.uk/energydisplaymeter
1 Source: The Sustainable Development Commission 2 Source: Carbon Trust
British Gas to roll out smart meters to businesses across Britain
British Gas will be rolling out smart meters to homes and businesses across Britain
following today's announcement by the Government that energy suppliers will be responsible
for the installation and maintenance of the new technology.
Find out more »
British Gas has the largest smart meter trial in the country with more than 50,000
smart meters installed. The company is poised to begin the roll-out across Britain,
and help households and businesses use less energy, cut carbon emissions and save
money.
The Government's decision means that British Gas will be able to create a new metering
business unit of 2,600 new jobs by 2012. The company's new 'smart energy experts'
will lead the roll-out of smart meter technology for British Gas, and help customers
with the best energy efficiency advice in their homes.
Smart meters will bring a transformation in customer service, with an end to estimated
bills and the need to take physical, onsite meter readings. They will also pave
the way for new technologies for renewable microgeneration, and improve the way
energy is generated and distributed through the 'smart grid' of the future - designed
to optimise energy use across the UK.
The provision of smart metering and energy solutions is a key focus for British
Gas Business, as it helps its business customers manage their energy usage and meet
regulatory requirements such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency
Scheme.
British Gas Business is the largest provider of advanced and smart meters to UK
businesses, with customers already benefiting from the new technology to reduce
their gas and electricity consumption.
Jeff Whittingham, Head of Energy Services at British Gas Business said: "British
Gas Business is committed to providing our customers with energy solutions and services
to help them cut emissions and put them in control of their energy costs. Today's
announcement is key to achieving this. We expect to have 300,000 advanced and smart
meters in operation by 2012, and estimate we will reduce carbon emissions in Britain
by an estimated 3.2 million tonnes each year. With smart meters and our energy services
business we are confident that we can help our customers reduce their fuel bills,
and energy consumption by up to 10 per cent."
British Gas Business was recently the only energy supplier to be selected for all
five lots of a national contract to provide advanced and smart metering services
and solutions to the public sector, worth an estimated £75 million, and spanning
central government departments, NHS Trusts, local councils and schools.
British Gas Business selected for public sector energy metering contracts
British Gas Business is the only energy supplier to be selected for all five lots
of a national contract to provide Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) services to the
public sector market, worth an estimated £75 million.
Find out more »
Buying Solutions, the country's national procurement service for the public sector,
has awarded British Gas Business - alongside four other non-energy suppliers - the
contract to provide expert metering services to a diverse customer base, spanning
central government departments, NHS Trusts, local councils and schools.
British Gas Business was awarded high scores in all five lots of the AMR tender
and will provide advanced and smart metering services across electricity, gas, water,
and aM&T/sub-metering solutions.
The AMR framework will enable organisations to achieve value for money, sustainable
procurement providing better value for the taxpayer and demonstrating how the public
sector is leading the way in implementing the very latest energy efficiency technology
and effectively managing consumption to save money and energy.
Energy is one of the largest controllable overheads in many local authorities with
an estimated yearly energy use of at least 26 billion kWh - resulting in yearly
emissions of more than 6.9 mega tonnes of carbon. Public-sector organisations, particularly
local authorities, are increasingly expected to provide leadership in their communities
on environmental issues and have a responsibility to demonstrate clear leadership
in moving towards a low carbon future.
This development will go some way in helping the UK meet its legally binding targets
of the Climate Change Act - reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 and
80% by 2050 - and will help meet the Government's planned roll out of advanced and
smart metering to all UK homes and businesses by 2020.
Jeff Whittingham, Director of Energy Services said:
"This is another significant step in the Government's planned roll out of advanced
and smart metering - heralding the biggest revolution in energy use since British
Gas converted all the nation's homes to natural gas in the 1970's. We know this
technology has helped put our business customers back in control of their energy
usage, helping them use less energy, cut carbon emissions and save money."
British Gas Business is the largest provider of advanced and smart meters to UK
businesses, with 40,000 customers already benefiting from the new technology and
expects to have over 500,000 advanced and smart meters in operation by 2012.
It has recently launched Energy360 - a full set of services to enable its customers
to meet regulatory requirements, such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy
Efficiency Scheme, and monitor and manage their energy consumption. The service
is helping organisations both in the private and public sectors to reduce their
energy costs by up to 10 per cent.
For more information about the Buying Solutions framework, contact the British Gas
Business team on 0845 026 7532 or by emailing
BuyingSolutionsAMR@centrica.com.
Further information about Energy360 and the services on offer, including a simple
guide to energy management, is available at www.energy360.co.uk
Half of small businesses at risk due to compliance confusion.
Failure to carry out annual boiler checks could land businesses with a £20,000
fine
One millioni small businesses could face hefty fines for failing to comply
with basic gas regulations, according to research from British Gas Businessii.
Find out more »
All businesses have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe heating system and
to have their boilers checked annually. Yet half (48%) of small businesses surveyed
admit to having either no understanding or a limited understanding of gas regulations
and compliance, or to being unaware of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 (49%).
The implications of non-compliance could be devastating for a small business - the
fine for breaching gas safety regulations is a maximum of £20,000 or in the
worst case scenario, imprisonment. Businesses also risk boiler failure if they do
not carry out regular checks on their boilers.
The British Gas Business survey revealed that in general, businesses have a limited
understanding of the significant impact that a boiler breakdown can have on a business.
On the other hand regular boiler checks can also help to lengthen the life of a
boiler and maintain efficiency, but few businesses (one in five) make the connection
between regular maintenance and the energy efficiency of their boiler.
In order to help businesses meet their legal obligations, maintain the efficiency
of their boilers and avoid boiler and central heating breakdown, British Gas Business
offers the British Gas BusinessCare range. Customers will receive a full annual
safety inspection from Gas Safe registered engineers who will provide businesses
with a detailed gas safety record to ensure compliance with Gas Safety Regulations.
The range also includes unlimited breakdown call outs, a 24-hour hotline and parts
and labour.
British Gas Business is partnering with a number of trade bodies, to ensure that
businesses within industries that rely heavily on hot water and central heating
are compliant with regulations and are not adversely affected by boiler breakdown.
Neeraj Bhatia, President of the Association of Retail Trade. "It is important that
our members understand the importance of the Gas Safety Regulations. For the majority
of our members the thought of a boiler breakdown would cause great loss of earnings,
and the British Gas BusinessCare range provides our members with peace of mind and
with an unbeatable reputation."
Eileen Lawson, Secretary General of the National Hairdresser's Federation, says,
"The need for our members to be compliant with the Gas Safety Regulations and for
them to have continual heating and hot water to run their businesses effectively
are of paramount importance. The exclusive partnership between the National Hairdresser's
Federation and British Gas Business for the BusinessCare product is an important
step in achieving this. Our members recognise that boiler breakdowns cause disruption
to both their business and customers and can be very expensive to put right. BusinessCare
provides them with peace of mind and assurance that if that they experience difficulties,
British Gas will be on hand every day of the year to help them."
Jeff Whittingham, Director of Energy Services, at British Gas Business, says: "As
small businesses struggle through the recession, the last thing they want is to
be faced with a hefty fine or a boiler breakdown. We offer British Gas BusinessCare,
which automatically provides a regular boiler check, a 24x7 call out and annual
safety inspection, so if your boiler does fail, you can have it fixed quickly and
minimise disruption to your business."
With nearly 3 million (61%) small businesses stating that central heating and hot
water is critical to the day to day operation of their business, boiler issues could
lead to temporary closure and financial upheaval. On average boilers break down
every 20 seconds and can be extremely expensive to repair - the average cost for
a call-out, with replacement parts and labour is £350.
Case study - Lyndene Guest House, Blackpool
Pat and Gez Goddard, who run Lyndene Guest House in Blackpool, are an example of
a business who rely on their boiler functioning effectively. Hot water is essential
to their business for guests' showers and baths, preparing breakfasts and keeping
the guesthouse spotlessly clean. A boiler breakdown could mean losing valuable income
for every day they are unable to provide hot water.
After having had a number of issues with their boiler, for which call outs and repairs
had cost around £300 a visit, Mrs Goddard decided to contact British Gas Business
to see what it could do.
As part of BusinessCare, customers' boilers are given an annual safety inspection
to look for any existing problems. As soon as Mrs Goddard signed up, Lyndene's boiler
had the special attention of a Gas Safe registered engineer.
However, as essential as these regular checks are, unforeseen problems can occur,
and a speedy response that helps businesses to keep running while problems are fixed
helps to minimise any impact. In May, water pressure at the Lyndene Guest House
began dropping, and the Goddards were able to rely on an immediate response from
the BusinessCare team.
Mrs Goddard says, "As soon as the water in the boiler reached a certain temperature,
it began pouring out of the overflow and we had to keep topping it up. The engineer
came and did a temporary fix for the boiler that stopped the water from overflowing
while parts came through and the repairs were completed two days later. This speedy
response prevented us losing business."
i According to the research commissioned by British Gas Business, 49%
of small businesses struggled to reference gas safety regulations other than the
Health & Safety at Work Act of 1974. The Inter Departmental Business Register
(IDBR), Office for National Statistics, states that there are 2.06 million small
businesses in the UK- therefore 1.01 million businesses are not aware of gas safety
regulations
ii British Gas Business commissioned quadrangle to survey over 350 businesses
in the small businesses in the business services, hotels & restaurants, retail,
education & health and manufacturing industries
Responsibility for energy efficiency falling through the cracks
British Gas Business' new energy management subscription service could save organisations
10% on their energy consumption
Almost two-thirds of businesses do not know who is responsible for energy efficiency
or do not have a dedicated energy manager, according to new research. This fragmented
approach is making it difficult for organisations to take a strategic overview of
their energy consumption, which could see them missing out on substantial cost savings.
Find out more »
To respond to this key business dilemma, British Gas Business has launched Energy
Locum, an energy management subscription service to help businesses identify and
implement energy management strategies. The service could help organisations to
save 10% on their energy consumption.
A dedicated energy manager is vital if organisations are to save money, cut emissions
and meet regulatory requirements. Whilst a dedicated energy manager can add value
for organisations with large energy spends in excess of £1 million, organisations
with lower, but significant spends, may face a difficult decision, as cost-benefit
ratios can be lower. The issue is a tough one because the role is highly specialised
so it often cannot be effectively delegated to managers from other functions.
As the current economic climate forces many organisations to question whether it
is economical to recruit a full-time energy manager, Energy Locum is a unique service
which offers businesses a dedicated energy manager on an ongoing subscription basis
appropriate to their needs. This ranges from a few days per quarter to several days
per month, and provides all of the benefits of an energy manger without the costs
and commitment associated with employing one full-time.
Your Energy Locum can both develop and implement an energy strategy in line with
your business' objectives. This may involve carrying out an initial audit on your
organisation's energy use, making recommendations on ways to reduce unnecessary
consumption, and implementing energy reduction measures, for example, through organising
and project managing the installation of new equipment.
Your Energy Locum will take on much the same role as an in-house energy manager,
providing specialist advice, developing a consistent approach across all areas of
the organisation, and building strong relationships both internally and with external
partners and suppliers.
Neale Phillips, Head of Energy Services at British Gas Business, says, "The role
of energy manager is a highly skilled one, yet many mid-size organisations do not
have a dedicated energy manager. Often responsibility for energy and carbon reduction
falls to a facilities manager, a procurement officer or someone in the finance department,
who don't always have the requisite time or expertise to maximise the benefits of
an energy strategy."
"British Gas Business has recognised the gap in the market for a flexible energy
management consultancy service that can be scaled up or down dependent on an organisation's
individual needs."
Energy Locum is part of British Gas Business' new energy management offering, Energy360,
a full set of services that will enable both customers' and non customers alike
to manage their energy consumption and reduce it by up to 10 per cent.
The unique approach taken by Energy360 is based on four key pillars; monitoring
to establish where a business is wasting energy, e.g. through the use of Automatic
Monitoring and Targeting (aM&T); advising a company on where and how they can
reduce consumption; implementing methods such as microgeneration technologies, and
maintaining the solution, as taking care of energy is a process and not a one-off.
For more information on services in the Energy360 suite, visit energy360.co.uk,
or call the Energy360 team on 0845 072 0234.
Centrica plc, through its British Gas Business division, today announced that it
has acquired Newnova Group Limited, which trades under BMS Solutions Ltd and BMS
Setpoint Ltd, for a cash consideration of up to £3.5 million. This acquisition
further strengthens British Gas' position in the expanding business energy services
market in the UK.
Find out more »
BMS Solutions provides British Gas with an on-demand engineering capability and
access to new skills, including scheme design and project management to fulfil the
initial installation and upgrading of building control equipment. BMS Setpoint provides
a maintenance and servicing facility for businesses.
British Gas has now made five acquisitions in the energy services and management
sector in the past 12 months, providing it with a leading position and a strong
platform for further growth. The previous business service acquisitions of BMSi
and Energy and Building Management Solutions, combined with the renewable energy
acquisitions of Semplice Energy and Solar Technology have already enabled British
Gas to establish a specialist service and maintenance offering, along with the ability
to provide energy advice audits, metering with building controls to optimise energy
usage and renewable generation.
Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "These recent acquisitions
strengthen our leading position in the growing low carbon energy services market
for business customers, and is a key plank in British Gas' growth strategy".
British Gas to acquire Energy and Building Management Solutions Limited
Centrica plc, through its British Gas Business division, today announced that it
has acquired Energy and Building Management Solutions Limited for a cash consideration
of up to £3.2 million. The business combines energy management and consulting
services with the capability to design, install, maintain and repair building control
systems.
Find out more »
This acquisition strengthens British Gas Business's position in the UK's expanding
business energy services market, which it entered last year through the acquisition
of BMSi. This market is expected to grow to £2 billion over the next five
years as businesses seek to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
Close
13 May 2009
Smart Meters to lead energy revolution, says British Gas
Every household and business in Britain could reduce its energy use, cut carbon
emissions and save money as a result of smart meters, says British Gas, the country's
largest energy supplier.
Find out more »
The company welcomed the planned roll-out of the technology, which will herald the
biggest revolution in energy use since British Gas converted all the nation's homes
to natural gas in the 1970s.
Replacing the UK's 47 million gas and electricity meters with new smart meters will
lead to households and businesses using less energy, helped by real time cost information
on screen. Smart meters will also bring a transformation in customer service with
an end to estimated bills and the need to take physical onsite meter readings.
British Gas Business is the largest provider of smart meters to UK businesses with
customers already benefiting from the new technology to reduce their gas and electricity
consumption and energy bills.
British Gas Business is currently working with Vodafone to install smart meters
across its organisation, from high street retail outlets to remote radio base stations.
Following a pilot trial in 700 sites, by 2010, British Gas Business will have rolled
out 8,000 meters for Vodafone who estimates an overall cost saving of £2million
and 5 per cent reduction in their energy consumption.
Badar Khan, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said: "British Gas operates
the UK's largest smart meter trial with over 50,000 meters installed, already saving
our customers money. We know this technology has helped put our business customers
back in control of their energy usage, helping them use less energy, cut carbon
emissions and save money. That's why we're delighted the Government is now moving
forward with its plans for the roll-out of this technology throughout Britain."
Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "Smart Meters will lead to
the single greatest revolution in energy use since British Gas converted all the
nation's homes to natural gas in the 1970s. They will ensure our homes and businesses
are as energy efficient as possible, and they will open the gateway to new technologies
for renewable electricity generation - and the 'smart grid' of the future."
British Gas will be studying in greater detail the draft proposals for the smart
meter roll-out, which are set out in a consultation issued by Government this week.
Close
12 May 2009
British Gas Business launches Business Energy Saver's Report
Half (50%) of small businesses are unclear about what they need to do to become
more energy efficient, according to research commissioned by British Gas Business.
Find
out more »
Almost one in four (23%) of small businesses surveyed feel a lack of information
or advice is preventing them from doing more to improve their energy efficiency.
A further 27% simply do not know what more they can do to reduce the amount of energy
they use.
While 97% of small businesses are concerned about reducing energy consumption cost
(38%) and time (34%) are seen as the biggest barriers to adopting energy efficiency
measures.
In response, British Gas Business has launched a unique online assessment tool to
help small businesses. The Business Energy Saver's Report provides a detailed summary
of a small business's current energy usage and a customised action plan outlining
how to reduce energy consumption and save money. It is a market leading tool that
that allows small businesses to compare their energy usage against other businesses
in the same sector and of a similar size.
Kanat Emiroglu, Director of SME markets at British Gas Business, said: 'Small businesses
often lack the resources of larger organisations when it comes to analysing their
energy usage and looking at ways to cut consumption. The Business Energy Saver's
Report is free and easy to use, and can help small businesses identify how to cut
their energy costs."
"Cost cutting is essential to small businesses as we move deeper into the recession,
but by taking simple energy efficiency measures, companies could save up to 20%
on their energy bills."
Close
12 May 2009
British Gas Business cuts electricity prices
British Gas Business, Britain's largest SME energy supplier, is cutting its variable
tariff electricity rates for SME customers by 10%. The price cut takes place with
immediate effect and will apply to all our variable tariff electricity customers.
Find out more »
The price cut is the second this year following a 10% cut in gas prices for our
SME variable tariff customers in February. British Gas Business is the first major
B2B supplier to announce two price cuts in 2009.
Kanat Emiroglu, Director responsible for Small Business said: "We understand the
pressure many UK businesses are feeling in the recession so we're pleased to be
able to announce a second price cut this year. This 10 per cent price cut for SME
variable tariff electricity customers follows the 10 per cent cut in variable tariff
gas prices in February."
British Gas Business recently launched it's SAVE campaign to help struggling businesses
with a package of energy efficiency and practical support, including a free online
energy savers report.
Renewal prices for our contract customers have been falling since the peak in wholesale
prices last summer. Customers renewing long term contracts now are seeing prices
30 per cent cheaper than the peak in August 2008.
In 2009 the UK will import nearly 50 per cent of its gas requirement as North Sea
reserves continue to decline; this will rise to 75 per cent by 2015. British Gas
Business's parent company, Centrica will invest at least £15 billion by 2020
in new sources of gas and electricity production and storage to protect UK businesses
from fluctuating wholesale markets.
British Gas Business launches support package to help small businesses manage their
costs
Half (50%) of small businesses across the UK are struggling to run successfully
in today's challenging market conditions, according to research carried out for
British Gas Business.
Find out more »
More than half (54%) of the companies surveyed by Datamonitor, on behalf of the
UK's largest supplier of energy to businesses, admitted to problems in managing
their cashflow.
To help its customers weather the economic storm, British Gas Business is launching
a support package - SAVE (Small business Advice and Value Expertise). The initiative
will support British Gas Business' estimated 750,000 small businesses with a more
flexible approach to managing their costs and debt. The new service also provides
advice and practical help on how they can reduce their energy costs through efficiency
measures.
British Gas estimates that up to 40,000 small business customers may at some point
require special assistance or flexibility on their energy bill payments during the
recession and have launched a dedicated Expert Credit Solutions team to provide
this support. The key components of the SAVE initiative are:
A dedicated Expert Credit Solutions team to help advise, support and resolve debt
problems for small businesses who are experiencing difficulty in repaying their
energy bills
Advice on how to reduce energy consumption via their dedicated account manager plus
access to a tailored energy assessment (ESCO) based on a visit to their business
by a trained energy assessor
Energy Savers Packs: a pack of energy saving products including standby savers,
energy saving light bulbs, radiator panels, and a Save the Worker Pack that includes
posters, stickers and collateral to remind staff of the steps they can take to reduce
their energy consumption, including switching off lights and machines when not in
use - to help businesses encourage behaviour change amongst staff
Use of a unique online assessment tool (Energy Saver's Report) to provide guidance
on energy consumption reduction.
The research also revealed that only 36 % have taken steps to reduce energy consumption,
which would help them reduce heating and power costs.
From 6 April 2009, all businesses will, for the first time, be able to get a free
online audit of their energy consumption. As part of the SAVE initiative, organisations
will be able to log on to https://britishgas.co.uk/BGB-EnergySaversReport/EnergyEfficiency/
and complete an Energy Saver's Report, which helps them to evaluate how much they
are spending on energy annually and will benchmark their energy efficiency rating
relative to other businesses of their size and type. The report offers hints and
tips on ways to reduce consumption through both simple behaviour change and by investing
in energy efficiency technologies.
Erica Russell, Business Link Adviser said: "Efficient use of energy is both environmentally
good practice and also a simple and very effective way of cutting business costs,
which is so essential in the current economic climate. Initiatives by the private
sector to encourage energy efficiency and help businesses put this into practice
are therefore welcome."
Kanat Emiroglu, Director of SME markets at British Gas Business, said: "We work
with a lot of small businesses throughout the country, so we're pleased now to be
able to provide helpful advice and support at a time when they really need it. Our
small business customers can count on us to really listen to their circumstances
and ultimately come to a resolution that works for each individual business. In
addition, we've developed some tips on how organisations can become more energy
efficient, which we hope will help small businesses weather the economic storm and
emerge in better shape."
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31 March 2009
British Gas Business Price Cut
British Gas Business is the first major B2B energy supplier to announce a tariff
price cut since the peak in wholesale prices last year
Gas price to fall by 10 per cent on 19 February 2009
Price cut the same as residential customers, announced on 22 January 2009
All gas tariff customers to receive the price cut, no change to electricity tariff
rates
Fixed term, fixed price contract customers, who are already seeing lower renewal
prices, are not affected by this price change
Find out more »
British Gas Business will reduce gas prices for all SME tariff customers by 10 per
cent on 19 February 2009. The price cut is the first by any major UK B2B energy
supplier and mirrors the cut announced by British Gas's residential arm last week.
British Gas Business Managing Director, Badar Khan said: "In these difficult economic
times for UK businesses we want to pass on falling wholesale gas prices to our customers
as soon as possible. This price cut for tariff gas customers follows recent price
falls for renewing fixed contract customers."
Around 50 per cent of SME gas customers pay on tariff rates. The remaining SME and
all of our Corporate customers mostly have longer term fixed price contracts and
guaranteed rates which provide price certainty. Renewal prices for these fixed term
contracts are reviewed regularly and started to fall in the autumn of 2008.
British Gas Business buys large volumes of gas in advance to protect customers from
the continuing volatility in the wholesale market. As a result, much of the gas
we are supplying now was bought at last summer's higher prices.
In 2009 the UK will import nearly 50 per cent of its gas requirement as North Sea
reserves continue to decline; this will rise to 75 per cent by 2015. British Gas
Business's parent company, Centrica will invest at least £1billion a year
on new sources of gas and electricity production and storage to protect UK consumers
from fluctuating wholesale markets.Close
3 November 2008
British Gas Business to acquire BizzEnergy customers
Centrica plc, through its British Gas Business division, today announced that it
has reached agreement to acquire the customers of BizzEnergy Ltd for a cash consideration
of £3.5 million after the privately-owned energy supplier was taken into administrative
receivership. Find
out more »
All of BizzEnergy's 40,000 electricity customers across SME and Corporate markets,
transferred to British Gas Business under the deal, will maintain their existing
contract terms and conditions.
Badar Khan, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said:
"BizzEnergy customers can rest assured that we will ensure a seamless transition
to British Gas Business, with no change to their energy supply contracts."
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24 October 2008
British Gas Business Statement on Electricity for Business
Following a request from Ofgem, British Gas Business has agreed to be appointed
as supplier of last resort to the electricity customers of Electricity 4 Business
(E4B), which has moved into administration. Find out more »
E4B has around 40,000 business electricity customers who will now be transferred
to British Gas Business as their deemed supplier under the rescue plan. British
Gas Business assures all E4B's customers that there will not be any disruption to
their electricity supplies.
Badar Khan, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said:
"We are working hard to ensure a seamless transition to British Gas Business for
all affected customers and we will be contacting every customer to explain this.
Existing British Gas Business customers are not affected."
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British Gas Business enters energy services market in deal worth £7mn
British Gas Business has marked its entry into the energy services market, with
the acquisition of Building Management System Integrators Ltd (BMSi) in a deal valued
at £7mn. Find out more »
By joining forces with BMSi Ltd, British Gas Business will build on its existing
energy expertise, and enter the market as the major player to offer its customers
a truly integrated energy service, from supply to solution and management.
Energy services from British Gas Business will help organisations reduce energy
consumption and implement carbon reductions, as global commodity prices remain high
and carbon management is placed firmly on the corporate responsibility agenda. Building
control technologies and automated monitoring and targeting (aM&T) will be central
to the service, along with a host of green and carbon products.
Badar Khan, Managing Director of British Gas Business, said:
"As the global energy crunch continues to bite, we are exploring new ways of helping
customers reduce their energy consumption. Our new energy services will include
building control technologies, automated monitoring and targeting and smart metering
which will help businesses track energy consumption and optimise the operation of
energy-intensive systems such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting."
"We are the leading energy supplier to businesses in the UK and we continue to explore
other acquisitions to further build the range, scale and reach of energy efficiency
and low-carbon capabilities we can offer businesses. We will also be drawing on
our experience in North America where we run a well established and successful energy
services proposition."
BMSi is a UK leader in the installation and contract servicing of specialist building
controls systems. These systems help improve building energy management performance
and can deliver significant energy and carbon savings. The business currently employs
a total of 69 people and its existing customers include BAA and O2. By combining
the capabilities of BMSi with the energy expertise within British Gas Business it
will be able to provide customers with new energy management propositions and products.
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