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As the government continues to consider means to curb the increasing energy prices, customers around the country will be reviewing solutions for managing their energy usage and keeping bills low. Many small businesses, without support, face the risk of closure as they struggle to cope with their rising bills. As businesses are not protected by the price cap introduced by Ofgem, there is little support or solution from the government. Considering the solutions for reducing energy costs, is now the time for businesses to consider renewable energy? Reducing dependence on fossil fuels Witnessing the invasion of Ukraine from Russia at the beginning of the year, we may not have initially predicted the impact this was to have on the price of fossil fuels. Within just a matter of days, however, the cost of oil rose considerably. A wake-up call to every nation, our reliance on fossil fuels puts us at risk. With the market now suffering, as a result, our dependence on fossil fuels must be reconsidered. Not only to avoid the volatility of this market but to move towards a greener energy market, whereby we make the transition to renewable energy. This would be both beneficial for our economy and our goals for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Is switching to renewable energy possible? As the UK has set out policies to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy and to achieve a net zero target by 2050, electricity must become renewable. According to recent statistics from the year 2020, renewable energy sources made up more than 43% of the UK’s total electricity generation. So, although we are on the right track, work is still required. The positive trend does indicate that switching to renewables completely is 100% possible. The benefits of switching to renewable energy for businesses For businesses, making the switch to renewable energy offers the potential option for reducing energy costs and can even improve the reputation of the brand. The benefits of making this switch include: Stable energy prices Will reduce your company’s emissions Improves your brand’s reputation with consumers, particularly those looking to commit to companies that are conscious of the environment Exemption from the Climate Change Levy is a tax designed by the government to reduce carbon emissions among businesses. For those businesses that can not generate their own renewable energy (particularly smaller businesses that do not have the funding), switching to a green energy tariff is the second best option. It is important to do your research and recognise when a company is truly offering 100% renewable energy. Plus, in the current economic climate, it makes sense to switch to a green energy deal that will actually save you money. At D-ENERGi, all our electricity supplied from D-ENERGi Trading is sourced from UK based wind farms. Supplying 100% UK wind power. To get a quote from us today, simply get in touch.

An energy price cap is a tool introduced by the independent regulatory authority, Ofgem. The tool has been put in place to protect consumers from rising energy prices. With the intention of restricting energy suppliers from making excessive profits. The recent announcement from Ofgem in April 2022, stated that the energy price cap on variable tariffs will increase by 54%. This explains why the majority of consumers will have noticed a rise in their energy prices. On average, for tariff customers, energy bills will increase by £693 to £1,971 per year. As this new increase takes hold, more and more customers are noticing the effect. The reason for this increase is as a result of wholesale gas shortages which has greatly impacted the energy suppliers’ ability to meet demand. Therefore, creating a need to pass on some of their increased costs. While the price cap somewhat protects domestic consumers, this does not do anything to protect businesses. This means, that where they are experiencing an increase in wholesale costs, energy suppliers are passing the majority of this onto their business energy customers. With many businesses experiencing incredible rises to their business electricity and business gas bills, as well as receiving huge quotes for business energy, with some exceeding a huge 90p/kWh. What should businesses do to manage the rising energy costs? As the energy market continues to navigate a very volatile period of time, it is important to shield your business from rising energy prices for your business. For those businesses that are seeking a new energy supplier or need to secure a price due to being up for renewal, there are some solutions to consider. One of the ways business owners can shield themselves and their businesses from the current market volatility is to consider working ahead of time of your existing renewal. This is to avoid the anticipated future price rises and great uncertainty of the current energy market as we go into the winter months. Smarter procurement is one-way businesses can benefit from better energy rates. Instead of requesting quotes for immediate start dates, consider reviewing your tariff ahead of time. In the current market we are finding that unit rates and standing charges of quotes with ASAP contract start dates are coming out the most expensive. In contrast to this, if the contract end date is much further away (e.g. 6 months or more), then we are finding we are able to access lower prices. Therefore organisations can benefit from locking in lower prices in advance now, than those they would end up with if they left their renewal to within a month of their end date. Avoid out-of-contract pricing with any supplier One of our top tips is to avoid running down your contracts in the hopes prices may fall. For those D-ENERGi customers who do this or have done this, you will go onto our Deemed Energy Tariff which is the most expensive option for business energy customers as it is influenced by the daily energy wholesale market fluctuations. For us at D-ENERGi, this means we could be paying more than 3 times as much on wholesale prices in comparison with our fixed price plans, and these costs will unfortunately have to be passed on to the customer. We cannot stress this enough; avoid at all costs running down your contracts if possible. For additional advice, do not hesitate to contact our helpful team who can support you in renewing your contract before it is too late. Whilst some experts are concerned that there could be a drop in  prices resulting from users consuming much less energy thus creating an energy surplus, there has been no signs of this being the case over the past few months. Monitoring your energy consumption Energy consumption management is an important and valuable process that all businesses should practice. By monitoring your energy usage closely you will gain a greater understanding of your bills while allowing you to optimise and control the energy usage of your company. To do this, it is as simple as enquiring about a business energy smart meter that will take automatic meter readings while providing you with real-time consumption data. At D-ENERGi we offer smart meters for businesses, available through our smart meter roll out. For more information on the energy market and how to get the best tariff for your business energy, please contact our team.

With a government goal to have all energy suppliers install a smart meter into the properties of both domestic and business energy customers by 2025, smart meters aren’t just a benefit but will soon be a necessity. Smart meters are a great piece of tech that allows you to monitor and track your energy usage. This can be incredibly useful in helping keep your energy prices low. As energy costs in the UK are soaring and more and more businesses are seeking ways to keep their energy bills low, a smart meter for your business could be the ideal solution. Receive more accurate business energy bills As a smart meter reads your meter in real-time, it can provide the most accurate readings ensuring your bills are as accurate as can be. This means your energy bills will not be estimated or a figure is assumed based on last month/year’s usage. Instead, you can be sure you are not being overcharged. See your energy usage in real-time With a handy digital display, you can use this to view your usage, your daily spending, and more. Allowing you to easily access all the data you would need to review your business’s energy usage. With a smart meter display, you will no longer have to log on to your online customer account or contact your energy supplier directly for data information. Move towards a smart future Opting for a smart meter for your business energy will also allow you to modernise your business operations, taking you towards a smart future. With this, you can also access a greater range of tariffs that will often be much cheaper too! Automatic meter readings With the smart meter doing all the work for you, you will also no longer have to think about submitting your meter readings. Saving you some valuable time. Smart meters for business energy from D-ENERGi If you are an incredibly energy-conscious business, or you’re simply looking for ways to save your company money, the benefits of an energy meter are undeniable. Helping so many of our business energy customers save on their energy bills already, why not make the switch today? At D-ENERGi we supply two different types of energy smart meters to our business energy customers. These are the latest generation of both SMETS2 and AMR meters. The type your company will require will depend on the size of your business. Both types offer automatic meter reading, accurate billing, and consumption data, and all at no additional cost to you to install. Simply get in touch with our team to discuss your switch to a smart meter and to arrange a time that suits you for installation.

In business, maximum import capacity refers to the highest level of energy that a business can bring in from an outside source. This information can be used by businesses to manage their energy prices and understand how much they need to bring in to cover their needs. By understanding their maximum import capacity, businesses can avoid overspending on energy.  Managing your business energy  Managing business energy can be a challenge, but understanding maximum import capacity can help. business owners and operators need to make sure they are not spending too much on energy, and that they are only bringing in enough to cover their needs. This can be a difficult balancing act, but by understanding maximum import capacity it can be easier to find the right balance. What is Maximum Import Capacity (MIC)? MIC is simply the maximum amount on the total electrical demand you can place on the network system. This should therefore be high enough to meet your demands. If it is not high enough you may be paying additional charges on your energy bill to cover the excess demand.  MIC is most often shown in kilo-volt amps. You can find out what your MIC is by contacting your energy supplier. You are also able to adjust this amount, which is particularly useful if you are exceeding your capacity.  Why is Maximum Import Capacity important? When you apply for your electricity connection, this is most important for new business premises, it is important to choose the correct capacity for your premises for a number of reasons.  The capacity you choose is the capacity of which the energy network will commit to delivering to your premises. This will then place an upper limit on the total electric load you can use as a company.  If your MIC is too high or too low for your needs it will cost you money. You may notice on your energy bill the incurrence of an ‘Excess Capacity charge if your MIC is too low, whereas for those whose MIC is too high you may be paying for more than your company requires.  Business owners and operators should keep in mind that maximum import capacity may change over time. As business needs change, so too will the maximum import capacity. It is important to stay up-to-date on this information to ensure that your business is not overspending on energy or putting itself at risk of not being able to meet its needs.  

Getting the right business gas price is important for saving your business money. In today’s energy market, you may be thinking it is completely impossible to find a good deal, and you wouldn’t be criticised for thinking in such a way. Some good news is however, there are several small ways you can work to improve your business gas deal. Here we have offered some of our best tips for helping your business improve your current business gas price by making simple considerations.  Fixed Business Gas Prices  For most businesses in the UK a fixed business gas price is the best and most effective option. Providing some budget security, as a business you can then plan your spending around your fixed price, knowing exactly how much you will be paying for the year ahead. By also opting for long term fixed rate you can protect your business from fluctuations in energy prices, securing a price you can plan into your budget.  At D-ENERGi, we offer fixed business gas prices per kwh. You will know exactly how much you will pay on your bill per month, without any hidden surprises.  Understanding your Maximum Import Capacity (MIC)  A word you may be unfamiliar with, but is useful for understanding how to keep your gas prices down. MIC is the agreed maximum amount of power you can use from the distribution system to your site. Going over your MIC, much like going into your overdraft with the bank, will result in higher charges on your bill. It is worth knowing what your MIC is, you can find out by speaking to your energy supplier and discussing how to keep your usage low.  Take control of your business energy with a smart meter  Smart meters aren’t just for domestic energy customers. Business energy meters are now available for businesses across the country to take full control of their business energy. Helping to manage usage and lower prices. Not only will you be able to track your usage, but the data a smart meter for businesses provides will be automatically sent to your energy supplier, so you can be sure your bills are as accurate as can be.  Be informed about the energy market Arming yourself with the information is an important tool you need to make good decisions about your energy deals. Having acces to energy market insights, whether these are provided by your energy supplier or not, will help you in understanding price fluctuations and make plans for the future. Being aware of what is going on in the energy market, means you can be prepared and factor in price changes to your annual utilities budget.  Start saving on business Energy with D-ENERGi  At D-ENERGi we work hard to provide all our business customers with the best business energy prices. Alongside our stellar customer service, consider contacting our team of experts today who can help you in obtaining a free business energy quote.

The difference between a gas shipper and gas supplier  The difference between a gas shipper and a gas supplier is that a gas shipper helps to manage the logistics of gas on the national transmission system (NTS). This is the UK’s network of gas pipelines, supplying gas to power stations and industrial users and to gas distribution companies that supply gas to both domestic and business customers. The NTS covers the entirety of Great Britain, including Scotland and Wales.  Meanwhile, a gas supplier sells gas to the end customer, either a business or domestic user of gas. The role of the shipper involves arranging the physical transportation of gas to that consumer, involving booking entry and exit capacity, as well as managing imbalances.  Gas shipper licenses  In order for a gas shipper to operate, they must obtain a gas shipper license under the Gas Act 1986, unless there is an exemption that applies. With this license, gas shippers can buy gas from those who extract it from the ground in one of four ways. Including under a long-term agreement, by buying gas on a spot market, through “over the counter” physically delivered futures contracts, or by buying gas through exchange-traded physically delivered futures contracts.  The impact gas shippers have on gas suppliers  With the loss of many gas suppliers in recent months, it is important to consider what impact gas shippers have on gas suppliers and whether this can be used to explain the failure of so many suppliers.  When a gas shipper exits the market like CNG did in the winter of 2021, gas suppliers could face going out of business. Gas shippers, CNG, were providing gas to 18 utility companies, but stopping their deliveries and operations, caused fear throughout the industry for the supply chain. Many now feel concerned about the “domino effect” this type of move from a large gas shipper can have on gas suppliers and the impact this would later have on gas prices. Since the exit from CNG, the remaining 18 utility clients they had were told to find a new supplier and “quickly”. After many of their customers had already suffered as a result of rising gas prices earlier in the year (2021), the company was put into this difficult position, leaving the UK gas market in a complicated situation.  Just as this example demonstrates, the role a gas shipper plays does not just involve the movement of gas but can play a huge part in other aspects of the market. Any shift or change from a gas shipper is likely to result in huge effects on the gas market.