In this ever-changing economic climate, it is not unusual for businesses to vacate sites or move into new premises.   However, an often neglected aspect of the moving process is the closing down of your current utility accounts or ensuring the contract associated with your new site is in your business’s name. When contracts are agreed and signed, they are legally binding for the business, the supplier, and the property exactly as listed on the contract.  As such, for the duration of the contract the occupant listed on the contract is responsible for all charges associated with that property and contract.  If said occupant was to vacate the site, the contract becomes null and void.  Imagine moving into a site and automatically assuming the previous occupants costs as they neglected to close their account!
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Always bear in mind that if it’s too good to be true, there’s a catch!

Unfortunately, as of late unscrupulous call-centre agencies have been targeting businesses with misleading information regarding CCL exemption and a reduction to 5% VAT. However in the majority of cases this is just a ruse in order for businesses to give up confidential contract information, which in turn is sold on to any number of other sales type agencies as a lead..so beware.

These are clearly cynical sales agencies abusing businesses trust for their own financial ends.
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There have been many questions regarding this governments commitment to ‘green energy’ since the last cabinet reshuffle with the new energy minister having a reputation for being less than keen on renewables and investing in sustainable technologies. Are we still pursuing the goals we’ve set out or will things change direction somewhat? The UK population remains convinced that the sustainable, green, renewable…call it what you like, is here to stay and a reasonable proportion are happy to invest in it either on a domestic or commercial basis. Perhaps the uptake may be slower than hoped and having taken the odd beating here and there [especially with Feed In Tariff cuts] – but it is not going to be stopped. continue

What are the barriers to energy market liquidity? You don’t know and you don’t care? Well, maybe it’s worth a little of your attention because as business energy users, it affects you and the future of your energy supply and billing in the UK.

Disfunctional Market

Economists probably have a more technical term, be it ‘closed market’ or similar but we consider the energy market to be a disfunctional one – and one that is in need of the energy brokers such as Torse, making sense of it. continue

Haven Power it seems have taken an Autumnal leaf out of the fashion industry’s book lately. They have taken the view that if you continue offering the same product year after year, season after season, interest can stagnate and relying on the simple core demand for your product is not sufficient in what is becoming a much less straightforward energy marketplace. So, as we head into Winter, Haven are announcing a whole new line of products that they are enthusiastically parading down the proverbial catwalk of the UK business energy marketplace.
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The usual problems that consumers face when are dealing with suppliers are: Lack of clarity on tariff structures and bills: inaccurate meter readings; lack of communication regarded to contract rollover and renewal letters; complicated paperwork and procedures that the consumer does not understand. Ofgem have reported that one of the most significant factors affecting the way suppliers behave is the fact that ‘The Big Six’ control the majority of energy supply and associated contracts in the UK domestic and non-domestic energy market. The Big Six are of course, British Gas (20 million business and domestic customers), EDF Energy (5.7 million domestic customers), E.ON (5.3 million customers), npower (6.5 million business and domestic customers), Scottish Power (5.2 million customers), SSE (9.6 million customers). Unfortunately there is no end in sight to this unhealthy oligopoly but there are ways of ensuring that your own dealings with these companies ensure you have the maximum choice and opportunities to save money. continue

Torse Ltd presented at the Environmental Technology Centre‘s breakfast meeting this morning which was entitled “Sustainability, The Impossible Dream?”. The ETC are based at Nottingham University. Below is the video created by Torse to highlight some key issues for the presentation and you can also download the sustainability and profitability handout diagram used by Torse to present their ideas.

Video Content

0:21 > 1:24 Energy price rises and trends from Jerome Baddley, Nottingham Energy Partnership
1:24 > 4:15 What low cost activities can businesses do to reduce energy costs?
4:15 > 4:49 What medium cost activities can businesses engage with?
4:49 > 5:24 When should technologies be considered?
5:24 > 6:30 Keith Baker discusses the sort of technologies that could be considered?
6:30 > 7:43 Example of Lake Source Heat Pumps at the Sir Colin Campbell building
7:43 > 8:49 Tree surgeons who have changed to more sustainable and profitable working practice
8:49 > 9:30 Best options for a typical city based business