Most Businesses Facing Electricity Price Increases From April 2010.

New Electricity Distribution prices were implemented across the UK on 1st April 2010.  For most businesses, these price changes will result in higher bills.  The bills you receive from your electricity suppliers in early May should include these new distribution prices.

Details of the effect these prices will have by region can be seen in a document published by Ofgem, by following this link.  The price changes by region can be found on page 12.

To discuss how these changes will affect you, contact us today.

Demand Side Management Success from Utility Masters Ltd

The National Grid Triad periods have now been published, following a difficult Winter.  The prolonged cold snap, coupled with snow which affected the ability of many businesses to work at full capacity, made it more difficult than usual to predict the three periods of highest national demand.

Despite the difficult conditions, Utility Masters' Triad Warning Service successfully predicted all 3 Triads this winter, as we have in previous years.  The Triad Waning Service enables our customers to reduce demand at the times of peak national demand, avoiding high Transmission Charges and saving them hundred of thousands every year.  We're delighted to maintain the fantastic record of this service.

For more details, read about the Triad Warnings service.  To discuss how you can reduce your energy bills, through better buying and better use of your energy, contact us today.

This week, energy has been in the national news again.  The BBC and other news agencies have reported on the gradual reductions in UK electricity generation capacity.  The BBC website has an excellent article to read if you click here.

Apart from the risks of increased volatility in energy prices, this news does present opportunities for some UK businesses:

• - Demand-Side Management - Sites that can reduce demand at short notice have a chance to take advantage.  The National Grid offers incentive to organisations that can manage their electrical demand for short periods, when national demand reaches its highest levels.  If you think your business could do this, contact us to discuss your options.
• - Triad Warnings - If UK generation apacity does materially reduce versus UK energy demand, there is a chance that Triad Charges (TNUOS) will increase.  Certain energy supply contracts allow any savings to be passed directly back to the energy consumer.  More information can be seen here.

If you need any more information on this situation and how it might affect you, contact us today.

The recent cold weather has directly affected some large energy users in the UK, as the country's energy network was unable to meet demand over the last few days.  Gas users with interruptible supplies were asked to stop using gas at peak times, to help National Grid to balance the UK's energy needs.

This action is unprecedented in recent times and prompts questions about the security of energy supplies in this country, not only during times of unusual weather like wer're experiencing, but onwards into the medium and longer term.

Some commentators are pushing hard for more gas storage to be built in the UK, to protect our diminishing indutrial base from further erosion of their productivity.

Articles in today's Financial Times highlight some of the issues raised excellently:

• Are the UK natural gas supply fears warranted?
• A letter from the EEF and Energy Intensive Users Group

The UK cold snap has affected the number of Triad Warnings from all suppliers this Winter, with accurate forecasts of daily electricity demand proving very difficult for The National Grid to provide.

Unpredictable industrial production, added to a higher domestic demand caused by the increased need for lighting and heating, has resulted in the usually predictable Triad time windows being more difficult to pinpoint.

Utility Masters has a class-leading Triad Warning service and we will continue to strive to be the best provider of this service throughout this Winter, aiming to minimise disruption to our customers' activities.  For more information, please email us at info@utilitymasters.co.uk or call 0161 785 0404.