Most Businesses Will Start The First Year of CRC Unprepared 

An article in yesterday's Sunday Times highlighted the level of ignorance about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, with only 6 weeks left before the Scheme comes into full effect.

Despite information about the CRC being available from the Environment Agency, most businesses have not readied themselves for the obligations they will be required, by law, to meet.  Late registrations carry significant penalty charges and the first year of the scheme is "riddled with deadlines", to quote the Sunday Times.

Utility Masters have already held four free seminars to help businesses to prepare for this important Scheme, and a fifth is planned in Wakefield on Tuesday 16th March.  Book now to attend, or see our blog post about the seminar here.

Another Free CRC Seminar From Utility Masters - Be Ready For April 2010

With the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme registration period starting in April 2010, the demand for information about this important new scheme is higher than ever.

In response, Utility Masters is putting on a fifth CRC Seminar at:

Normanton Golf Club, Hatfeild Hall
Aberford Road
Stanley
Wakefield WF3 4JP

On Tuesday 16th March 2010, starting at 9:30 am and finishing with a buffet lunch between 12:00 and 13:00.

Compliance with this scheme is mandatory, but it's also possible to benefit from it.  This seminar will help to show you how. 

To register your interest, email us now.

A map to the venue is shown here:

Utility Masters are delighted to announce that, following a very successful assessment, our Lee McGhie was approved this week as a Carbon Trust Accredited Consultant.

Normally a panel interview is the final stage of Accreditation, but the Carbon Trust panel were so satisfied with Lee's work that they decided an interview wasn't required.

Lee has also been approved to advise on Sub-metering work as a specialist, following his extensive experience with the techniques and technologies available.  Utility Masters customers are already benefitting from Lee's work, via sub-metered UTILISYS installations on some major sites across the UK.

If your business could benefit from an energy survey which might be fully funded by the Carbon Trust, 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.

If the current exceptionally cold weather continues the UK could deplete its long range gas stores by as early as the second week in March. 

Most of the UK’s seasonal gas storage is kept at a North Sea depleted oil field known as Rough. Gas shippers and suppliers spend the summer months filling Rough with enough gas to see us through a typical winter. On cold winter days, the UK does not have enough imports to meet demand so needs to withdraw gas from Rough. On warmer days there is an opportunity to inject surplus gas into store.

 As you may well have noticed, this winter has been exceptionally cold throughout December and January. If temperatures stay as they are throughout February, there will be a serious shortage and National Grid will need to interrupt supplies. This would have a significant impact on spot market prices and would no doubt increase futures prices at the same time.

Despite the recession, UK energy prices have shown an upward trend over the last few years.  For most of the last year (January to December 2009), electricity annual contracts have moved between £40 and £50 per MWh in the wholesale markets.

Many buyers have been waiting for prices to drop back to £40/MWh again before fixing their contract renewals out of April 2010 or October 2010.  However, annual prices in 2008 peaked at around £90 and, with economic pointers hinting at the end of the UK recession, there is a significant risk of prices climbing again on the back of more positive sentiments about demand.

Is it worth risking an increase of up to £50 (against the peak) to try and save £5?  Fixed energy buyers could benefit from placing now.

Visitors to Utility Masters over the last few weeks have been forgiven for their strange glances around the office, as the male staff all grew fantastic facial hair in aid of Tachetastic, a fund-raising competition for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

The gents each made a donation, and some of the ladies put up their own money to sit on the judging panel - raising £270. Utility Masters Directors matched the amount, totalling a splendid £540 donation to help the charity provide the support, information and research needed to tackle prostate cancer.

Tim Whiting's magnificent moustachio'd mush won the analyst a trophy and the pride of his impressive victory.

The article above is reproduced from The Oldham Chronicle.

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.