It is very difficult to predict energy costs in the current climate as both electricity and gas prices have increased sharply in the last 12 months. Whilst there have been recent falls in prices, the market is still very volatile.
The emphasis is therefore to ensure that you pay as little as possible for the energy you use and to keep any increases to a minimum.
Regardless of the size of your electricity and gas supply - whether half hourly, monthly or quarterly metered - your business can save money by going out to tender for your supply. Prices are continually changing and it can be beneficial to test the market regularly.
For the past year, ipa has been pleased to promote an energy tariff management service to all members through nominated supplier, Finesse. Many of ipa's licensed sector members have since made use of Finesse's service, saving hundreds, if not thousands of pounds in the process.
For example:
Public House, Marlow - Annual Savings of 24% or £3817
Public House, London SE1 - Annual Savings of 29% or £2574
Public House, Oxfordshire - Annual Savings of 20% or £762
Hotel, Buckinghamshire - Annual Savings of 18% or £815
Hotel, Melton Mowbray - Annual Savings of 11% or £1950
Care Home, London W5 - Annual Savings of 10% or £1623
Care Home, Devon - Annual Savings of 26% or £1048
Care Home, Southport - A Saving of £10000 (see below)
"In today's trading conditions, licensees must explore every avenue to keep variable overheads to a minimum; this means spending more time controlling costs and chasing interest rates. Clearly this is where a specialist operator such as ipa can provide a valuable service in negotiating rates and discounts that the individual business would find hard to achieve". Licensee and ipa member.
Finding out how much you could save is easy - just fax a recent gas or electricity bill to ipa on 01372 466 062 quoting 'freetime' and Finesse will do the rest. Alternatively, please call the ipa office on 01372 466 966.
Update
Part of the service provided by Finesse when reviewing member's electricity and gas prices is to check that the correct level of government taxes are being charged. Finesse has just helped one ipa care home in Southport to recover £10000 in overcharged VAT and Climate Change Levy.
