The Consumer Council has encouraged consumers to consider switching energy suppliers following price decreases announced by Power NI and SSE Airtricity gas.

The Consumer Council is encouraging Northern Ireland consumers to explore energy supplier switching options as two major providers, Power NI and SSE Airtricity gas, announce price decreases.

SSE Airtricity gas has revealed a 22.8% reduction in their regulated gas tariffs for domestic and small business customers in both the Greater Belfast and West gas network areas.

This move is expected to result in significant savings, with typical annual gas bills for credit meter users in these areas dropping by about £320, and prepayment gas meter customers seeing reductions of around £316.

A survey of 503 UK businesses shows that 62% are unaware of government energy efficiency supports, with 47% deterred by cost concerns from investing in green upgrades.

A recent survey conducted by IPSOS has revealed insights into the attitudes of 503 UK businesses towards sustainability and energy efficiency.

The findings indicate that while over one-third of businesses prioritise these aspects in their budgets, others are deterred by concerns over costs and lack of information.

The survey highlights that almost 62% of businesses are unaware of government support for energy efficiency upgrades.

Despite this, nearly 41% of businesses believe retrofitting buildings can be beneficial.

Additionally, approximately 48% consider sustainability important to their customers, with larger businesses showing a higher level of interest.

Cost concerns emerged as a significant barrier, with 47% of businesses indicating that they are deterred from investing in green upgrades due to financial constraints.

In 2023, Britain achieved its cleanest year for electricity production with a 22% decrease in emissions compared to 2022.

Electricity production in Britain hit a milestone in 2023, marking its cleanest year to date.

According to the latest Electric Insights report, emissions from the power sector dropped by 22% compared to the previous year, primarily due to reduced reliance on fossil fuels, which accounted for only 33% of electricity demand.

Gas power generation fell by a fifth, partly due to decreased demand and a shift in import strategy.

Coal output reached a record low of 1% of Britain’s electricity generation, leading to the imminent closure of the country’s last coal power station in October.

France’s nuclear fleet outages influenced the change in import-export dynamics, while Britain’s own nuclear output dropped by 14%.

The Energy Ombudsman has reported on the first year of the energy broker dispute resolution scheme, with 741 disputes accepted, 69% upheld in favour of consumers.

The Energy Ombudsman, under the Trust Alliance Group, has published its inaugural assessment of the energy broker dispute resolution scheme, following its launch in December 2022.

During its first year, 1,890 brokers joined the scheme, with 741 disputes accepted, predominantly related to sales and customer service.

Almost 43% of UK business transformation projects are currently driven by net zero objectives, according to a new report.

A recent survey found that over a quarter (28%) of UK CEOs perceive their businesses to be moderately or extremely exposed to the threat of climate change over the next 12 months.

PwC’s annual UK CEO Survey indicates a notable emphasis on net zero projects among UK business leaders.

According to the survey, conducted as part of PwC’s ongoing research into corporate attitudes towards sustainability and climate change, a substantial portion of UK CEOs are prioritising initiatives aimed at achieving net zero emissions within their organisations.

Key findings from the survey show that 43% of UK business transformation projects are currently driven by net zero objectives.

Additionally, a quarter of CEOs anticipate that climate change will significantly impact their value creation, delivery and capture strategies within the next three years.

Despite the momentum towards net zero, the survey also reveals that a notable proportion of UK CEOs, around 26%, currently have no plans for net zero transformation within their organisations.

Almost 37% of respondents cite regulatory complexity as a factor impeding their company’s decarbonisation efforts.

The energy regulator has initiated a competitive tender round worth £1 billion to appoint an offshore transmission owner for the Dogger Bank B Offshore Wind Farm project.

Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, has announced the launch of a £1 billion tender for the Dogger Bank B Offshore Wind Farm project.

The tender aims to appoint an Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) through a competitive process.

Ofgem outlined the requirements for potential bidders, emphasising the need to demonstrate capability in financing, operating, and managing offshore transmission assets.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, comprising phases A, B, and C, situated between 130km and 190km off the North East coast of England, is set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion.

With each phase boasting an installed generation capacity of 1.2GW, the project represents a multi-billion pound investment.

Together, they will have a combined installed capacity of 3.6GW, capable of annually powering up to six million homes.

Image: SSE

Energy supplier switching in Britain remained consistent in January 2024 compared to the previous month but surged by 76% compared to January 2023.

Energy supplier switching in Britain remained consistent in January compared to the previous month but surged by 76% compared to January 2023, with 207,000 changes of supplier recorded.

According to data released by ElectraLink, there were 207,000 changes of supplier (CoS) last month, representing a modest 3% increase from December 2023.

However, this figure stands higher than the 117,000 CoS recorded in January 2023.

The six-month moving average has also witnessed an upswing, rising from just above 100,000 switches per month in January 2023 to over 220,000 switches per month in January 2024.

The data reveals a notable increase in switches from other suppliers gaining customers from large brands, which contributed significantly to the overall rise in total CoS for January.

Large to large switches accounted for 60% of January 2024’s total CoS, while switches from large to other suppliers represented 21% of the total.

Other to large switches made up 13% of January 2024’s total CoS and other to other switches constituted 6%.

The collaboration will introduce a decarbonisation programme to assist clubs in slashing energy costs and embracing sustainability.

The Football Association (FA) has partnered with energy supplier E.ON to introduce a programme aimed at promoting sustainability in grassroots football.

This initiative will assist clubs in reducing energy costs and adopting environmentally friendly practices.

It includes tailored intervention packages comprising energy saving advice, equipment and educational resources.

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “Whether the focus is saving money, fighting the climate crisis or creating new jobs and skills, it’s important to look at the small actions that can add up to a big impact, which is why we’re so excited to be working with one of the biggest networks of community organisations anywhere in the world – the FA’s grassroots football network.”

Which? research reveals customer dissatisfaction with energy providers due to short opening hours, long wait times and difficulties obtaining assistance.

A recent investigation by consumer advocate group Which? has revealed the challenges energy customers face when seeking support.

Issues like short operating hours, long wait times, and difficulties getting help have become common complaints.

The study surveyed over 9,000 customers to evaluate the service practices of 16 suppliers and 18 energy firms.

It found frustration among customers due to limited operating hours, with some experiencing reduced accessibility.

The investigation revealed disparities in the availability of customer service channels during weekdays and weekends.

While a few firms maintained phone lines open for ten hours or more on weekdays, the accessibility of live chat services outside of these hours was limited.

Similarly, variations were observed in weekend operating hours, with some companies offering full-day support on both Saturday and Sunday, while others provided only limited availability.

Image: STUDIOMAX / Shutterstock

The North Sea Transition Authority has launched a consultation on publicly accessible data for carbon storage, aiming to spur job growth and support net zero goals.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has initiated a consultation to determine the details of making carbon storage data publicly accessible, a move aimed at advancing job opportunities and supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Information from geophysical surveys, well data and injection tests will be among the resources available.

The consultation, open until 12th April, seeks input on various aspects of the data disclosure regime, with virtual engagement sessions planned to facilitate public participation.

This initiative aligns with the government‘s commitment to carbon capture, supported by an investment of up to £20 billion.

Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister Lord Callanan said: “This is an important move for the UK’s burgeoning carbon capture sector. It will lay the groundwork for a robust framework that will give industry access to the wealth of data on the North Sea and the potential for storing carbon emissions, taking us closer to our net zero goals.

“We’re already backing carbon capture with up to £20 billion – one of the biggest investments in Europe – and this initiative underscores the UK’s leadership in the global effort to tackle climate change.”