The trickle of initial findings from the CMA, the Competitions and Markets Authority, and their investigation into the energy market has thrown up a number of interesting debating points, not all of which were entirely expected by those calling for the investigation. We’ve already talked about the alternative view of the CMA’s headline finding that […]
CMA Findings – An alternate view
The trickle of initial findings from the CMA, Competitions and Markets Authority investigation into the energy market has turned into a flow this week with the headlines unsurprisingly being grabbed by the more hyperbolic mutterings. The big one is the allegation that the CMA’s initial investigations have uncovered “significant evidence” that customers have been overcharged […]
Energy – The industry of misinformation?
A view from the floor In the first of a new series of articles written by our Business Advisors, James Rippin explores the potential vested interest in the government being economical with the truth about the true cost of energy. Energy – The industry of misinformation? It’s fair to say that energy is an industry […]
PQQ Nightmare to end for SMEs
PQQ – the pre-qualification questionnaire -three words to strike fear into any small business. But that huge obstacle to small business participation in government contracts is soon to be abolished for contracts below the EU threshold. Lord Young of Graffham, enterprise advisor to the Prime Minister explained: “PQQs have been found to be onerous by small businesses, […]
Oil price rises on OPEC cuts
It’s been a frustrating few months. The media narrative has been one of collapsing wholesale energy prices driven by a fundamental misunderstanding of the influence that the oil market has on UK gas and electricity prices. That through separate influences the wholesale price of electricity and gas fell considerably through to mid January 2015 is […]
The 2015 General Election: Energy & Business Part III
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this series are entirely those of your correspondent. Employment legislation is already fairly unwieldy, and despite a traditionally pro business administration in charge, (Vince Cable excepted), the level of legislated activity and obligations on employers have grown not so slowly but very surely in recent years. From April 2015 alone we will […]
Hinkley Point C faces further delay
Like a cross continent soap opera, the saga of Hinkley Point C continues. The investment deal to secure development of the first new build nuclear power plant in a generation has again been put back, this time to October 2015, as negotiations continue with their potential partners. Ed Davey, the secretary of state for energy […]
New “Today’s Market” Feature to Monitor Energy Prices
Independent business gas and electricity broker, Business Juice has introduced a “Today’s Market” feature on its website. This daily energy price indicator publicises the daily movement in wholesale energy costs to help companies and individuals see at a glance which direction energy prices are heading, so that they can anticipate the optimum point to enter […]
Latest Energy Price Projection
The current volatility in the wholesale market is having a direct bearing on the price you pay per kWH for your business energy. Based on current market prices for contract starts over the coming 3 months we can see a significant increase in price from an average 12.75p/kWh today growing to 13.214p/kWh by May. This […]
The 2015 General Election: Energy & Business Part II
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this series are entirely those of your correspondent. Speaking to owners of businesses of every hue recently a common theme has been that “things won’t return to normal until after the election”. Judging by the last few weeks the months ahead to May are unlikely to be the most […]