44 per cent of firms feel neglected by energy suppliers

25/01/2012

Some 44 per cent of medium-sized UK businesses do not feel that their current product adequately meets their needs.
New research from supplier npower shows that almost half of firms feel that rising energy costs are a bigger risk to the future of their business than cash flow, legislation and security.

Indeed, only poor sales performance is regarded as a greater risk to company longevity.

More than 90 per cent of those questioned said that buying reasonably priced energy was too complicated and time consuming and called on suppliers to provide tools will make the process simpler and more transparent.

As a result npower has launched the Direct Budget Management (DBM) service, which allows users to control their usage so that it can be kept within pre-set budget parameters.

“Our research shows there is a lack of products specifically for medium-sized businesses - so we are addressing this by being the first energy supplier to market with propositions directly targeted at this sector," Jon Davies, head of product management and strategy, npower, said.


"A key driver of ours is empowering businesses to take better control of their own energy purchasing by retaining budget certainty whilst making more informed buying decisions. Both products do this by helping to move the emphasis away from time-led to price-led energy purchasing.”

The Carbon Trust recently released an online tool with the hope that it will help businesses cut their energy costs by making staff think more wisely about what they use and when.

The 'Carbon Trust Empower' encourages employees to consider ways in which to cut energy in other parts of the office, such as the reception area, kitchen, corridors and toilets. It also advocates that firms allow their staff to work from home more often.

The Carbon Trust estimates that the tool could save firms between £6,000 and £15,000 each year.

Posted by Emma Noble