After the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, much uncertainty remains as to the type of deal (or no-deal) that the UK government will secure when Britain finally leaves the EU on 29th March 2019. And this uncertainty is certainly inclusive of the energy market as, according to power firms, Brexit could drive up the cost of your energy bills.

2018 saw two significant price rises alone, which were both caused by the rising costs of wholesale gas and electricity. Any further increases as a result of a no-deal Brexit is likely to have a significant impact on British homes and businesses.

Should the UK leave with no-deal, they’d be obliged to conform to WTO trading legislation. This could have significant permutations on energy bills, as trade barriers threaten to increase the cost of gas and electricity across the border. The benefit of free movements of goods and services could be diminished, adding hundreds of pounds to energy bills across the UK.

According to The Guardian, “in a letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, and UK prime minister Theresa May, they said imposing costs on the use of interconnectors – electricity cables and gas pipelines between the UK and its European neighbours – would hit consumers and set back the battle against global warming.

The free flow of energy across interconnectors was necessary to keep “a level playing field that keeps costs down and ensures decarbonisation and security of supply,” the groups said. Interconnectors currently account for 6% of British power supplies, but that share is soon expected to rise to a fifth.”

If you’re looking to hear of ways to counteract these potential price hikes, then get in touch now for energy efficiency solutions, which give you control of your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.

Utility Trade Group offer an array of energy efficiency solutions, and  combined with our procurement expertise, ensure that we offer a full turnkey approach to energy efficiency.

Getting the Right Contract

It is important you are only paying for you what you need and what you use.

Our expertise in the market and our supplier partnerships, enable us to offer you energy contracts that are more suitable and bespoke to you.

Change Your Lighting

Lighting accounts for 20 per cent of all the energy consumption in the UK, which means it also accounts for a significant chunk of energy bills.

LED lighting can be more attractive, energy efficient, cost-effective and durable than existing methods.

Consuming less than 80 per cent of the electricity of traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lights can shave pounds off electricity bills. 

Many of us already have them in the home, but the potential use for businesses is much greater – along with the savings.

Long-Term Electricity Efficient Solutions

Depending on whether you own the building you run your business from or rent it, it may be worth considering investing in solar panels. 

Although you will need to make an initial capital investment, it will save you a lot of money over time. The use of solar panels will significantly reduce your electricity bills, and they have very low maintenance costs.

Using solar panels also helps the environment as it is a truly renewable source of energy, decreasing the need for new power plants which cause and create pollution. 

Infrared Heating

Infrared heating technology really is amazing. Unlike traditional radiators, it works through radiant heat rather than convection, and therefore doesn’t waste energy heating air.

When investing in infrared, you could overhaul your heating system, wiring panels into the electricity circuit and controlling them via a smart heating system.

This allows for optimal savings, as you have total control and can also monitor your energy usage. Alternatively, you can just plug panels in to the mains wherever you want them for a boost of heat.

Solar with Battery Storage

Energy storage plays an important role in balancing power supply and demand, and is key to tackling the intermittency issues of renewable energy.

Pairing a storage system with a renewable energy source ensures a smooth and steady power supply, even when weather conditions are not optimal for energy generation. 

Batteries are the most common storage devices used in renewable energy system.

It is projected that storage will represent a core component of all new energy technologies moving into the future, as both utility-scale and domestic energy storage solutions become more price competitive, eroding the advantages of traditional energy sources.

If we can help you with any aspects of your energy efficiency or procurement, then please contact Utility Trade Group today.

As a leading energy efficiency consultant, here at Utility Trade Group, we strive to do all we can in the battle against the climate emergency. The supply and implementation of renewable energy resources, accompanied with a strong will and desire to face the issue at hand are our core fundamentals in this battle – but Government regulation is also at the forefront of change too.

The Government describes the regulation as “simple, risk based, and proportionate.” In the last decade alone, the Environment Agency alone have seen less waste going to landfill, a decline in the emissions from industry, and a 70% recycle rate from the sites that sit within their jurisdiction.

Offenders and non-compliers are being targeted more heavily, with longer custodial sentences and bigger fines being handed down – the Government are ramping up the fight against those who continue to commit so-called environmental crime. As Britain prepares to leave the EU at the end of January, the regulations won’t become laxer – in fact, they’re likely to become tougher than ever.

The theory of marginal gains is more relevant than ever – if everybody does their bit, the world will become a better place. That said, we don’t want to aim for a planet that is marginally better overall, more so one that is considerably better than it has ever been before.

Emission regulation and reducing carbon is at the heart of the over-riding objective, with the net-zero goal by 2030 at the forefront of the desire for change. Industries and businesses that are committed to green technology are being supported more than ever, and Utility Trade Group are expert s in this field – we’ve achieved a level of excellence. If we can help you with any aspects of making your business greener, including grant applications or the installation of renewable energy resources, then please get in touch today.

UT Power recently had their stage 2 audit with the British Assessment Bureau and have been successful in getting through the audit with zero non-conformance.  We are now waiting on the final sign off before we are issued our certificates. 

Since its inception in 2014, UT Power have been adding to their accreditation’s as they take on more and more ambitious projects with larger and larger clients.  Working directly with private business who own premises, landlords who need to improve the energy efficiency of their portfolio or with main contractors on energy performance contracts and new builds, UT Power have completed a number of installations from LED, Power Optimisation, Far Infrared heating to Solar PV projects.

We rarely get bad feedback but when something does go wrong we pride ourselves in being able to correct it as quickly as possible.  We use robust systems and both internal and client feedback to allow us to make continual improvements to how we work.  Helped by being a small family run business we are able to implement changes quickly and that allows us to adapt and continue to grow in a competitive market place.

Please get in touch for us to assess your individual requirements.

Feedback from a Health and Safety inspection on a Heritage Site in Leicestershire:

“From my inspection and observations I have every confidence in the Team and commend them on the site safety, absolutely spot on and a pleasure to visit.”