British Gas is urging businesses to prepare for a cold winter, with an estimated third of businesses being caught out by the cold weather every year.
The energy provider to businesses says it expects to see a 70 per cent increase in the number of call outs to businesses needing emergency repair work during the winter months, often due to boiler and heating breakdowns.
Despite this, many businesses overlook the regular, preventative checks on gas and electrical equipment that can maintain efficiency and ensure businesses safeguard their operations against these mishaps.
The following tips can help business keep the lights on even in the most severe weather:
- Give your boiler a healthcheck: Check to make sure your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler the more inefficient it will be – new energy efficient boilers can help you cut your heating bill by up to 20 per cent per year. Your heating appliances should be serviced once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Check your central heating: Run your central heating on full to check that your radiators heat up properly. If you can feel any cold spots, especially at the top, they may need bleeding. Bleeding your radiators is a simple task that will make your business warmer and your central heating system more efficient.
- Prepare your business for the cold: Make sure your heating and drainage systems are in tip-top condition. Start by checking that your pipes are not too exposed to the cold. You should also lag water tanks and pipes to conserve heat and prevent freezing. Spending time to prepare your business now could prevent a crisis when temperatures plummet.
- Make your business energy efficient: Lighting accounts for 25 per cent of a company’s total electricity bill, and energy efficient lighting can help to cut these costs by up to a third. Use standby power savers that automatically turn appliances off, such as computer equipment, when it’s not being used. Each of these will save around £30 a year on your energy bills. Also speak to your provider about getting a smart meter. This will allow you to pay accurate bills based on accurate readings and give you valuable insight into your energy use allowing you to take measures to reduce it.
- Have a back-up plan: Make sure your business is covered by a Service & Maintenance contract. Use a trusted brand and seek assurances that engineer will be on site quickly if something does go wrong with your gas appliances or electrical installation. Putting this plan in place now can prevent a breakdown turning into a debilitating business crisis later on.
Phil Manock, British Gas Commercial Services, said: “During the winter months, thousands of businesses are hit by crises caused by the cold weather that can cost them thousands of pounds and seriously impact their daily operations. However, this is often caused by their failure to prepare for the cold through regular maintenance. Taking simple steps now to make sure your heating system is in top working condition and that you have a back-up plan if something does go wrong can save vital time and money in the long term.”
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Establish Contract Status
- Call your supplier to clarify your contract status, the unit price you’re paying and the date of your next renewal period. It’s actually better for a business to be in a contract than not. ‘Out-of-Contract’ rates are the highest rates you will ever pay. So, for example, if you’ve just taken over new premises but not contacted the suppliers, you will be clocking up a massive account.
Shop Around
- Don’t accept a new contract with your incumbent supplier until you’ve compared prices. If you don’t have time to call your existing supplier or potential new suppliers try a business price comparison service who can tell you immediately if your rates are competitive and if not, do the legwork of finding out which is the best deal for your business (based on postcode, credit score and consumption).
Check Renewal Dates
- Once on your on a contract, make a note of your renewal dates and what notice you need to give as many suppliers make it difficult to switch towards the end of a contract. Each supplier has different rules with renewal ‘windows’ closing long before the end date. Miss your window and you’ll automatically be ‘rolled over’ for a year on uncompetitive rates.
Serve Notice Regardless
- Not everyone has the time or patience to keep a track of when their contact is up for review. The best way to get around this is to send a notice letter irrespective of how long your contact has to run. You cannot be cut-off for doing this and given that your current supplier knows your switching intentions, they will be more inclined to offer you competitive rates at your renewal.
Sign-up For Help
- For those in any doubt about your existing contract(s) or just looking for an easy solution, Make It Cheaper offers a free contract checking service that deals with suppliers on your behalf and contacts you with the best rates available when it’s time to switch.
For more information please use our contact form and speak to Make It Cheaper today.
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