Monday 2 September 2013

97% of firms ‘concerned’ about EMR impact on energy costs

97% of firms ‘concerned’ about EMR impact on energy costs

Three quarters of UK businesses are worried about the impact the Government’s electricity market reform (EMR) will have on their organisation, a new survey claims.

Topping the list of concerns are the cost of energy (97%), the ability to forecast costs (91%) and nearly nine in 10 firms are also worried about the impact on UK competitiveness.

The news comes as campaigners recently warned the EMR still fails to provide a “long term vision” for the power sector following DECC’s draft plan.

Wayne Mitchell, Industrial & Commercial Sales & Marketing Director at npower, which conducted the survey said: “From our ongoing dialogue with major energy users, we know businesses are concerned and confused about the impact EMR will have on their operations but it’s been really eye-opening to uncover exactly what these concerns centre on.

“It’s no surprise, in the light of economic challenges, that cost implications top the list. It is, however, revealing that businesses are worried about the impact on UK competitiveness as the last thing Government will want is businesses moving abroad as a way around EMR.”

The ‘EMR Pulse’ survey – which aims to help educate firms on the reform and how it will affect their organisations – also found a quarter of businesses have no awareness of EMR at all or don’t think it will have an impact on them.

Energy Live News is hosting three webinars on the EMR - for mid-market energy users <https://futurenetzero.com/2013/08/14/webinar-emr-explained-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-as-a-mid-market-energy-user>, large energy users <https://futurenetzero.com/2013/08/14/emr-explained-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-as-a-large-energy-user> and energy consultants (https://futurenetzero.com/2013/08/14/emr-explained-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-as-an-energy-consultancy).

DECC is working on how to let energy intensive users off the hook when it comes to paying for parts of the EMR.

Earlier this year Scotland's Energy Minister Fergus Ewing warned the EMR is risking thousands of jobs and investment in the offshore wind industry.

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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