Fixed Energy Prices, Blackburn Biomass and the Drive Towards Renewables

November 25th, 2011 by Mark | No Comments | Filed in Press Releases

It has been revealed that a new biomass power plant due to be constructed in Sheffield will cost twice as much as was indicated by early estimates. Weighing in at £120 million, the new power plant built by energy company E.on will also provide 5MW more power than had originally been planned, bringing its total capacity to 30MW – or enough electricity to power 40,000 homes.
The biomass power plant will be built on a site known as Blackburn Meadows, and E.on will rely on local businesses for its construction as far as possible. When the plant is completed and goes online in 2014, it is expected to create around 30 permanent jobs for members of the local community. Local MP Clive Betts heralded the plans as “great news for the area”, claiming that the power plant would “deliver a much needed boost for local jobs”.
Biomass is one of a number of low-carbon energy solutions that are being tested and implemented throughout the world. The environmental benefits of using low-carbon methods of generation should not be underestimated; however, there are additional costs associated with ‘green’ fuels, and consumers should expect to pay higher prices for energy generated in a sustainable fashion. Both domestic and business electricity prices can be expected to rise as we increase the proportion of our power that comes from sustainable sources.
All this will come as welcome news to consumers who are on fixed price energy plans. Any rise in the cost of each unit of electricity will not affect customers who have signed on to fixed-term contracts at fixed energy prices. One of the greatest potential advantages of such plans is that if the price of energy goes up, for example as the result of the increasing international price of oil or an increasing reliance on renewable energy sources, subscribers will not have to pay increased rates until the expiration of their existing contracts. The downside is that if the price of energy goes down for any reason, the price such consumers pay will also remain unchanged – and there can also be issues with moving house or home in the middle of a contract, so these contracts are ill-advised for anyone who holds flexibility as a priority.
Although it is difficult to predict what will happen to energy prices in the future, current trends indicate that the price of energy is increasing over time. Indicators show that this trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future: fossil fuel reserves are dwindling, many governments have lost faith in nuclear power, and the message that sustainable power generation is necessary to preserve our environment is beginning to get through to consumers. With Christmas on the horizon, many of our energy-related thoughts will be dominated by questions of boiler insurance and breakdown cover – but we should also be thinking about and budgeting for our future energy use.

Tags: , ,

Boiler Insurance Worthwhile as Winter Approaches

October 23rd, 2011 by Mark | No Comments | Filed in Press Releases

In the spring and summer months it is all too easy to dismiss spending on boiler insurance as frivolous and unnecessary. However with autumn upon us and winter approaching fast, households without boiler insurance should consider investing in a plan before it becomes too late.
It is easy to understand the temptation to dispense with insurance plans. Household and business electricity prices increase as the amount of natural light decreases for everyone regardless of whether they are on a plan with fixed energy prices, and there are increasing pressures on our incomes throughout the imminent holiday season. Many of us will never have cashed in on our insurance plans, and after a quick calculation the monthly or annual expense can seem anything but worthwhile. Nevertheless a surprisingly high number of UK residents experienced a boiler breakdown last winter, so think carefully before you decide to go without cover.
There is some evidence to suggest that winters in the UK are getting colder. According to the Met Office, the winter of 2010 was the coldest on average since 1978/9. If this winter continues the trend, many household boilers will be put under additional strain and may fail when they are needed the most. Whilst insurance may not seem a worthwhile expense now, it will seem foolhardy to have missed the opportunity to insure your boiler if and when it breaks further down the line. Boilers are notoriously expensive to repair and replace, and many households without large incomes will struggle to cover the costs of a last minute boiler replacement.
This is not simply a matter of convenience – particularly for households with single glazing and less than the optimum level of insulation, central heating can help ward off winter illnesses that thrive on immune systems weakened by the cold. You cannot put a price on good health, and boiler insurance should be seen as an investment in your personal wellbeing throughout the winter months.

Tags: , ,

Should we have boiler insurance?

September 25th, 2011 by Mark | No Comments | Filed in Press Releases

As winter approaches the adverts for boiler maintenance policies are appearing ever more frequently in the media, it is something that might be seen as an additional expense but if you are one of the unlucky thousands that has a boiler malfunction on the coldest day of the year then you will be glad you were prescient enough to have bought a policy earlier in the year. There are large costs associated with replacing a boiler and even getting one repaired can often be an expensive affair so the question is then – Should we have boiler insurance?

Despite the fact that we are still officially enjoying British summer time, the signs of autumn are already appearing, and with this in mind our thoughts turn to keeping warm in the autumn and winter months. Of course, this means you have to give your heating system some thought, and you are bound to ask yourself the question as to whether or not your system is going to be able to get you through the winter months. The natural thought beyond this of course is whether or not it would benefit you to have boiler insurance in place.

There’s no doubting that having a heating system that is less than reliable is one of the most frustrating things to have to endure, and anyone who has woken up on a chilly morning to discover that the shower is pouring out cold water will testify to this. You really do have to think carefully about the state of your heating system at this time of year, and if you have any misgivings about its performance it really will benefit you to have some sort of insurance policy in place. Having said this, there are some people who would argue that with the very real possibility of not claiming, is it really worth paying out for insurance? With this in mind, here are some great reasons why you should consider getting boiler insurance:

Some insurance policies will cover not only your boiler and its controls but also blocked drains, burst water pipes, electrical failures and lost keys, so it really does give you more benefits than you might realise. If you are not covered and you have to call someone out, you will be subject to some incredible call out costs – even before you have had to buy parts or pay for labour. Some policies will pay out a cash payment if your boiler fails, which can obviously help enormously if you have to buy a new boiler – something that can cost hundreds if not thousands of pounds. These are all good reasons to buy a new boiler policy, and with energy prices on the increase all the time, the last thing you need is to be landed with a hefty bill for your boiler breakdown. An insurance policy will negate the possibility of this happening.

If you are particularly concerned about the cost of your electricity this winter, there are a few ways to deal with the situation. Firstly an insurance policy is going to help in most cases, and another thing you can do is to find a deal with an energy supplier to provide you with fixed price energy deals. This of course protects you against increasing energy costs for a particular amount of time, depending on the contract you sign. Of course, you may pay slightly over the odds initially for this sort of contract, but if prices rise significantly, it is not something that will affect you.

All of these things are worth considering as we march into the winter months. Take heed now or pay the price later on.

Tags: , ,

How business energy price comparison can be a big money saver for SMEs

February 24th, 2011 by admin | No Comments | Filed in General News

• Learning to play the comparison game can keep you on top of rising energy prices

Making sure your business is well set up in terms of its energy needs is obviously very important, but if business owners want to make sure they aren’t spending above the odds on their business energy contracts, it’s vital to remain one step ahead of the market and compare and switch providers when the time is right. Business energy price comparison is important, so here are some points that SMEs should follow in order to make the most of business energy deals.
Business Energy Price Comparison Tips

1. Find out and remember your renewal date – Understanding and remembering your renewal date is vital if you want to make sure that you are always on the best business energy deal. Most businesses are in fixed contracts, which mean you can only switch at the end of the contract during this renewal period. Usually, if you don’t switch than your energy supplier can not only roll your contract over for another year, they can even adjust the prices without even having to tell you – which could cost you a fortune.

2. Always double check any contract – It’s a habit of many energy suppliers to only give verbal contracts where the broker will record a conversation which becomes a contract. Make sure that always know when this is going to happen and that you are happy with this. Always trying to get the quotes in writing either through e-mail or fax. Verbal contracts can be quick, easy and save time but always making sure that you understand are happy with what you are agreeing too.

3. Energy efficiency matters – Switching and being aware of what deals you can get is an important part of saving money on your bills, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also try to keep your energy costs low by simply using less energy. You can make your office more energy efficient just like your home, and if you’re still choosing an office try to choose one that’s recently had a new boiler installed. SMEs can save large amounts of money by making sure heating is set at the right levels and using timers to turn off heating and computers when nobody is in the office.

As a cost of repair can be rather high, and even carry a long wait at busy times, it is usually advisable to have some kind of insurance cover. In keeping with the rest of this press release, we would advise that readers compare boiler insurance prior to signing a contract, to ensure they are getting the best possible deal.

————————————————————————————

Tags: ,

Compare Boiler Cover and Central Heating Insurance – So when your boiler breaks down, you don’t have to.

November 1st, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Press Releases

compare boiler cover
 
I am sure most people will agree that the UK winter is drawing in. The cold and the rain is taking its toll, which means central heating systems and hot water boilers are set to be put through their paces over the next few months! – So, if your boiler or central heating system is going to fail, it is likely as not to be sooner rather than later!
 
When a heating system breaks down, the cost can be astronomical, and that is if you can even find an emergancy engineer to come out and fix your problem when you need one.
 
If you are fortunate enough to get an emergency heating engineer to come out to you rapidly, then they may well charge you from £33 to £76 per hour (Based on London prices).
 
Boiler Insurance cover can cost as little as £13 per month typically covering your water boiler and controls. Unlimited parts, call outs and labour, and even your annual boiler safety inspection.
 
Higher priced policies can also cover your entire heating system, which can be worthwhile considering how much an engineer charges normally!
 
So, that works out as £156 for the year, which can be less than three hours of an engineer’s time, not even considering any call out charges that may apply.
 
So, we can clearly see that boiler insurance in worthwhile, but, how do you choose the best boiler cover?
 

Choosing Central Heating Cover

 
Boilerchoices.co.uk is a website that is fast establishing itself as THE resource for information on UK boiler and central heating insurance. We would recommend using this site to compare boiler cover before choosing any policy.
 
The site has a plethora of information on all things boiler related, including guides about who is best suited to boiler insurance, which companies offer deals that may suit you, and who should NOT consider taking out boiler or heating cover.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

Tags: , , ,