Three Reasons to Switch Your Business Electricity

It’s not often that you can save £15,000 in overheads with one phone call but that’s what Hazel Healey managed. Hazel works for Nigel Clarke, one of Birmingham’s largest accommodation providers for the homeless, running 14 hostel residences as well as two independent hotels. “Our energy bills had been escalating over the past few years and it’s not surprising when you consider that at full occupancy there can be 415 people in residence, all using hairdryers, bedside lights, kettles not to mention lighting and heating.” Hazel of The Dormy Hotel, knew there was an opportunity to review utility costs for the entire business but hit a brick wall when she tried to get all their different suppliers to do one rate for the sixteen different sites. She searched on the internet for a business price comparison service and found a broker who “was brilliant,” according to Hazel, “They managed to save us £15,000 year on our gas and electricity bills and he did all the switching paperwork as well.” Nigel Clarke said, “Hazel has made a massive contribution to the business with one phone call - we strive to keep our costs down and it’s more important than ever during this recession when our hostel services are desperately needed.”

Meanwhile, a Brighton property management company has found a green use for the money it saved in reducing its energy bills – by spending it on specialist tree services to preserve an historic 120-year-old elm. Dr Roger Driscoll, Chairman of the Prestonville Court Residents Board, a small private estate of two blocks of flats, was shocked to discover that they were facing a 40% increase in electricity prices when he received the Association’s electricity bill earlier this year. “We’d been with the same supplier for a number of years and I couldn’t believe how much they wanted to whack up the rate in these difficult times. As a small business we’re looking to contain costs but I was really worried that we would have to raise the flats’ service charges.” Dr Driscoll researched his options for business utility bills on the internet and found a price comparison and switching service that specialises in helping small businesses. “We were looking at a massive rise from £4,000 a year to £5,600 but thanks to Make It Cheaper we’ve switched and our bill has dropped to £3,600. In fact because of the money we’ve saved on our electricity costs, we’ve been able to pay for a specialist tree surgeon to keep our fifteen conserved trees in good condition including two historic beeches and an elm tree that’s over 120 years old and we’re hoping to further improve the grounds for our residents.”

Finally, not many people would be brave enough to start their own business in the middle of a recession but Kenny Graham has started two: Kenny’s Music in Castle Street, Dundee and in Elgin Street, Dunfermline. Kenny took the plunge in June 2008 when Sound Control, the company that had previously owned the stores and where Kenny had worked for 17 years, went into administration. “I knew there was an opportunity for good independent music shops with a focus on customer service,” said Kenny. Kenny is now in the business of making music dreams come true and is proud to stock more than 100 different guitars, including legendary brands Fender and Gibson, not to mention keyboards, amps, drums and everything else that makes a big noise! “You have to work extra hard in a recession – it’s critical to offer great customer service and keep overheads down,” says Kenny. “We try to help every customer who walks through the door in Dundee and Dunfermline but we’ve also noticed a rise in our website orders from Europe because of the weak pound – Ireland, France and Holland in particular.”Kenny has looked to cut his overheads where possible and as a member of RETRA, the trade association for electrical retailers, was advised to get in touch with the business price comparison and switching advice centre that provides a bespoke service to help its members. “I was going to be paying £1,500 a year with my old supplier but with the switch I’m now only paying £942 which really is music to my ears. I’m delighted with the service and when our gas contract runs out, I’ll be asking Make It Cheaper to help out with that as well.”