Regional Energy Prices

A survey carried out by Energyhelpline has shown the difference in price between gas and electricity prices in localised areas in the UK – and can be as much as £80 on an annual bill between the most expensive and cheapest regions. 

One of the most interesting statistics to come out of the survey was the ambiguity between gas and electricity costs across the UK.  It seems that the cost of utilities bucks the pattern of living costs, with the South of the country being billed less for their energy usage than their North Westerly counterparts.

The default gas supplier across England, Scotland and Wales is British Gas and this shows the fundamental differences between the costs of just one supplier across different regions.  British Gas isn’t the exception to the rule the other “big six” suppliers all have differing tariffs across the UK when supplying gas and electric.

This of course can make it quite difficult to find the cheapest supplier for you in your region.  Companies now offer such variation in tariffs and charge different prices based on how you pay your bill.

Checking out price comparison sites will help when trying to locate the best deal with the best provider for you in your area and should be the first port of call when looking at energy prices in different regions.

Could you reduce your energy bill by 50%

In light of the impending price hikes i couldn't believe my luck when i stumbled across this fantastic infographic that gives us a clear break down of the areas where we can save the most energy and even how much we can save. Admittedly some of it requires a bit of dedication but even if you only follow some of the pointers, some saving is better than no saving.

 source

Did you see this video from the Energy Saving Trust? It was screened a couple (or three) years back, but its message is still as relevant today as it was back in 2009...

Are China a renewable energy super power?

It seems like China is now putting at least some of their considerable weight into renewable energy. With the desert province of Gansu designated as the start point. Since the work began the Gansu region has undergone a massive transformation as the leading project in China's massive renewable energy surge.

It's believed the big push is down to China attempting to reignite it's economy make some good use of its massive land reserves and natural resources.

I have found a great video on the transformation that Gansu has underwent and it certainly showcases just how serious China are about making a splash on the renewable energy scene.

China's investment in renewable energy - video by tvnportal

Scotland's looking good in green energy

Official figures release this week have shown the massive strides Scotland has taken towards its renewable energy targets after reaching record levels of renewable energy generation in 2011. Needless to say Scotland has smashed its’ renewable target for 2011 and they are looking to push things even further in 2012.

The statistics shown below will certainly fill the Scottish Ministers with confidence regarding hitting their 100% renewable electricity target by 2020.

 “Statistics published today show that the amount of renewable electricity generated in 2011 rose 45 per cent on 2010 to 13,750 Gigawatt hours.

Assuming gross consumption in 2011 is similar to 2010, that means around 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs came from renewables in 2011, beating the Scottish Government’s target of 31 per centThe statistics published today also show that:

* Renewable electricity generation in Scotland in 2011 was a record high at 13,750 GWh - increasing 44.5 per cent on 2010, increasing 28.1 per cent on 2009 (the previous record year for renewables) and increasing 67.4 per cent on 2007

* Wind generation in 2011 was at a record high of 7,049 GWh - up 45.0 per cent on 2010 (the previous record year for wind) and has more than doubled since 2007

* Hydro generation in 2011 was at a record high of 5,310 GWh - up 62.6 per cent on 2010 (when output was reduced due to low rainfall), up 8.9 per cent on 2009 (the previous record year for hydro) and up 13.1 per cent on 2007

* At the end of 2011, there was 4,796 Megawatts (MW) of installed renewables electricity capacity in Scotland, an increase of 9.5 per cent (416 MW) on the end of 2010.”  Via clickgreen.org.uk

£1.25m renewable energy investment for South Wales

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Over £1.25 million of solar panels have been fitted throughout the Milford Docks area and Pembroke Park, in the south of Wales. This is all part of the Welsh attempts to reduce their CO2 emissions by more than 170,000 tonnes and increase the use of renewable energy in Wales.

The project titled “The Green Electrician South Wales” is a joint venture between The Green Electrician Limited and Milford Haven Port. The plan is to use the existing infrastructure to install green technology in homes and businesses. The scheme have already installed Solar PV panels on a number of port side buildings and has currently reduced emissions to a point on par with taking 60,000 cars off the road.

Alec Don the Chief Executive of Milford Haven Port believes that the investment will not only reduce the city’s carbon footprint but also help to develop a business that can spread throughout the rest of Wales. Alec Don also stated that the project is looking at other opportunities to bring in wind, biomass and hydropower energy generation methods.

Whilst it appears that due to the uncertainty over the future of the feed-in tariff the demand for Solar PV could dip in the short term but will certainly pick up again thanks to improvements in technology and the rising costs of traditional fuels.

The feed-in tariff scheme is designed to encourage home and business owners to generate their own energy via small scale renewable energy installations. The tariff part is the rate that the Government pays for both the generated electricity and the amount of unused electricity put onto the national grid. Overall this can save homeowners in the region of £1000 a year in electricity bills.

Why you should switch electricity and gas supplier...

Most people read articles and listen to people on TV talk about switching electricity and gas suppliers but they seldom take any action. This is usually down to a combination of loyalty, laziness and the fact that it is believed to be a hassle – with the risk of double billing, a new provider proving more expensive or worse being cut off. The funny thing is these problems are no longer an issue for someone wishing to switch electricity and gas supplier.

Thanks to the internet all prices and tariffs can easily be compared independently, and legislation dictates that once you indicate that you want to switch energy suppliers the companies must sort it out amongst themselves. So the next you should know about it is when you receive a bill from your new energy supplier. I can say from personal experience that the process is relatively hassle free.

Regularly checking your gas and electricity tariff to ensure you have the best deal is a good habit to get into as most people tend think they won’t save much, but savings can potentially be in the £100s. Not only that but many suppliers offer incentives for switching like shopping vouchers which is not a bad bonus on top of annual savings.

So you want to switch gas and electricity supplier. The process is simple:
1. Do your research find a company that suits you i.e. prices, ethics etc.
2. Contact them and request to become a customer of theirs provide them with an accurate meter reading to ensure any final bills are correct.
3. Oh wait, that’s it your done all you do now is wait for your first bill from the new energy suppliers.
It really is that simple folks, switching energy supplier really is the easiest way to save money on your household bills.

If you have any questions or experiences to add feel free to drop us a comment.