Hebden Bridge businesses offered
help to fight energy bills

Price hikes in energy bills could hit Hebden Bridge businesses hard, after the announcement that one major supplier is to increase prices by more than 10 per cent

Tuesday, 8 January 2008

Businesses have already had to stomach a 40 per cent rise in fuel bills in the last two years. Npower last week announced it was passing on the effect of steeper wholesale prices to its customers, and Energywatch predicts that other power companies will follow suit.

Local organisations, though, are one step ahead when it comes to helping businesses save money on energy.

Calderdale Climate Challenge and Business Link West Yorkshire are holding a free event for businesses at Dean Clough on Wednesday January 16, designed to help them cut costs in practical ways.

“We all want Calderdale businesses to become more competitive and profitable. Cutting energy use is one of the simplest ways of doing just that. And it’s not just for the big companies – a five per cent saving on the bottom line is fantastic news for any business,” Calderdale Climate Challenge Co-ordinator Anthony Rae told the Hebden Bridge Web.

Yorkshire Forward (the regional development agency), the Carbon Trust (the government agency advising business about energy use) and the Green Business Network are supporting the event to offer advice, assistance and – in some cases – grants or loans.

Many businesses don’t realise what help is out there,” said Anthony Rae. “There are interest-free loans of up to £100,000 for investment in energy efficient equipment in some cases.”

North Vale Doubling Co. Ltd of Brighouse saved at least £500 a year through their work to improve energy efficiency. The company arranged for a visit under the Green Business Network scheme and, as a result of the advice they got, fitted inverters to help motors run more efficiently, fitted energy efficient lighting and low-energy bulbs, raised staff awareness about energy use.

EPS Hire Centres of Mytholmroyd got advice from Green Business on how to apply for permission for an oil burner to heat their premises, to cut around 60 per cent off their energy bills.

The Business Breakfast is at Dean Clough from 8am to 10am on January 16. The event is free and there are still some places left. To book, call Business Link on 0845 833 6000 (quoting Calderdale Climate Challenge Business Breakfast) or e-mail info@blwy.co.uk.