Gas Pricing For Small Retail Shop - Hep Appreciated

[Footiecoach]

Hi all

I own a small(ish) retail shop and notice that my gas contract has now expired and I'm on a 'Variable Price Plan'.

My very minimal understanding is that although prices for gas are due to increase very shortly once again.........that most gas companies have already put the new pricing in place and if I were to move to a fixed contract I'd be signing up at the higher rates.

Suppose my question is - is it best to stay variable at mo and hope pricing may reduce or even at this stage should I move it to a fixed contract?

Anyone with any knowledge please comment as I'm totally honest in my understanding of it being rather poor.

Thanks in advance.
P.S. Based in Scotland.

 

[Picture Bute]

I could be wrong here, as I don't have gas in my shops, but with electricity, when your contract expires or you move into a premises, you go on to an 'emergency rate' rather than a variable rate, as you would do domestically. Emergency rates are far in excess of contract rates. (Also based in Scotland)

 

[Footiecoach]

Hi Picture Bute - it defo says - "This contract has moved to a Variable Price Plan".

So I'd hope it was variable and not an emergency one although you may be correct and lets see if any others are aware on the forum.

Thanks for reply.

 

[Picture Bute]

Hi Picture Bute - it defo says - "This contract has moved to a Variable Price Plan".

So I'd hope it was variable and not an emergency one although you may be correct and lets see if any others are aware on the forum.

Thanks for reply.

Does it tell you what that 'variable price' currently is ?

 

[Footiecoach]

I'll have a nosey at online account but I dont think it does as had look over it earlier in shop and couldnt see.

 

[kulture]

So the first step is to phone your supplier and ask them what rate you are on and how much is it. Then ask them if they have other rates available. Once you have the numbers, come back here.

 

[NickGrogan]

The Variable price plan is the "emergency" plan. You will be in very high rates, even higher than the contract rates.

The government support will start from the 1st October which will soften the blow, but the support for out of contract customers is less than for those in contract.

Happy to talk prices if you drop me a message.

(Also based in Scotland.)

 

[Footiecoach]

So the first step is to phone your supplier and ask them what rate you are on and how much is it. Then ask them if they have other rates available. Once you have the numbers, come back here.

The Variable price plan is the "emergency" plan. You will be in very high rates, even higher than the contract rates.

The government support will start from the 1st October which will soften the blow, but the support for out of contract customers is less than for those in contract.

Happy to talk prices if you drop me a message.

(Also based in Scotland.)

Thanks both.

Ok, just off chat and then a call to current suppliers.

The Variable Contract I currently have is -
Standing - 153.307 pence per day
Unit Charge - KWH 20.226 pence

If I moved to Fixed with them at mo it would be -
Standing - 70.29 pence per day
Unit Charge - KWH 32.495 pence

This doesn't take into consideration any of the Government Discount which is planned.

For further info - on looking at my usage is next to nothing April- Sept as store has large glass windows which gives sufficient heating but come winter peaks obviously. The biggest usage was last Nov where I used 2000 KWH.

Hope this info assist folks folks/replies especially those already replied advising me to get more info.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NickGrogan]

Thanks both.

Ok, just off chat and then a call to current suppliers.

The Variable Contract I currently have is -
Standing - 153.307 pence per day
Unit Charge - KWH 20.226 pence

If I moved to Fixed with them at mo it would be -
Standing - 70.29 pence per day
Unit Charge - KWH 32.495 pence

This doesn't take into consideration any of the Government Discount which is planned.

For further info - on looking at my usage is next to nothing April- Sept as store has large glass windows which gives sufficient heating but come winter peaks obviously. The biggest usage was last Nov where I used 2000 KWH.

Hope this info assist folks folks/replies especially those already replied advising me to get more info.

Thanks in advance.

32.5p is high, even with low usage. You should be able to get better than that

 

[kulture]

The standing charge at £1.53 a day is obscene. That equates to £580 a year just to have a gas meter.

Likewise 2,000 KWh on heating in a month sounds excessive. But I guess it depends on what space you are heating and to what temperature and how. At those kind of prices it might help looking at alternatives. I know of several shops benefiting from using infra red heat lamps that focus on heating areas where staff are, like the till area, and not trying to heat the entire space. After all the public come in dressed in coats etc and thus do not need as warm a shop as the staff needs.

 

[Footiecoach]

The standing charge at £1.53 a day is obscene. That equates to £580 a year just to have a gas meter.

Likewise 2,000 KWh on heating in a month sounds excessive. But I guess it depends on what space you are heating and to what temperature and how. At those kind of prices it might help looking at alternatives. I know of several shops benefiting from using infra red heat lamps that focus on heating areas where staff are, like the till area, and not trying to heat the entire space. After all the public come in dressed in coats etc and thus do not need as warm a shop as the staff needs.

Mate you are 100% correct with regards the area I need heated. The items I sell are actually better to the customer if they get them cold but currently I'm heating the full shop only for the sole reason that I need my staff at the small till area to have a warm area - one heating chap on passing mentioned instead of having 4 radiators in a small area poss having some heater fan which still runs of the gas but is positioned above the till/staff as currently a reasonably sized shop is getting heated just for an area which is 3 metres wide to be heated (till/staff).

You mention infra red heat lamps - do you have any further detail on them/links as this could be a fantastic idea?

Also, I got the chap at my current gas provider to run a couple of scenario's for me based on last Nov 2000 kWh usage -

Last year cost - £113.98 (Nov 21)
The same this year on Variable would be £498
The same this year on Fixed Term would be £720 !!!!

The 2 estimated for this year are without any Government Discounts to be applied but some difference.