The government has raised concerns about the risk of microbusiness customers (MBCs) being trapped on out of contract or deemed rates, without being able to access cheaper fixed price contracts.
At TotalEnergies Gas & Power, we’re committed to supporting our customers by offering a contract to all MBCs, including those on out of contract rates.
The government has recently released more details of their package of support for UK businesses this winter. This Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) will provide discounts on energy bills over a six-month period from the 1st October 2022 until the end of March 2023. This will apply to all eligible customers on fixed and flexible contracts as well as those paying out of contract/deemed rates.
Although the scale of the energy crisis has required support to be provided to a broad range of business customers, smaller business customers on higher out of contract rates are of particular concern to government.
There are a number of reasons why customers can end up on these rates, including moving into a new business premises without choosing a new supplier or reaching the end of their current contract and not arranging a new one.
The concern is that for these customers, accessing a new contract isn’t easy. This could be for a number of reasons, but their credit rating is usually a factor. It’s therefore difficult for this more vulnerable customer group to access better fixed price contract rates.
At TotalEnergies Gas & Power we are committed to ensuring that all our MBC customers are offered a contract when their current deal is ending, or if they are already on out of contract rates.
Over 2022 we’ve proactively contacted the majority of our out of contract customers to offer them our contract options. We’ll continue to engage with this group and urge all out of contract customers to get in touch to discuss the options available to save money - regardless of their credit rating.
To find out more on EBRS visit us at business.totalenergies.uk
Anton Roberts
Commercial & Transformation Director
TotalEnergies Gas & Power.