Product category:
Energy management; Boiler plant
News Release from: Schneider Electric | Subject: Fuel price warning
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 March 2008
Energy price hikes need improved energy
awareness
A massive increase in gas and electricity bills for all of Britain's 24 million homes is to be announced by all the major energy companies in the next few weeks
In an open letter from Schneider Electric Services and Projects, Seth Townsley has a warning about electricity and fuel pricing The country's energy giants are preparing to increase fuel bills by 15%
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 18 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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This follows the decision by Npower, the fourth largest supplier, to raise prices by as much as 27% on certain tariffs last week.
Such news has been anticipated by Schneider Electric for many years which is why the company has invested huge sums in developing energy saving technology and systems for measuring, metering and controlling energy consumption.
That people have failed to adopt better energy management measures to date has been to some extent a case of burying heads in the sand.
The latest substantial price hikes are more likely to cause many to look up and consider their energy usage options.
The UK Government has publicly stated there is little it can do and Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks is reported to have said: "Price changes are commercial decisions for the companies involved and we must recognise the fact the global demand is pushing up energy costs worldwide".
But he also said the Government recognised the effects price rises can have on businesses, "Especially on vulnerable customers.
Since 2000, we have spent GBP20bn on benefits and programmes including winter fuel payments and funding for heating and insulation in low income homes".
While such emergency funds are vital, they do little or nothing to tackle an often lack lustre approach to active energy management to reduce consumption.
Perhaps alternatives, such as financial incentives to industry and commerce to offset the relatively inexpensive cost of power metering and management, might have greater impact.
Maybe grants to assist consumers in installing simple lighting and heating controls would have a similar positive impact to 30 years ago when funding prompted widespread cavity wall and loft insulation.
The bottom line is that companies like Schneider Electric have developed affordable energy conserving products and solutions that are more than capable of offsetting the lastest price hikes and more.
What is needed is the will and the way to increasingly make full use of them.
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