Businesses bear brunt of government energy policy decisions

28th March 2013

Commenting on the Department for Energy and Climate Change's release of new evidence that links government policy decisions to rising business energy bills, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: -These figures show that while ministers focus their attention on containing household energy bills, businesses are bearing the brunt of their policy decisions.

-It is unacceptable that companies particularly the medium-sized firms that form the backbone of our economy are facing future energy prices that are 20-25% higher as a result of government policy decisions. This is especially crucial for our manufacturing companies, who are intensive energy users despite massive improvements in efficiency in recent years. The government's own figures admit that its policy decisions alone will result in many firms paying at least 20% more for energy by 2020 and 40% more by 2030 in real terms. -At a time of global economic uncertainty, tough business conditions and low profit margins, ministers should be working to stabilise business energy costs, not push them up with each and every Whitehall policy change. Ministers should also revisit the Carbon Floor Price, which is due to take effect in April, as it's a massive contributor to these unwelcome price rises.