British Gas: Pubs losing money on 'out-of-hours' energy

It comes as the energy supplier launches an industry first service – Business Energy Insight - to show businesses how, when and where they are using electricity and proactively help them to save money through energy efficiency measures.

Data from over 6,000 smart meter readings show that 46% of business electricity use happens outside of the traditional business hours of 8am-6pm.

Common examples of unnecessary electricity that pubs may not be aware they use include lighting car parks at the weekend when no one is at work and keeping fruit machines switched on 24 hours a day every day of the year.

The Business Energy Insight service has been created in response to findings from customer feedback, including from the 1,000-strong British Gas 1,000 business customer panel.

The panel has called on the company to provide accurate bills and help businesses bring down their energy costs.

As part of the launch, British Gas will follow five businesses, including the Sydney Arms pub in Dorchester, to track their energy saving.

Rick Green, owner of the Sydney Arms, said: “Like most businesses, big investments on energy efficiency measures are not currently priorities for us.

“We have a number of fridges behind the bar as well as a large cellar which needs constant chilling. Business Energy Insight will start to open our eyes to how we currently use energy and will make us think about how we can manage our usage better to reduce our bills as a result.”

Marc England, managing director of SME Energy, British Gas Business, said: “Small and Medium sized businesses are the backbone of the UK. They tell us that reducing their costs is essential to competing in a challenging economy.

“However, many don’t understand their electricity costs, and how they could reduce them. Business Energy Insight has been designed by businesses for businesses to provide our customers more accurate bills and the insight to reduce their costs and improve their competitiveness.”