This will provide many more pubs with recourse to suppliers and brokers, which avoids legal action.
Business size definitions
| Business size definition | Gas usage | Elec usage | Staff numbers | Annual turnover | Balance sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | >500,000kWh | >200,000kWh | >50 full time | > £6.5m | > £5m |
| Micro | >293,000kWh | >100,000kWh | >10 full time | > £2m | > £2m |
Key protections
- Energy Ombudsman Access: Small businesses can seek redress through the Energy Ombudsman when suppliers fail to resolve complaints satisfactorily.
- Broker Regulation: Suppliers must ensure brokers working on small business contracts are registered with a Qualifying Dispute Settlement Scheme, providing customers with avenues to raise complaints against brokers.
- Consumer Support: Suppliers must inform small business consumers about their right to seek support from Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland.
These measures are especially welcome for hospitality businesses disproportionately impacted by the lack of transparency and punitive terms from certain suppliers and brokers.
Providing accessible remedies against suppliers and brokers offers a vital alternative to costly legal action.
How Nationwide Energy consultants can help:
Our team can assist businesses with:
- Raising complaints with suppliers and escalating them to the Energy Ombudsman
- Resolving disputes with brokers
- Addressing challenges related to energy contracts, billing and metering
