Renewables Come To The Fore As Households Brace Themselves For Winter Gas Increases

UK households are once again facing the prospect of higher fuel prices after British Gas owner Centrica announced rising wholesale gas costs mean supplying fuel to their customers will be more expensive next winter.

Although British Gas announced a 5% cut to its standard electricity tariff in January, it has said gas costs are likely to increase by 15% and that this combined with other costs will result in an additional £50 increase to supply the average home with energy. Worryingly, Centrica stated that "the trend for retail energy costs remains upwards."

This announcement will bring further disappointment to British Gas customers who only last year experienced a 16% increase in electricity prices and an 18% rise in gas prices. With fears now of further increases at a time when households across the UK are already tightening their belts in the face of a tough economic climate, the argument for renewable energy is further strengthened.

Renewable energy products such as Heat Pumps are an increasingly viable alternative in the wake of such repeated price increases. With the flexibility to choose from ground or air source heat pumps depending on the location, type and heat requirements of the property, renewables provide an extremely cost-effective alternative to gas and oil boilers. Vastly more efficient than these traditional fossil-fuelled systems, in some cases they can result in savings of over 60% on fuel costs.

Andrew Sheldon, Managing Director at Ice Energy Technologies who pioneered the introduction of ground source heat pumps in the UK over a decade ago, claims that there has never been a better time to consider renewable energy.

"Centrica have said it themselves, energy costs are only going one way and that's up. Renewable energy is perfectly placed to provide safer, more cost-effective options for homeowners tired of these repeated price hikes."

"Not only can heat pumps meet all domestic hot water and heating requirements, they are much more efficient and with the Renewable Heat Incentive on the horizon in 2013, adopting now could mean that owners of these systems can benefit from annual payments as part of the government's overall aim to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions. Add to that the availability of grants such as the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and you can understand why so many people are approaching us to see how renewables can benefit them."

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Tags: energy prices, heat pumps, renewable energy


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Paul Watson
Press Contact, Ice Energy Technologies
Ice Energy Technologies
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