Sewers Provide Bournemouth With Fast Broadband
Bournemouth is to get fibre optic broadband via the sewers, reports BBC News. The firm H20 plans to use sewers to provide high speed broadband to businesses and homeowners. Work is set to start on the project in the next six months and the company hopes more towns will be announced in the future. The Bournemouth project will mean around 88,000 homes and businesses will get 100Mbps broadband making it the largest scheme of its kind in the country. The chief executive of ... More
30 Day Energy Price rise Proposal
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets – Ofgem, has announced proposals that would mean gas and electricity suppliers have to give consumers 30 days' notice of all future price rises. The regulator wants to radically change the way energy companies tell their customers about increases to gas and electricity prices, and has suggested introducing a 30-calendar-day period of advance warning. Energy companies currently have up to 65 days whereby they have to notify consumers that they have increased their prices. ... More
BT Rolls Out Fibre Optic Broadband In Cornwall
Utility Exchange has reported previously on BT’s commitment to roll out superfast broadband to homes across the UK, see: http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2010/05/bt-to-spend-1bn-profit-on-high-speed-broadband/. Now BBC News reports that BT is set to provide super-fast broadband to 90% of the homes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The news means it will be the biggest fibre optic roll-out in the UK so far. The fibre optic roll out is set to be completed in 2014 and with Cornwall being largely rural it ... More
CRC registration data might not be correct
Up to date research reveals that one in five businesses registering for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) might have submitted incorrect data - according to gas and electricity supplier npower. Published today, the energy suppliers’ research also affirms that many businesses will miss today’s registration deadline. Experts at the energy firm said npowers’ findings not only highlight the confusion still felt by businesses ahead of the registration deadline (September 30, 2010) but could also result in many ... More
Ofgem Warns Of Rise In Gas Bills
Ofgem have warned that households could see their gas bills increase by £80 meaning they could soon be paying over £700 a year, reports The Daily Mail. The reason for the increase is because wholesale gas prices have risen. Experts in the energy industry have told consumers to shop around to ensure they have the best deal. However, they add that in addition to shopping around for the best deal householders should also try to cut back on their consumption. Ofgem made ... More
Nectar rewards from British Gas
Cheap gas and electricity supplier British Gas is set to join the Nectar reward scheme – giving 12 million customers the chance to cut their energy bills. British Gas will become Nectar's new partner in the utility sector when it supersedes supplier EDF Energy early next year. As the UK’s largest loyalty programme, Nectar has some 17 million members collecting points that can be redeemed for money off shopping at stores including Argos and Sainsbury’s or towards tickets for ... More
BT Sends ACS:Law Porn Data But Breaks Law
The personal details of over 5000 broadband customers accused of illegally sharing adult films online were passed to ACS:Law which could now be fined up to £500,000 because the information ended up being leaked. The list was targeted by online pirates and posted on the internet. Now BT has admitted that it sent the details of over 500 customers to the firm as an unsecured document. It means BT is now in breach of the Data Protection Act which demands that ... More
Comedian helps student gas safety campaign
Greg Davies – TV Star and stand-up comedian, has teamed up with international gas and electricity company National Grid in a brand new campaign aimed at making students aware of gas safety and the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning as they prepare to live in private, rented accommodation during the academic year. As a cult figure among students – playing head teacher Mr Gilbert in hit E4 show The Inbetweeners, Greg was shocked to learn that students weren’t bothered about gas ... More
Be Wary Of Free Solar Panels Says Which?
People are being warned to be wary of firms offering free solar panels because it means they could miss out on over £10,000, reports The Daily Telegraph. The consumer watchdog Which? has warned that some businesses are offering solar panels for free and the consumer will then benefit from lower electricity bills. So what does the company offering the solar panels get out of it? Well, in return for the solar panels the company keeps the Feed-in Tariff, the Government green ... More
CRC latecomers not named and shamed
The Environment Agency has announced that it will not ‘name and shame’ those businesses which have failed to sign up to the Carbon Reduction Commitment emissions trading scheme in time for today’s deadline, reports Public Finance. This announcement comes as the Treasury became the last central government department to sign up to the CRC scheme on the final day of registration – With all Whitehall ministries required to take part under the terms of the scheme. Set up by the Department ... More