Sewers Provide Bournemouth With Fast Broadband

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Kathryn

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 H20, Elfed Thomas said “Many households and broadband customers in the UK have insufficient connectivity bandwidths because they are attached to legacy networks deployed in the 20th century”.

H20 has been providing high speed broadband via sewers for several years and has plans to increase its fibre optic broadband network.

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Source: BBC News Online

30 Day Energy Price Rise Proposal

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Emma

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. Consumers then have 20 days in which to switch supplier if they want to avoid paying the increased rate.

But, under Ofgem’s latest proposal, this arrangement would be reversed – with companies required to give notice before they increase prices, thus allowing consumers more time to switch to a cheaper tariff – it takes approximately six weeks to switch suppliers.

Making the announcement, Ofgem’s senior partner for markets, Andrew Wright, stated:

“A month’s notice of price increases, along with annual energy statements and better information on bills, will empower consumers by giving them the facts about how much their energy costs. This information makes it easier to shop around for a better energy deal and to evaluate the benefits energy efficiency measures can deliver”

By law, Ofgem has to consult on proposals for licence modification – therefore the plans could be blocked if suppliers object. However, if they are blocked, Ofgem has the authority to refer the matter to the Competition Commission accordingly.

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Source: Guardian.co.uk (Money, Energy Bills)

BT Rolls Out Fibre Optic Broadband In Cornwall

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Kathryn

Utility Exchange has reported previously on BT’s commitment to roll out superfast broadband to homes across the UK.

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 could provide the blueprint for future rural broadband schemes.

BT will provide £78 million worth of funding while the European Regional Development Fund with provide £53 million for the project – this will be the biggest investment of its kind made by the European Union.

The communications minister Ed Vaizey launched the project at Fistral Beach in Newquay. He said “The government wants the UK to have the best broadband network in Europe by 2015, so today’s announcement is a big step towards that goal”.

Meanwhile the BT chief executive said the investment would make Cornwall one of the best connected in the world. He said “The final third of the UK is undoubtedly challenging to reach with fibre but this project shows it is possible”.

The editor of ThinkBroadband, Andrew Ferguson said “If take-up is good, it might mean BT does other regions on its own”. At the moment some rural communities are paying for their own fibre optic broadband because BT told them it would be too expensive for them to install it.

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Source: BBC News Online

CRC Registration Data Might Not Be Correct

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Emma

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 organisations facing longer term problems under the CRC scheme.

The npower study of 100 UK financial directors, carried out between 6 September and 17 September, showed almost a quarter, 22%, had not yet completed their CRC registration. And, of those which had, 23% said they found the process confusing.

As a large proportion of businesses admitted to leaving their registration to the last minute, npower believes that many will have missed today’s deadline because they won’t have left enough time to complete the registration process.

Further figures show 24% of respondents having reported issues whilst compiling data from multiple sites across their business, and more than one in ten said they didn’t fully understand what was required of them to complete registration. Plus, one in five financial directors said they were unaware of any guidance or advice that is available regarding the CRC or said they had down their own research.

Meanwhile, whilst the study revealed that one in five financial directors did not understand what is required of them when forecasting carbon allowances or purchasing allowances – 95% said they had been tracking energy consumption since April 2010 – which will significantly help to submit their first ‘footprint’ year report to the Environment Agency.

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Source: npowermediacentre (press release)

Ofgem Warns Of Rise In Gas Bills

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Kathryn

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 the announcement in its quarterly update where it said “We forecast our estimate of wholesale energy costs to begin to increase over the coming months”.

Ofgem added “This is because prices in forward markets have further increased since our June report. This effect is more pronounced in the market for gas. We estimate that by spring 2011 gas purchase costs may increase by 13 per cent”.

If the rises in gas prices are passed on to customers it could see prices rise by 13% and bills increase from an average of £625 to £706 a year. Ofgem says some suppliers are already starting to increase bills and many of them have withdrawn their cheapest online deals.

First Utility has increased prices for its existing customers already as Ofgem said energy companies were making less profit from each customer than three months ago.

An energy expert at uSwitch, Thomas Lyon, said “At the moment, suppliers are still making a healthy margin. But Ofgem’s forecast suggests this may change by Spring 2011. This could herald a price increase for households although it’s important to stress that this is by no means a done deal”.

He suggested that consumers look around at move to competitive energy deals now as well as controlling their energy use during the winter months.

It’s also important for business energy users to look for the best energy deals and cut their energy use. Utility Exchange compare business electricity prices, business gas prices and business telecoms everyday saving you time, money and energy. Request a FREE quote online or call 0800 411 8830.

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Source: The Daily Mail