Energy may be more challenging and complicated these days, but it doesn’t have to be with such a wealth of experts out there. You may find the following energy industry links useful.
Ofgem
www.ofgem.gov.uk
Protecting consumers is Ofgem’s first priority. They do this by promoting competition, wherever appropriate, and regulating the monopoly companies which run the gas and electricity networks
energywatch (Helping Businesses)
www.energywatch.org.uk
energywatch is the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council. It is the independent body responsible for providing energy consumers with information and advice and for investigating all complaints and enquiries on their behalf, including all the areas that Ofgem regulates.energywatch also has an advocacy role and can raise matters with Ofgem if it detects issues that require regulatory consideration.
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
www.berr.gov.uk
BERR’s central purpose is to help ensure business success in an increasingly competitive world. It is the voice for business across Government. It leads the Government’s drive to raise UK levels of productivity, create the conditions for business success and strengthen the economic performance of all the regions.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is a UK Government Department. The overarching challenge for Defra is to enable everyone to live within our environmental means. This is most clearly exemplified by the need to:
- Tackle climate change internationally and through domestic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
- Secure a healthy, resilient, productive and diverse natural environment.
Defra is also the organisation responsible for the new Carbon Reduction Commitment legislation.
Sustainable procurement
www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
The Government has a crucial role in furthering sustainable development through its procurement of goods, services and buildings. With a budget of some £150bn, the public sector can transform markets so that the private sector can join forces in pursuing sustainable purchasing policies.
The Sustainable Procurement Task Force was established in May 2005, charged with drawing up an action plan to bring about a step-change in sustainable public procurement so that the UK is among the leaders in the EU by 2009.
Communities and local government
www.communities.gov.uk
Communities and Local Government is working hard to create thriving, sustainable, vibrant communities that improve everyone's quality of life. To achieve this they are:
- Building more and better homes - and reducing homelessness
- Improving local public services
- Regenerating areas to create more jobs
- Working to produce a sustainable environment
- Tackling anti-social behaviour and extremism
Communities and Local Government sets policy on local government, housing, urban regeneration, planning and fire and rescue. They have responsibility for all race equality and community cohesion related issues in England and for building regulations, fire safety and some housing issues in England and Wales. The rest of their work applies only to England.
Business Link (Energy & efficiency)
www.businesslink.gov.uk
Business Link provides the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and grow a business. It provides information and advice to help customers make the most of their opportunities. Rather than providing all the advice and help itself, it fast-tracks customers to the expert help they need. The Business Link service is a crucial part of the government's campaign to promote enterprise and to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Business Link is available locally and quality assured regionally to clear national standards
NetRegs
www.netregs.gov.uk
NetRegs provides free environmental guidance for small businesses in the UK. They will help you to understand what you need to do to comply with environmental legislation and protect the environment. They may even help to save you money by showing you ways to use your resources more efficiently.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
www.cbi.org.uk
The CBI helps create and sustain the conditions in which businesses in the United Kingdom can compete and prosper for the benefit of all.They are the premier lobbying organisation for UK business on national and international issues. They work with the UK government, international legislators and policy-makers to help UK businesses compete effectively. Their members benefit from their influence, a wealth of expertise, business services and events.
British Retail Consortium (BRC)
www.brc.org.uk
To work with its members to create a vibrant and sustainable retail industry for the future.
BRC make life easier for its members by:
- Campaigning to promote and defend retailers' interests
- Advising retailers of threats and opportunities to their business
- Improving the perceptions of retailing in the UK
- Offering members a range of services and products which add value to their business
Business in the Community (BiTC)
www.bitc.org.uk
Business in the Community is a unique movement of over 800 member companies, representing 1 in 5 of the UK private sector workforce. A further 3,000 companies are engaged through their programmes and campaigns which they operate through a local network of more than 100 business-led partnerships. They lead a global partners network of 112 organisations operating in over 60 countries.
Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
www.cse.org.uk
CSE is an independent charity is to advance sustainable energy policy and practice. We seek energy solutions that engage people and communities to meet real needs for both environmentally sound and affordable energy services.
May Day Network (May Day Network)
www.bitc.org.uk
The May Day Network is the UK’s largest group of companies committed to collaboratively tackling climate change by mobilising their companies, employees, suppliers and customers. By sharing best practice, these companies promise to play a powerful role in reducing the UK's carbon emissions.
Major Energy Users Council (MEUC)
www.meuc.co.uk
Major Energy Users’ Council is the UK’s largest utility users’ network and lobby, helping buyers achieve lower prices and fairer trading terms. It represents the interests of large industrial, commercial, retail and public service customers including Ford, Tesco, Corporation of London, Nationwide Building Society, Ministry of Defence and NHS Purchasing Agency.
Utilities Intermediaries Association
www.uia.org.uk
The Utilities Intermediaries Association (UIA) is a Trade Association for Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs) facilitating energy purchasing contracts between supplier and consumer.
The Carbon Trust
www.carbontrust.co.uk
The Carbon Trust was set up by Government in 2001 as an independent company. Their mission is to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.
Energy Savings Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
The Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation, funded both by government and the private sector, set up in the UK primarily to address the effects of climate change. The aim of the Energy Savings Trust is to cut emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy.