Bid for fair energy deals

Campaigners and the MA have vowed to have one last push to persuade the Government to give pubs more protection from being treated badly by energy suppliers and agents.

The MA understands it is not yet a done deal that small businesses will be included in a proposal to make suppliers legally bound to take part in a redress scheme to resolve consumer complaints.

It is also unclear whether the needs of small businesses will be sufficiently addressed under the new consumer protection arrangements.

Ministers are expected to decide in the next few months whether to include small firms - employing fewer than 10 staff and with turnover under E2m - in the scheme.

This is to go live next year with the formation of the new consumer body the National Consumer Council, which will replace Energywatch.

The MA hosted a meeting in London last week as part of its Action on Energy Rogues campaign to discuss the latest developments.

It was decided that meetings should be sought with ministers to persuade them to include small firms in the scheme. This view will also be relayed in a consultation from energy regulator Ofgem.

Present at Wednesday's meeting were: Neil Martin - legal and estates director, Punch Taverns; Paul Savage and Patricia Ockenden - Energywatch; Robert Humphreys - secretary, All Party Parliamentary Beer Group; and Mike Higham - consultant, Pro-Eco.

Services rated​

Licensed premises are least satisfied with the service provided by their energy supplier according to a survey of 11 different small business sectors.

More than 2,400 small firms were asked by Energywatch to rate how satisfied they were on a scale of one to five, with five being "very satisfied"​.

Licensed premises scored an average of 3.17 - the overall average was 3.52.

The survey shows pubs were far less content with their contract once it had begun. Satisfaction with meter reading was 3.06 (average 3.37); repair, service or installations was 3.15 (average 3.65); billing service was 3.21 (average 3.54); and contract renewal was 3.21 (average 3.29).