'Strength in numbers' needed to fight energy crisis
In a social media post shared via Twitter on Friday 14 April, Lord urged firms to contact him if they had used a broker or were stuck in a contract as his “legal team” could have found something to “challenge”.
The post said: “Update on hospitality energy bills: my legal team have potentially found something to challenge.
Strength in numbers
“If you used a broker and are stuck in a contract, DM me your email address.
“We need strength in numbers here. Pubs, restaurants, bars, gig venues, theatres, nightclubs etc.”
Update on Hospitality Energy Bills:
— Sacha Lord (@Sacha_Lord) April 14, 2023
My Legal Team have potentially found something to challenge.
If you used a Broker and are stuck in a contract, DM me your email address.
We need strength in numbers here. Pubs, Restaurants, Bars, Gig Venues, Theatres, Nightclubs etc.
Earlier this month Lord urged energy regulator Ofgem, which had previously found areas of “concern” in business energy contracts, to launch an investigation and back the cancellation of exit fees for the sector from onerous energy bills.
Additionally, Lord claimed there was a “national scandal on the horizon”, with venues that locked in contracts at the peak of the energy crisis last year now being left without Government subsidy in the face of excessive unit costs.
He said: “We are now seeing these providers charging unwarranted prices for gas and electricity, and even more concerning are the extortionate exit fees being summoned as business owners now try to renegotiate terms.
“Ofgem was set up to protect consumers and improve the energy system but it is currently doing neither.
“We urgently require intervention from Ofgem to investigate these providers and provide a realistic pathway for businesses that, without help, will undoubtedly fall into bankruptcy.”
Unmanageably high
The night-time economy adviser also recently shared on social media the big energy companies reporting record profits was “criminal” amid the “destruction” of hospitality firms.
It's criminal what's happening.
— Sacha Lord (@Sacha_Lord) April 5, 2023
As The big Energy Co's post record profits for their shareholders...we are witnessing the destruction of Hospitality independents.@Ofgem, every closure, every job loss, is on your watch. You aren't fit for purpose. https://t.co/0Jd7mxHvP7
This comes as data from real estate intelligence firm Altus Group last week revealed more than 150 pubs had been lost so far in 2023, attributed by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) to soaring energy costs.
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “Energy bills are decimating our sector with extortionate costs wiping out profits and closing pubs at a faster rate than the pandemic.
“It is essential the Government intervenes to ensure energy suppliers are offering the option of renegotiation to pubs locked into unmanageably high energy contracts.
“Make no mistake, the longer this goes on the more pubs will be lost forever in communities across the country, something must be done immediately to save them.”
