ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has again called on the Government to support convenience stores with their energy bills after March 2023, urging retailers to write to their MP highlighting the serious impact of rising energy costs on their businesses.

Businesses who renewed their contracts at any point after 1st December 2021 have been eligible for support through the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The support provided to business comes in the form of a wholesale price set at 21.1p per kWh for electricity, and 7.5p per kWh for gas. This is the supported wholesale price, which makes up part of the overall kWh rate that a business pays, and is currently due to expire at the end of March 2023.

ACS has campaigned to ensure that convenience stores are included in the list of essential vulnerable businesses that will receive additional help with their energy bills from April 2023. As well as taking part in formal government surveys with members, ACS has modelled the costs facing its members across a number of different business types, showing that all convenience stores will be under significant pressure to survive unless they receive further support.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Our sector by nature is extremely resilient and adaptable but without additional support on energy from next April, thousands of stores will be forced to make difficult decisions and many of these businesses will be at risk of closure.

“There is still time retailers to write to their MP now to outline their concerns and highlight the detrimental impact that rising energy costs will have on their businesses.”

Retailers can enter their postcode on the MP email generator here to get involved.