ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has written to the new Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison MP calling for an extension of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for local shops.
In the letter, ACS has highlighted the vital role that convenience stores play in communities across the UK and outlined serious concerns about the impact of energy price increases from April 2023.
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 called on the Government to ensure that convenience stores are included in the list of essential vulnerable businesses that will receive additional help with their energy bills in 2023. Without this support, ACS warns that stores could be at risk of closure.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience stores by their nature are extremely adaptable and resilient but without additional support on energy from next April, thousands of stores will be facing difficult decisions in order to stay afloat and we know that many will be at risk of closure. Rising energy costs are the single biggest concern for retailers and the Government needs to provide urgent and decisive action to provide these essential businesses with the support that they need in order to continue trading.”
ACS is calling on retailers to write to their MPs to highlight the impact of rising energy costs on their businesses. Retailers can enter their postcode on the MP email generator here to get involved.
