Crippling power bills daunting for small-business sector

By ELLEN READ

Reports of small businesses facing 90 per cent rises in power prices because of the present electricity crisis are alarming the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

Chief executive Alasdair Thompson said new contract power prices were soaring up to 90 per cent on top of increases of up to 65 per cent since 2001.

"It's not only major users being punished with unexpected price hikes. We're getting regular reports of smaller businesses facing massive contract price increases, many exporters amongst them," he said.

"They find they have no option but to pay up to 90 per cent more," he said.

Although the power bills still have to be paid, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority says there are many ways smaller or home-based businesses can save power and, in turn, money.

The full list - which the authority says could save businesses 30 per cent on their power bills - can be found at www.emprove.org.nz but some easy suggestions include:

* Lighting. -

Show your business is implementing savings measures by switching off shopfront or building facade lighting and signs. If natural daylight is adequate, switch off lights.

Ask cleaners to turn the lights on in only the areas they are cleaning and to switch off as they go.

* Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. -

Reduce the heating setpoint to 18C, or widen the dead-band to +/-2C.

Reduce building heating or cooling times to basic work hours only.

Get your electricity system checked to ensure it is operating efficiently. * Office equipment. -

Encourage staff to turn off computer monitors when away from their desk for more than 15 minutes - screen savers don't save power.

Make sure all computers, photocopiers, printers and lights are switched off at the end of the day.

* Electric hot water. -

Check cylinder temperature - thermostat should be set at 60C.

If staff shower at work, encourage them to take shorter showers (suggest five minutes as a maximum).

* Refrigeration. -

If possible, consolidate stock into fewer refrigerators and switch off surplus units.

Check temperature levels to ensure refrigeration is no cooler than required and that blast cycles are as short as possible.

Use covers on refrigerated displays when the store is closed. Check defrosting controls.

The authority has set up a business advice line (advice@energywise.org.nz) where questions specific to a business will be answered by an energy expert.