North Yorkshire businesses concerned about energy bills despite lower price cap

There are fears businesses in North Yorkshire are "facing a cliff edge" because of rising energy prices.

Earlier this week, the regulator lowered the energy price cap by almost a thousand pounds, but bills are still due to rise from April, as government support packages are scaled back.

Carolynn Frank is from the Federation of Small Businesses for North Yorkshire and she said: "Recently we've seen businesses making cutbacks so for example stopping recruitment and even business closures caused by escalating costs and particularly with utilities, so it's a real concern for our membership.

"There's definitely a cliff edge coming up in April for businesses. I've got businesses that are worried about tax burdens, changes in business rates and the changes to do with energy costs."

Carolynn explains what she would like to see from ministers: "Things like enabling vulnerable businesses, who fix their energy at higher costs, to come to an agreement with their energy supplier and come out of those contracts and negotiate a better deal. Also suggest a green scheme and to help accelerate energy efficiency."

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