Environment Agency offers compromise on ESOS

North West businesses facing fines of up to £50,000 by flouting new laws on energy waste can still avoid the massive penalties – but only if they act now.

And with less than two months until the deadline, Lancashire energy specialist Businesswise Solutions had feared many customers had left it too late to fulfil the criteria.

Companies also have until June next year to achieve ISO50001 accreditation needed to show they are complying with the new regulations.

“We can understand why many are choosing to do this because it involves a considerable amount of paperwork on top of the day-to-day running of the business, but they must act now.

He added: “It can take months to pull together all the necessary information so anyone who hasn’t started the process needs while there is still time. “

The scheme is compulsory for businesses that have more than 250 staff, or an annual turnover in excess of £42.5m and a balance sheet of more than £36.5m – and must be completed by December 5.

At the current submission level, businesses across the UK could be looking at a total fine of a staggering £491,250,000.

Businesses which qualify for ESOS but have zero energy consumption still need to notify the Environment Agency.

The government claim the benefits of submitting the ESOS audit is triple-fold to businesses – with firms improving on energy efficiency, profitability and competitiveness.