The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has published a short report illustrating the scale of the increases in electricity costs and the effects that these are having on their members.
The report also includes four recommendations that the new Prime Minister must immediately implement if there are not to be wide spread business closures.
“With the cost of living likely to be top of the new Prime Minister’s in tray” said Tony Goodger, spokesperson for AIMS.
“It is the unprecedent rise in input costs which are leading to a cost of production crisis for manufacturing businesses. Key among these increases is the cost of electricity”.
“AIMS members are coming to us daily, horrified by the amounts their bills have increased by. In most cases these are triple digit percentages.
“Businesses with cash in bank earmarked for expansion, site upgrades or other investment is now being eaten away simply by having to pay extortionate electricity bills.
“We are urging the new Prime Minister and cabinet to adopt the four simple and quick recommendations we are proposing in order that input costs can be held in check and increased cost of production not be passed to consumers in ever increasing price hikes.”
Goodger said AIMS works with several business service suppliers to help members reduce their power bills and to find sources of business finance.
He added:
“It is our belief that the cost of production is the single most important issue for the incoming Prime Minister as is it this which is driving inflation and thus the cost of living crisis.”
“There has never been a more pressing time for businesses to look at every kilowatt hour of energy spend and to check that it is being purchased on the best terms and applied in the most efficient manner.”
