This Weeks Updates

Updated Monday 26th May 2025

1. Energy Price Cap Increase: Ofgem announced a 6.4% rise in the energy price cap for the period April to June 2025. This will likely affect businesses struggling with high energy bills. 

   2. Barclays Selling Merchant Acquiring Business: British bank Barclays is reportedly selling its UK merchant acquiring division to Brookfield Asset Management for £650 million. This could impact businesses relying on Barclays for payment processing solutions. 

3. North Wales Businesses Face High Energy Costs: North Wales businesses are facing the highest energy charges in the UK, with some experiencing significantly higher costs than businesses in other regions. 

  4. Government Relief Scheme:The government is implementing an Energy Bill Relief Scheme to provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for non-domestic customers. This scheme aims to help businesses and other organizations cope with the impact of rising energy costs. 

 5. Water Companies to Face Stronger Compensation:Water companies are to be forced to double compensation for supply interruptions, as outlined in new regulations. This could lead to increased costs for water companies and potentially impact water rates for businesses.