Research, by energy giant npower, comes less than a fortnight before the looming deadline for carbon footprint reports under the CRC on July 29.

The work, published today (July 18), found 94% want financial incentives reinstated and 46% claim not to have received adequate guidance from the government.

Findings are from the npower Business Energy Index (nBEI) an annual report tracking business opinion on energy use, energy risk and carbon emissions.

It also found a third of businesses (32%) believe the removal of recycled payments from the scheme has had a negative impact on plans to invest in energy saving measures.

Added to this, nearly half of the businesses surveyed (46%) felt they had not received ‘adequate guidance’ from the government on the CRC since it was implemented in April 2010.

npower head of business energy services, Dave Lewis, said: “The issues businesses have faced since the implementation of the CRC and through its subsequent changes have led to ongoing confusion.

“This is concerning as we approach the deadline for footprint reporting on July 29, in terms of the future of the scheme, opinion is divided.

“The report showed businesses believed it is unnecessarily complex and unwieldy, and it places an unnecessary financial burden on business.

“Some also stated they thought it should be postponed completely until the UK’s economic recovery is more secure.”

Over a quarter (26%) want it scrapped completely, while over half (52%) wanted there to be no more changes to the scheme, but the majority (82%) required more clarity of what is required of their business.

Finally, the report also revealed ongoing scepticism about the government’s carbon emissions reduction targets – over two thirds (69%) – of businesses believe the target to reduce emissions by 2050 is ‘unrealistic’.

The full report can be viewed by clicking here.

Luke Walsh

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