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WEST BOARDROOMS COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES OVER NEW CARBON REDUCTION RULES

Top property-energy specialist warns South West businesses to comply with “Carbon Reduction Commitment”

South West boardroom directors could face criminal charges, if they fail to meet new rules on carbon reduction.

This is the warning from Steve Puddicombe, the energy-specialist at King Sturge, the largest firm of international property consultants in the South West.

“The new rules make strict demands on any business using more than 6 million kWh – amounting to an annual energy bill of about £500,000.  This can have direct impact on landlords owning commercial properties with multiple tenants, and many of this region‘s large employers”, said Mr Puddicombe.

“Like so many recently introduced new regulations, this has received very little publicity:  but that does not shield boardrooms from the penalties of non-compliance”, he warned.

Any company failing to register its energy use by the required deadline 30 September 2010 faces a fine of £5,000, plus an additional £500 per day until it is successfully registered on the new scheme.
“Non-compliance with the annual reporting scheme will be treated as a civil offence, but a failure to respond to subsequent demands will be viewed as a criminal offence”, said King Sturge‘s Bristol-based Steve Puddicombe.

“For King Sturge, as will be the case with many local businesses, we are required to make an information disclosure as an organisation using less than 6 million kWh.  Failure to make a disclosure can also result in a fine of £500 or more”.

“My worry is that many of this region‘s large property-owners and businesses will be unaware of this new legal requirement.  The fines for non-compliance are punitive, at a time of financial constraint; and the ultimate retribution is a criminal conviction”, Mr Puddicombe added.

The Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme took effect from 1st April.  Having identified their total annual CO2 emissions, participating organisations will have to purchase carbon allowances at a fixed price of £12 per tonne during the first three years.
 

ENDS                              26th May 2010


For further information contact  Steve Puddicombe 0117-930-5723 or 07973 - 908559