CCL - Let's get your money back!!
Green Platypus
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Introduction
Electricity and gas are essential utilities for UK schools, powering everything from lighting and IT equipment to heating systems. However, further studies into Green Platypus' previous article, "Smarter Energy Management in UK Schools," have highlighted a significant issue: many schools have been incorrectly billed for the Climate Charge Levy (CCL) over the past four years, making them eligible for substantial refunds.
The CCL is a government levy on non-domestic energy bills intended to promote energy efficiency among businesses. However, as educational institutions, schools are generally exempt from this charge. Due to widespread billing errors, many have been incorrectly charged, leading to unnecessary financial strain. This revelation presents an opportunity for schools to reclaim funds that could instead be reinvested into educational resources and energy-saving initiatives.
Primary Schools
Primary schools in the UK typically consume between 30,000 and 50,000 kWh of electricity annually and approximately 150,000 to 250,000 kWh of gas per year.
According to Green Platypus’ research, with electricity costs ranging from 24 to 26 pence per kWh and gas costs between 6 and 8 pence per kWh, incorrect CCL billing significantly impacts primary school budgets.
Estimated CCL Refund for Primary Schools:
? Electricity Refund Estimate:
o Average electricity consumption: 40,000 kWh
o Estimated incorrect CCL billing: ￡0.00847 per kWh
o Estimated refund per school: ￡338 annually, totalling ￡1,352 over four years.
? Gas Refund Estimate:
o Average gas consumption: 200,000 kWh
o Estimated incorrect CCL billing: ￡0.00159 per kWh
o Estimated refund per school: ￡318 annually, totalling ￡1,272 over four years.
Combined Total Refund for Primary Schools:
? Estimated total refund per primary school: ￡2,624 over four years.
With approximately 16,800 primary schools in the UK, the potential total refunds amount to around ￡44 million.
This figure highlights the significant financial impact of misapplied CCL charges and the importance of schools conducting thorough reviews of their energy bills to reclaim these funds.
Secondary Schools
Secondary schools in the UK have higher energy demands, typically consuming between 70,000 and 100,000 kWh of electricity and 300,000 to 400,000 kWh of gas annually. The higher consumption levels make the impact of incorrect CCL billing even more pronounced.
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Estimated CCL Refund for Secondary Schools:
? Electricity Refund Estimate:
o Average electricity consumption: 85,000 kWh
o Estimated incorrect CCL billing: ￡0.00847 per kWh
o Estimated refund per school: ￡720 annually, totalling ￡2,880 over four years.
? Gas Refund Estimate:
o Average gas consumption: 350,000 kWh
o Estimated incorrect CCL billing: ￡0.00159 per kWh
o Estimated refund per school: ￡556 annually, totalling ￡2,224 over four years.
Combined Total Refund for Secondary Schools:
? Estimated total refund per secondary school: ￡5,104 over four years.
With around 4,200 secondary schools in the UK, potential total refunds could exceed ￡21 million. These findings underscore the need for secondary schools to scrutinize their energy bills and pursue any available refunds to alleviate budgetary pressures.
Combined View of Estimated Refunds for UK Schools
Green Platypus’ research into the misapplication of the CCL charge reveals a significant opportunity for UK schools to reclaim funds that have been incorrectly billed over the last four years. Combining the estimates for primary and secondary schools shows the substantial financial impact:
? Primary Schools: ￡44 million
? Secondary Schools: ￡21 million
? Total Estimated Refunds: ￡65 million
This potential ￡65 million represents funds that could be redirected from erroneous charges to valuable investments in educational resources, improved school facilities, or further energy efficiency measures that could lower future operational costs. By taking action to identify and claim these refunds, schools can ensure better financial management, accountability, and support for their educational missions. This process not only represents a financial recovery but also reinforces the principles of smarter energy management highlighted in Green Platypus’ previous studies, driving a more sustainable and efficient future for UK schools.
*all prices and refunds amounts are estimate using median averages of utility costs in the education sector