Este artigo foi em co-autoria por Sally Milner, Solicitador Trainee, Manchester e Tegan Johnson, Solicitor Apprentice, Sheffield. As altas taxas de inflação são predominantemente devido às interrupções da cadeia de suprimentos e à demanda do consumidor, e os aumentos substanciais nos preços da energia, embora a taxa de inflação do Reino Unido tenha diminuído ligeiramente em agosto a 9,9%, devido a uma queda mensal nos preços de petrolas e a diesel e a menor número de empresas para o preço de alimentos e paturosos. O governo, que inclui uma nova garantia de preço de energia, até o momento, as empresas (que não foram cobertas pelo novo valor de preço da energia) tiveram que absorver o impacto do aumento dos preços de gás e eletricidade. É provável que isso tenha impactado o aumento anterior das taxas de inflação, à medida que as contas de energia foram passadas na cadeia de suprimentos, aumentando os temores de que algumas empresas sejam forçadas a fechar. A possível explicação para esse aumento provavelmente será resultado das medidas restantes introduzidas pela Lei Corporativa de Insolvência e Governo de 2020 (CIGA), com o objetivo de ajudar a proteger as empresas afetadas pelas restrições de bloqueio durante a pandemia, que chegou ao final de 31 de março de 2022. No entanto, o aumento subsequente do Q2 2022 é mais provável que seja explicado com o aumento de um pouco de trabalho em 31 de março de 2022. Rose. e hospitais). O nível de desconto de preço para cada empresa varia dependendo do tipo de contrato de energia e das circunstâncias. Espera-se que o período e a economia de seis meses sejam vistos em contas de uso de energia ao longo de outubro, que normalmente são recebidas em novembro. O suporte será aplicado automaticamente a contas, sem a necessidade de as empresas se aplicarem ao esquema.
In July 2022, the annual rate of UK inflation (10.1%) was the highest it has been since 1982, affecting the affordability of goods and services. The high rates of inflation are predominantly due to supply chain disruptions and consumer demand, and the substantial increases in energy prices, although the UK inflation rate eased slightly in August to 9.9%, reportedly due to a monthly fall in petrol and diesel prices and smaller upward contributions from the price of food and clothing.
Support for businesses
Whilst a support package for households was announced by the government which includes a new energy price guarantee, to date, businesses (which were not covered by the new energy price cap) have had to absorb the impact of rising gas and electricity prices themselves. This is likely to have impacted the previous increase in inflation rates as energy bills were passed down the supply chain, raising fears that some businesses would be forced to close.
The recently published Company Insolvency Statistics for 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022 (Q2 2022) show there were 5,629 (seasonally adjusted) registered company insolvencies during this period, an increase of 81% from Q2 2021. A possible explanation for this increase is likely to be a result of the remaining measures introduced by The Corporate Insolvency and Government Act 2020 (CIGA), for the purpose of helping to protect companies affected by lockdown restrictions during the pandemic, having come to an end on 31 March 2022. However, the subsequent increase in Q2 2022 is more likely to be explained by the increase in businesses experiencing financial difficulty as energy prices and interest rates rose.
Energy Bill Relief Scheme
On 21 September 2022, the UK Government published details of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which intends to offer similar support to businesses as that provided for consumers.
Under the scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers (including all UK businesses, the voluntary sector and the public sector, such as schools and hospitals). The level of price discount for each business will vary depending on their energy contract type and circumstances.
The discount will apply to:
- Fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, in addition to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts.
- Energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
The scheme will run for an initial six-month period and savings are expected to be seen in bills for energy usage throughout October, which are typically received in November. The support will automatically be applied to bills, without the need for businesses to apply to the scheme.
A review into the operation of the scheme will be published after three months, for the purpose of informing the government’s decision on the type of future support, if any, to be offered to businesses after March 2023. The review will focus in particular on identifying the most vulnerable non-domestic energy customers and how the government will continue to assist them.
De acordo com as disposições introduzidas no CIGA, um termo de contrato para o fornecimento de bens ou serviços que prevê o término automático do contrato no caso de insolvência do cliente, ou que permita ao fornecedor rescindir o contrato (ou fazer "qualquer outra coisa" ou "qualquer outra coisa" que ocorra) em tal evento, é um pouco operável. Essas disposições se aplicam à maioria dos processos formais de insolvência. Às vezes, essa era uma estratégia adotada para mitigar o impacto da insolvência de um cliente em um fornecedor que devia dinheiro. O fornecedor deve, no entanto, ser pago por quaisquer suprimentos adicionais, normalmente como uma despesa do processo de insolvência relevante. Portanto, talvez nunca tenha sido tão importante manter uma rédea apertada no crédito estendido aos clientes. Os fornecedores devem considerar se os contratos de fornecimento de longo prazo com clientes individuais são mais desejáveis do que os contratos de fornecimento individuais ou de curto prazo. Se os fornecedores se encontrarem na posição infeliz de serem obrigados a continuar a fornecer um cliente insolvente, eles devem procurar aconselhamento jurídico o mais rápido possível e garantir que quaisquer pagamentos para oferta futura sejam feitos no prazo. não foi pago. Mas os termos do arrendamento não impedirão o fornecedor de exercer seus poderes estatutários. E se as instalações estiverem desconectadas sem o conhecimento do proprietário, uma vez que um contrato chegar ao fim, a realidade comercial de ter que reconquistá-los o mais rápido possível pode significar que o proprietário não tem escolha a não ser resolver a dívida do inquilino (que pode ser significativa, mesmo que o alívio de energia seja aplicado, que se reencontraria, a que se reencontraria, a que se reencontraria, a que se recuperaria. reivindicando uma violação do contrato. Mas, novamente, a realidade comercial é que haveria pouco sentido em perseguir um réu que já é conhecido por estar em dificuldade financeira. Da mesma forma, os inquilinos podem começar a exigir novas disposições para limitar sua responsabilidade pelo pagamento de cobranças de serviços públicos e mudar a responsabilidade para o proprietário para além de um certo valor. Embora seja difícil comentar em detalhes sobre as possíveis questões legais para proprietários e inquilinos nesse estágio, o aumento do custo de energia parece definido para afetar um grupo de empresas ainda mais amplo do que foi pensado pela primeira vez. Crise:
Consequently, in the event of a customer insolvency, a business may be forced to continue to supply and cannot make it a condition of such continued supply that outstanding payments are made. This was a strategy sometimes adopted in order to mitigate the impact of a customer’s insolvency on a supplier which was owed money. The supplier should, however, be paid for any further supplies, normally as an expense of the relevant insolvency process.
With the additional strains on business customers as a result of the issues highlighted above, there is a heightened risk to suppliers. It has therefore perhaps never been as important to keep a tight rein on the credit extended to customers. Suppliers should consider whether long term supply contracts with individual customers are more desirable than individual or short-term supply contracts. Should suppliers find themselves in the unfortunate position of being required to continue to supply an insolvent customer, they should seek legal advice as soon as possible and ensure that any payments for future supply are made on time.
Gas and electricity suppliers have wide-ranging powers under the Electricity Act 1989 and the Gas Act 1986 up to and including making applications for warrants to enter premises and disconnect the supply if it has not been paid for.
Most commercial leases provide that the tenant is responsible for the payment of utility charges. But the terms of the lease will not prevent the supplier from exercising their statutory powers. And if premises are disconnected without the landlord’s knowledge once a lease has come to an end, the commercial reality of having to relet them as soon as possible could mean the landlord has no choice but to settle the tenant’s debt (which could be significant, even after the energy relief has been applied) in order for the supply to be reconnected.
Landlords would, in those circumstances, want to reserve the right to recover the arrears from their ex-tenants by claiming a breach of the lease. But again, the commercial reality is that there would be little point in pursuing a defendant who is already known to be in financial difficulty.
This could lead to landlords demanding bigger rent deposits, or even higher rents for new leases in an attempt to ‘price in’ the risk of tenant default. Equally, tenants may begin to demand new provisions to cap their liability for payment of utility charges and shift the responsibility onto the landlord beyond a certain amount. While it is difficult to comment in detail on the potential legal issues for landlords and tenants at this stage, the rising cost of energy seems set to affect an even wider group of businesses than was first thought.
Recommendations for businesses
In addition to the measures proposed by the government, there are a number of ‘clean-up’ tasks businesses can undertake to protect themselves throughout the ongoing crisis:
- Considere o objetivo final dos negócios e prioridades para esse período difícil. Considere o que está funcionando bem e o que requer adaptação.
- Prioritise accounts management and reviews of business performance. Consider what is working well and what requires adaptation.
- Review current suppliers and research quotes for other potential providers to cut down on costs.
- Considere se os contratos de fornecimento de médio ou longo prazo com clientes individuais são desejáveis ou se faz mais sentido limitar os contratos a suprimentos individuais. Verifique se grandes faturas foram recebidas e aprovadas antes da data de vencimento para evitar atrasos inesperados. Em um novo contrato de arrendamento como proprietário, considere pedir ao inquilino um depósito de segurança e, se acordado, verifique se a escritura de depósito permite deduções a serem feitas em relação a cobranças de utilidade não pagas.
- Ensure prompt payment for work completed and chase payment for unpaid invoices where necessary. Check that large invoices have been received and approved before the due date to avoid unexpected delays.
- Changing behaviours to reduce unnecessary costs, such as reducing the cost of outgoings, reviewing regular expenses and considering whether they can be reduced, or avoided all together.
- Consider stock levels – holding less stock can minimise the cash tied up in products.
- If entering into a new lease as a landlord, consider asking the tenant for a security deposit and if agreed, ensure that the deposit deed allows for deductions to be made in respect of unpaid utility charges.
- Se entrar em um novo arrendamento como inquilino, considere pedir ao proprietário que inclua cláusulas que limitem a responsabilidade pelos pagamentos de utilidade em um determinado nível (além dos quais o proprietário será necessário para contribuir). cobranças. Downtown in Business
- Either way (and this will be important for avoiding disputes later on) make sure that the terms of the lease are clear when it comes to the division of responsibility for payment of utility charges.
This article first appeared on https://kennedyslaw.com/thought-leadership/article/cost-of-living-crisis/
