The owner of an Aberdeen Chinese takeaway hit by a £10,000 gas bill still wants to “gauge the situation” – and that’s after his crippling energy bills were reduced by SSE.
The Royal Crown Chinese takeaway in Torry is at risk of collapse after soaring fuel costs has left them struggling to make ends meet.
Owner Martin Tang said he was one of many businesses facing increased bills and there was a battle between his head and his heart on the way forward.
The business has been owned by the Tang family for almost 50 years.
Mr Tang raised concerns after his gas bills rose from £1,000 to more than £10,000 per quarter. His electricity bill also went through the roof, rising to more than £4,000, up from £1,300 last quarter.
Bills still increased threefold
After talks with SSE, Mr Tang will now be required to pay £3,087 – a stark contrast to the £10,000 gas bill initially projected. His electricity bill has also been cut from £4,016 to £1,429.
But the bills have still risen threefold from a combined £2,200 for a quarter to more than £4,000.
The electricity company said it was now working with accurate meter readings rather than estimated bills to help reduce the bills.
Aberdeen residents flocked to social media to ask the owner to reconsider his decision to help prevent the closure of the beloved business.
Just days after appealing the decision with SSE, the takeaway’s energy bills have been reduced substantially as the firm took new meter readings.
‘I don’t want to go out this way’
Mr Tang says the news has helped to ease the pressure.
He said: “I need to crunch the numbers with my accountant.
“My head is saying this is not workable. It is £6,000 a quarter. But my heart tells me this community loves me and I want to support them.
“I am totally torn. I don’t want to go out this way, I feel completely torn.
“My business head says this is the end. Just call it.”
“My bills have still tripled, even on the reduced rates. I asked SSE if there was any way to work out a small business contract.
“I know I am not the only one in this situation. In the Chinese community people do not want a lot they are looking for a stable living – a house, and one holiday a year. This is crippling us all.
‘We are working with the customer’
A spokesman for SSE said: “SSE Energy Solutions endeavours to engage with all customers regarding their contract arrangements.
“Where a customer contract is set to expire, we will issue a new contract offer in advance of the expiration date at which point it is the responsibility of the customer to act on this and enter a new agreement.
“Failing to do so can result in higher costs on a rolling contract with variable rates.
“In this instance, SSE issued a new electricity contract offer in December 2018 ahead of the existing electricity contract expiration date.
“With no response received from the customer, variable rates were automatically applied to the electricity account when the contract expired and were billed from March 2019 until July 2022.
“Similarly, SSE issued a new gas contract offer in December 2020 ahead of the existing gas contract expiration date in February 2021.
“No response was received in this instance either. Variable rates were automatically applied to the gas account when the contract expired, from March 2021 and billed until July 2022.
He continued: “Until such point as the customer enters into a new contract, their gas and electricity accounts will continue to be billed on variable rates.
“SSE is liaising with the customer, working with them towards a satisfactory resolution. The customer has been re-billed for their recent usage based on actual meter reads taken this week.
“Consequently, their most recent quarterly gas bill has been adjusted from £10,000 to £3,087 and electric adjusted from £4,016 to £1,429.
“New contract offers have also been issued at the best available rates in an effort to reduce the customer’s energy bills.
“The proposed contract rates would see approximate quarterly bills of £6,000 for the customer, which would equate to £2,000 per month. Acceptance of the new contract rates is at the discretion of the customer.”
The takeaway is one of two businesses in Torry struggling amidst rising energy bills.
Nom Nom Fudge on Victoria Road is to shut up shop on Friday after four years in business.
Owner Douglas Hall made the “heartbreaking” decision as he says keeping his business running is no longer viable.
Conversation