Energy crisis leaves counties facing price increases of up to 850 per cent

Energy prices have risen dramatically for homes and businesses over the last year, with county budgets stretching as demands on energy usage continue into the winter.

Leicestershire chief executive Sean Jarvis has reported that energy costs at Grace Road have gone up by 850 per cent since the beginning of the crisis, prompting the county to consider alternative sources of energy to reduce their costs.

“The energy crisis, I think, has really sharpened our minds in terms of the costs that affect the club and also how we are a bit more sustainable going forward,” Jarvis told Wisden.com. “We did some analysis and overall our costs have gone up by about 850% since the energy crisis occurred.

“So that’s then really caused us to look at how we operate as a business from things like lights and heating, fuel costs and all those sorts of things.”

Such a high increase in energy costs will be made worse for some counties if the reduction in domestic cricket proposed by the ECB’s High Performance Review is voted through in the coming weeks. Jarvis has said that the current proposals would see Leicestershire lose an estimated £250,000 in revenue, with some other counties reporting similar figures.

While energy costs for many businesses increase during the winter months, as the domestic season rolls around in 2023, the cost of hosting matches and admitting fans into stadiums will sustain pressure on county budgets.

“We’re looking at all sorts of things, such as whether electric points are better on fuel costs and so on and so forth,” said Jarvis. “I think the crisis has had a dual effect on us. Our costs are challenging but they are sharpening our minds to make the business a bit more green going forwards.”

Hampshire CEO, David Mann has also reported a dramatic increase in the club’s energy bills, citing the dual effect of the crisis on counties which operate hotels and other businesses alongside cricket operations.

“We are actively exploring sustainable energy sources to mitigate rising utility costs,” Mann said in a statement to Wisden.com. “Our current fixed price electricity contract does not expire until next year but indicative prices have been advised at a 4x increase on our current rate.

“Our hotel business has seen a 85-plus per cent increase in utility costs this year which are sourced from sustainable biomass suppliers.”

Energy prices are set to continue to rise into the New Year, with the Business Energy Cap set to be lifted by the government in 2023. The tumultuous political landscape of the country means there is a high level of uncertainty over what help will be available to businesses struggling with their energy costs after March next year.

Accelerating transferring resources to sustainable forms of energy is inarguably a good thing for the future of domestic cricket in England, and ensuring cricket becomes a more environmentally sustainable game. But regardless, the impact of the energy crisis is the lates  drain depleting county coffers, another pressure which isn’t going away any time soon.