A community pool in Newcastle could face a £100,000 energy bill amid fears of a crisis in vital swimming lessons for children across the UK.
Jesmond Pool and Gym said it is looking at "all options" to save money. Manager Phil Drape said the facility - run by a charity - does not want to raise prices for those who rely on it for fitness. Their instructors currently provide swimming lessons for 1,200 children every week, teaching thousands to swim every year.
But pools across the country are now facing a battle for survival due to rocketing running costs.
READ MORE: Jesmond swimmers asked if they would shower at home as pool looks to save on soaring energy bills
"The energy bill as it stands is at £30,000 a year," explained Phil, who helps pool charitable trusts across the UK.
"We are installing solar panels to offset electricity costs. Energy bills could easily rise to £100,000 next year."
He knows of one pool that is being forced to close as costs go through the roof. And he warns others may go the same way as pubs, bars, restaurants and care homes all face the same threat.
Last month, ChronicleLive reported how Jesmond Pool has asked swimmers in a survey whether they would consider showering at home as the facility looks at ways to manage its budget.
The social enterprise said: "We have over 1,000 people from swimming lessons using the showers each week which uses a considerable amount of water and energy to heat it. Would you consider showering at home instead of the pool?"
Manager Phil said: "The last thing we would want is to pass on a price increase to our customers who use leisure for their fitness and wellbeing. Therefore, we are looking at all options to reduce our energy including the installation of solar panels, reducing showering time, and a few other initiatives."
Energy bill figures for the business sector were calculated prior to the Government's energy bill relief scheme. It will cap costs for six months, initially between this month and the end of March 2023.
While the Government has introduced a cap on standing rates for domestic customers, it has not done the same for businesses, which could still mean spiralling bills for many.
Kirsty Cumming, CEO of Community Leisure UK, represents 104 members with at least one pool. They are struggling with increased energy costs, and a fall in customer numbers and council support.
"They have introduced increased prices, reduced the use of air conditioning units; they are charging equipment in non-peak electricity hours and reducing pool temperatures," she said.
"The sheer scale of the challenge means that reduced opening hours, fewer hours of work, redundancies and permanent closures are on the horizon. Some of our members are estimating between 12 and 18 months before they close if there is no financial support."
Meanwhile, care homes face crippling energy bills. Standing charges have not been capped. Middlesbrough Council's director of adult social care warned of the level of uncertainty in the care home sector.
Louise Grabham, the council's head of commissioning, told how one care home was worried its energy bills could rise from £20,000 per year to £160,000, though some have secured fixed rate deals.
The Government's Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a discount on gas and electricity prices for non-domestic customers, including all UK businesses, charities and the public sector such as schools and hospitals. It will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after April 1, 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts.
It will help with energy use from Oct 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, running for an initial six-month period for all non-domestic energy users. The savings will be first seen in October bills, typically received in November.
A discount will automatically be applied to bills. The level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances.
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