One of the world’s best aquarium stores is facing a five-times increase in the cost of electricity to run their aquariums. Pier Aquatics in Wigan, England has warned of the threat of possible closure as their electricity bill rose from £3270.66 to £16332.96 ($19,921) per month.
The cost of electricity in the UK has rocketed since the war in Ukraine, and energy-hungry businesses like aquarium stores have been particularly badly hit. A freshwater-only store, Pier has gained a reputation worldwide for its catfish collection, rare imports, and new species, many of which require warmer than usual temperatures.
Both hobbyists and retailers braced themselves for high energy bills this winter with Pier being quoted £12400.00 per month by a previous provider. By the time the store had shopped around prices had risen to £16332.96 shown on their bill here, with some government help promised but no price cap for energy for businesses and even higher bills predicted to come into effect in April, and then again in October 2023.
If there was ever a time to support your Local Fish Store and help them fight inflation and the rising cost of energy it’s now. The more livestock they have, be it fish or corals, the higher their bills will be. We ourselves have seen the price of running our own aquariums increase to more than four times what they were when we started in this hobby.
We will not give up doing what we love and urge those who can to visit their aquatic store this weekend and support them by making a purchase, however small, to help them pay for these unprecedented rises in the cost of energy.
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