The multi-millionaire boss of an vitality firm that sparked fury after recommending that households save on their heating payments this winter by ‘cuddling’ their cats or ‘doing a number of star jumps’ owns a lavish £3.2million weekend residence that prices a whopping £850-per-month to energy.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and head of Ovo Power, Britain’s third-biggest vitality provider, enjoys the sprawling, five-bedroom property within the coronary heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, near Cirencester, which he bought in 2019.
The beautiful weekend residence is ready in 12 acres of pristine countryside and likewise has a swimming pool, 4 bogs and stylish eating room with beautiful views, giving Mr Fitzpatrick and his household enough area to observe his firm’s controversial recommendation on how one can keep heat which was slammed as ‘insensitive’ given Britain’s rising vitality prices.
Ovo Power boss Stephen Fitzpatrick owns this sprawling, five-bedroom residence within the Cotswolds that has its personal swimming pool and is now price within the area of £3.2million
Mr Fitzpatrick, 44, spends most of his time in London, spends weekends within the Cotswolds. He purchased the property in a non-public sale for £2.85million in 2019, land data present
The beautiful weekend residence is ready in 12 acres of pristine countryside and likewise has a swimming pool, 4 bogs and stylish eating room with beautiful views
Mr Fitzgerald’s agency Ovo Power sparked outrage by sending some prospects an e-mail which included a weblog advising hard-up prospects of helpful tricks to hold heat through the gasoline disaster
An e-mail despatched to Ovo Power’s prospects on Monday steered that they might ‘get transferring’ by doing ‘star jumps, cleansing the home or ‘difficult the children to a hula-hoop contest’.
Different recommendations included having a ‘cuddle along with your pets and family members to assist keep cosy’, consuming ‘hearty bowls of porridge’, sticking to ‘non-alcoholic drinks’ and consuming ginger — however not chilli, ‘because it makes you sweat’.
Mr Fitzpatrick, who’s price an estimated £675million, is often seen by locals and staff on his property through the weekends.
His property supervisor informed MailOnline: ‘He is at work, it is extremely unlikely he will likely be right here in the present day. It is his weekend residence and even then, he is not right here each weekend.’
Mr Fitzpatrick based Ovo Power in 2009
The previous rectory is reached down 1 / 4 of a mile driveway of Cotswold stone chippings and the imposing black entrance door is flanked by two six-foot bay bushes. A big khaki tepee full with a built-in log burner stands within the entrance backyard alongside an costly kids’s trampoline.
The beautiful Victorian property which stands in lush countryside is the most costly within the space and was described as a great household residence when it was final available on the market.
Mr Fitzpatrick has three kids together with his spouse Sophie.
His property supervisor added: ‘I discover out when he is approaching the day – he is very busy both in London or Bristol.’
MPs slammed his firm’s recommendation as ‘insulting’ and ‘offensive’ as Britons face a crushing cost-of-living disaster with one Authorities determine describing the suggestion to eat porridge and minimize out alcohol as ‘like some Dickensian nightmare’.
The e-mail was despatched to prospects of SSE Power Providers, which was purchased by Ovo in 2020.
However in contrast to a lot of his prospects, self-made multi-millionaire Mr Fitzpatrick is unlikely to face any issues assembly the vitality payments for his weekend retreat.
In line with vitality web site U Swap, which supplies estimates for family vitality prices, he might at present pay a minimal of £853 per thirty days for fuel and electrical energy.
The beautiful Victorian property which stands in lush countryside is the most costly within the space and was described as a great household residence when it was final available on the market
In line with vitality web site U Swap, which supplies estimates for family vitality prices, Mr Fitzpatrick might at present pay a minimal of £853 per thirty days for fuel and electrical energy
That is primarily based on U Swap’s ‘Dream Home Calculator’ which takes under consideration the age of a property, its sq. metre measurement and which luxurious options it could include, comparable to: an Aga; boiling water faucet; electrical automobile charger; giant wine fridge and swimming pool. Many of those are commonplace in high finish houses.
However the minimal £853 determine doesn’t take into consideration the anticipated April payments rise when Britain’s vitality value cap is adjusted.
It might result in family payments growing by as a lot as 50% which means Mr Fitzpatrick might find yourself paying a whopping £1,279 per thirty days for his fuel and electrical energy, if no more.
Mr Fitzpatrick based Ovo Power in 2009 and led its development to turn into the most important unbiased vitality supplier within the UK, with round 5 million prospects.
He co-founded the corporate with Sophie utilizing £350,000 they raised by promoting their first residence. They’ve identified one another for the reason that age of 16 and with their kids, take pleasure in an elaborate lifetime of plush nation dwelling and unique international holidays.
After establishing Ovo, Mr Fitzpatrick, who was born in Northern Eire, grew to become often called the ‘Robin Hood’ of the vitality sector for taking up the massive six established vitality firms, who he accused of having fun with a monopoly and never offering sufficient selections for purchasers.
The son of a Belfast grocer he studied at Edinburgh College after which began a profitable property newspaper earlier than changing into a Metropolis dealer, which he stop in his mid 30s to arrange on his personal with OVO.
Ovo Power despatched an e-mail to prospects on Monday itemizing ten ‘easy and value efficient methods to maintain heat this winter’. They included consuming ‘hearty bowls of porridge’, sticking to ‘non-alcoholic drinks’ and consuming ginger — however not chilli, ‘because it makes you sweat’
In 2014, Mr Fitzpatrick controversially made headlines after it was revealed that he had taken £2million out of OVO, when it was struggling to interrupt even, to purchase a household residence in Gloucestershire.
A eager Formulation One fan, in 2015 he invested £30million of his personal cash into the Marussia F1 workforce after it went into administration.
Following the e-mail, Ovo stated: ‘We perceive how tough the scenario will likely be for a lot of of our prospects this 12 months. We’re working laborious to search out significant options as we strategy this vitality disaster, and we recognise that the content material of this weblog was poorly judged and unhelpful. We’re embarrassed and sincerely apologise.’