Utility Broker Bedford | Gerard Duggan

Real Time Energy Management…be in control of your electricity budget

Electricity costs are set to rise year on year with 2011 already seeing an average increase of 7.2% (to date) from 2010 prices, so it is paramount that businesses look at ways to combat these rising costs.

Clearly reducing wastage is the most cost effective and beneficial way to achieve savings which will mean a direct increase in profit to any business that applies this strategy. Utilitrack estimate that up to 40% of a business’s energy bill is going to waste…the trouble is identifying which 40%.

Utilitrack is at the forefront of energy management, targeting significant reductions in client energy consumption and cost, without inhibiting performance. This is of course highly desirable in the current economic climate. Utilitrack is the sole supplier of the Eniscope, a progressive piece of equipment that is at the cutting edge of energy saving technology.

Now you can see the real-time energy consumption of buildings, specific departments, circuits and even ones plant and machinery.

Instantly, you can spot trends, anomalies and wastage, make informed decision and see immediate results from the improvements you’ve made.

If you’d like to be in control of your energy budget please call Gerard Duggan on 0845 604 1484.

Volatile market conditions

…it’s even more important for client’s to review the market before they renew their contract.

“We are seeing as unique set of circumstances affecting the energy market. Oil prices have increased due to the instability in the Middle East. Historically electricity and oil prices are inextricably linked on the European market, an increase in one leads to rise in the other commodity.

Japan has lost a significant amount of its nuclear capacity as a consequence of the earth quake and tsunami that struck its coastline. Japan is turning to Liquid Petroleum Gas to generate the missing capacity it needs to recover; a fuel that Europe relies on to generate electricity.

The German nuclear sector has, as a precaution, shut down a number of its nuclear plants to review the cooling pumps used in the reactors. Both the German and Japanese plants are of the same generation. The reduced generation capacity has left a gap in the market causing further price pressure.”

What a customer said recently…

“We’d previously looked after our own electricity contract and its renewal. We had done a little homework before we invited Utilitrack to help us. We were delighted with the result.

Thank you very much for sorting [our renewal] – I am very pleased – could you be my accountant too and save me even more money!!”

R E Director – S T UK Ltd Stone Fabricators

If you’d like me to help your business make sure it is getting best value please call me on 0845 604 1484

Measure your usage – sounds boring but could save many £££

Peter Drucker said: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” But it’s a bit boring watching your electricity meter slowly turning. So why not install a digital electricity usage meter that displays to the nearest watt how much energy your firm is consuming? Meters aren’t expensive. You can pick up a Current Cost Envi digital display (made by British entrepreneur Martin Dix) for under £40 on eBay. Installation is non-technical and takes 30 seconds. If you input your price per kilowatt hour, it will translate the energy statistics into pound signs. The display is wireless, so you can keep it on your desk. You’ll be surprised what an impact the installation of such a device will have on consumption.

Shop Around

If you’ve been with your utility company for more than two years, chances are you’re paying too much. For gas, electricity and water, it’s imperative to search the market annually for the best deal. With 11,000 different tariffs and tricky termination rules, this could be a chore, so use a utility broker who can connect you with the whole of the market. Beware of those who represent one or two utility companies they may not offer the best value or best savings.

Microgeneration is the new buzz word

British Gas seems finally to be on something of a roll. The company, which now claims to be the UK’s cheapest gas supplier after trimming retail prices this month, is tempting new customers and winning market share from its Big Six rivals.

The strength of the British Gas brand and the company’s hefty marketing spend during the downturn have no doubt helped.

But the strategy pursued by Centrica, its parent, of bundling gas and electricity supply together with home services, such as boiler, plumbing maintenance and appliance insurance products has also proved remarkably effective in drawing in new customers.

Now Sam Laidlaw, Centrica’s chief executive, is planning to open up a new front in the battle for customers by capitalising on government plans to improve home energy efficiency and to encourage so-called microgeneration of renewable energy, which will see households producing some of their own power from small-scale wind and solar generation.

He believes that by offering customers “home energy audits” and with the use of new technology such as smart meters, Centrica can build a whole new market installing and maintaining these sorts of products.

Meanwhile, two shrewd deals last year could mark a turning point for Centrica by permanently reshaping the business.

Historically, Centrica has suffered from a shortage of its own gas and electricity production. That has forced the company to buy supplies on the open market, leaving it exposed to volatile wholesale prices.

The £1.3 billion purchase of Venture Production, a North Sea gas producer, and a 20 per cent stake in British Energy, the UK nuclear generator, from EDF for £2.3 billion, have helped to solve this problem.

Centrica is now more vertically integrated and more independent than it has been since its creation in 1997 after a demerger from the old British Gas.

Consumers may not appreciate the need for this investment by Centrica as British Gas announce today a jump of 58% in profit for 2009 to a record high of £595 million.

Heavenly Link for Gerard…

Yesterday I had a great start to the day and was appointed by Woodside Church to review their gas and electricity spend. I look forward to reporting back to their management team once I’ve established when their contract expires. In the meantime let me let you a little about this contemporary, Bible-believing Christian church based in Bedford.

It is a large family of people of all ages, united by a love of God and are passionate about living their lives in a way that makes a difference to the people around them. The church is a community of people drawn from many different social and ethnic backgrounds, just like Bedford itself.

Woodside meet together on Sundays at 10.30am in a modern building located in the heart of the Putnoe area of Bedford. They also gather throughout the week in smaller groups meeting in homes across the town. Woodside run weekly programmes for children, young people, parents with small children and those seeking special personal help.

Everyone is welcome to be a part of the life of our church, wherever you’re from, whatever your age and whatever your background.

Woodside Church belongs to the Newfrontiers family of churches.