Business Electricity
Expansion of the electricity market gave business users the freedom to compare energy costs and choose their electricity suppliers. Around 50,000 businesses and organisations, those typically spending more than £1,000 per month (a maximum demand greater than 100kW), can now benefit from lower bills by simply switching their business electricity providers.
Some business electricity suppliers do extremely well in this competitive market, thanks to a strong commitment to competitive prices, straightforward contracts, clear communication and after-sales care.
Prices are linked to energy consumption for each site. Customers, including schools, sports venues, hospitals, factories, offices, banks, retailers and hotels, have benefited from substantial savings on their electricity bills. Leading business electricity suppliers have also developed an extensive range of energy management services that helps customers to reduce their energy costs even further.
Here’s what a business should expect from its energy supplier:
- Competitive electric prices
- Personal customer management
- Site specific quotations
- Pricing options
- Straightforward contracts
- Clear communication
- Simple, efficient billing
- Immediate and long-term cost benefits
Total Energy Management
Most business electricity suppliers are committed to helping businesses benefit from energy technology and management services which can cut costs by making their energy usage more efficient. Any reduction in energy costs can make a big difference to a business, and a whole range of services are available to help customers use their energy more cost-effectively. As well as supplying businesses with cheaper electricity, electricity supply firms can help businesses cut costs even further through monitoring and targeting energy usage, contract energy management, production engineering and specialist engineering services. Total Energy Management works by helping clients to make more efficient use of all their utility supplies.
Data services
Before energy consumption can be managed effectively, a business needs reliable and accurate information on its energy usage. Using remote data-gathering systems, business electricity suppliers can produce detailed reports, tailored to individual needs, which allow customers to save money by altering energy consumption patterns for more cost-effective usage and quickly identifying poorly set controls, poor maintenance or faulty equipment and taking remedial action.
Energy engineering services
Where design or installation of new equipment is needed, electricity supplying companies can offer specialist engineering expertise. Example services include:
- Comprehensive energy surveys and studies
- Mechanical and electrical design
- Industrial process constancy services
- Project engineering and management
- Building services management
- Plant installation and commissioning
- Energy management bureau services
- Building energy management systems
- Combined heat and power
- Water treatment
Energy Technology Services
Business efficiency is influenced by many factors, including process efficiency, cost of materials and their utilisation, quality control, staff efficiency, waste types and levels and energy efficiency. Engineers from business electricity suppliers can look at all these factors from an objective position, and then recommend ways to optimise business performance by demonstrating process improvements and alternative techniques.
Production Engineering
Business electricity providers apply a whole range of advanced technologies using different energy sources to a wide variety of industries including processes as diverse as metal melting, water purification, ceramics production, vegetable drying and food processing. As well as identifying potential cost and efficiency improvements, business electric suppliers also help companies meet strict environmental controls.
Some electricity suppliers have particular experience in finishing, drying, induction heating, high temperature processes, process monitoring and pollution control.
Information Technology
The very best business electricity suppliers continuously monitors the latest trends and developments in energy management and technology around the world. A databank is available to help architects, engineers and other customers to find the most up-to-date information quickly, and develop new products, systems or technologies.
Training
Good business electricity supply companies can also assist with training requirements through modular programmes associated with all aspects of energy utilisation from monitoring and targeting to best foundry practice.