Thursday 22nd of February 2018 | Posted In: Contracts, Buying energy

What are the current “hot topics” for large electricity contracts

When you spend more than £20,000 a year on electricity getting the best deal and staying ahead of the paperwork can be a daunting task.  Jodie Hisgett our Utilities Management Consultant looks after all our customers who are in this situation and we would like to introduce her to you and find out what her “hot topics” are over the next few months…

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at FEC Energy?

I will have worked for FEC Energy as a Utilities Account Manager for two years this April. Prior to working here, I worked for one of the ‘big six’ energy suppliers for eight years starting in customer services, helping with metering and billing queries and eventually working my way up into Sales Account Management. My role here means there is never a ‘quiet period’ and though it can feel like I’m spinning plates sometimes with so many different pieces of work on the go, I love being busy.

Who are your customers?

Half Hourly Contract negotiations for renewals and new customers

Contract negotiations really are my bread and butter and with the support of the team here we’re regularly tendering multiple supplies each week out to our group of suppliers and working to drive down their prices. Our job is to take the work away from the client and to make things simple so all they will see is a simple comparison showing them the best prices each time we price but in the background we’re going back and forth with the suppliers and giving them feedback on the prices to result in the best price. There really is nothing better than knowing that the fruits of your labour have saved your customer from an expensive auto-renewal contract.

What your “hot topics” that may affect your customers?

Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) data gathering

Though the chancellor George Osbourne has confirmed that the CRC Efficiency Scheme will be abolished from April 2019, for now, there’s no change for our CRC registered customers. In preparation for the next submissions due by the end of July this year, I’m busily making sure we have all of the statements requested for our CRC registered clients ready to start receiving this and collating the data in the Spring.

Authorised Supply Capacity (ASC) Checks

As you may have heard, from April this year the Distribution Network Operators (DNO) will be applying excess fees for any demand that goes over the agreed levels you have in place for your half hourly meters. These will be billed on your supplier invoices and if you are exceeding it won’t be pretty, as the excess charges are around 2-3 times the agreed rates on your contracts. At the moment we’re working with many of our clients to analyse their data to make sure they have the correct level and where they haven’t, performing a reduction or increase where necessary with their DNO.

Any future plans?

The Half Hourly buying group

Over the past year, we have been developing a non-half hourly Electricity Buying Groups and it has been a great success, enabling us to save customers over £1m in cheaper energy contracts. Following this success, I’m really keen on being able to offer our half hourly customers better savings in the future. So I’m working on a half-hourly buying group to try and achieve the best prices we can for FEC Energy customers and NFU members. It is early days still but following a small test group we’re running in the summer, we should be ready to launch it fully for October 2019 renewals, so watch this space.

If you have any questions about anything Jodie has mentioned or think that similar services would benefit you and your business, get in touch with Jodie on 02476 698890 or email [email protected]