LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — (Marketwire) — 05/06/12 — First Utility () has produced a case study to examine how the introduction of smart meters helped automotive business Equipe Tyre & Autocare to save an average of 30% per year on a GBP 2000+ per month spend.
As the UK–s leading independent energy supplier, First Utility provides to a network of more than 80,000 customers and was the first supplier to offer energy monitoring smart meters to all of its new and existing customers across Britain. Read on to find out how Equipe Tyre & Autocare have profited from a greater visibility of their energy usage.
Background
Equipe Tyre & Autocare is a family run business with over 30 years– experience in the automobile industry providing a range of products and fitting services including tyres, exhausts and brakes. Established in 2002, the business currently operates ten premises across the UK.
Problem
As a business working across multiple sites, monitoring energy usage is essential for Equipe. However keeping on top of energy bills across all of its sites was proving difficult and poor billing was a significant problem with meters being read infrequently. This led to over-estimated and costly bills being received. Equipe wanted a solution that would enable them to monitor usage, reduce the amount of energy wasted and most importantly ensure accurate billing for all of its premises.
First Utility solution
First Utility worked with Equipe to install smart metering technology across nine of its premises, enabling the business to monitor its energy usage and – most importantly – receive accurate bills.
Outcome
Two years after installing the smart meters First Utility continues to provide Equipe–s Head Office with one accurate monthly bill, broken down by site to allow full visibility of consumption and costs for each premise. This new approach to energy provision has helped Equipe make considerable savings across the whole of the business as well as improve its ability to manage financial budgets with more confidence.
Discussing the effect of the smart meters on the business, Equipe director Graeme Hepburn stated: “The data we can now see through the online portal enables each site to monitor and manage its own energy consumption. Each site sets a target and aims to consume less power; their efforts are forcing down our operating costs. The data provided by the smart meter is invaluable, without it we could not manage our energy consumption to this level.”
“We now receive 100% accurate bills via the smart meter, allowing us to budget more accurately. We pay for what we use and there are no more estimates. Now we also have data to hand and can ensure that each site is on the correct tariff. The installation of smart meters has saved us on average 30% per annum, on a GBP 2000+ per month spend, this is a considerable figure.”
“First Utility and its services have been excellent, until they came along everything was guesswork when it came to our electricity bills; now we are in control,” Mr Hepburn concluded.
Learn more about First Utility business services at: .
About First Utility
First Utility is the smarter independent utilities supplier, offering gas and electricity services to a range of consumer and business customers. It is the only energy provider to roll out smart meters to all of its customers throughout the UK. It is through the use of smart metering technology that First Utility can empower consumers to manage and reduce their own energy consumption and bills. First Utility is headquartered in Warwick. For more information, or to from First Utility, visit .
Contacts:
Rachel Brewin
01869 238089 / 07879 997 886