Energy and Water Management

Key Benefits

• Lower energy costs – our framework contract ensures that you benefit from the most competitive prices.
• Access to our energy account and technical support teams.
• Monitoring of all your utility bills.
• Help with investigating and resolving errors and queries.
• Contact with suppliers to ensure accurate billing.
• General advice on reducing your energy and water consumption.

Service Details

Monitoring service

During 2012/13 we intend to set up a central payments system for maintained schools, whereby we will receive the energy and water bills and pay them on your behalf. We will then send you a copy of the bills for your information. We will contact all schools shortly before the new system goes live.

In the meantime we will continue to check your bills before sending them to you for payment. We make sure that:

• they are technically and arithmetically correct
• the meter readings are continuous
• the units billed match the readings
• the correct tariff rate is applied
• the VAT and levies are at the correct rate.

If you are billed incorrectly we will liaise with the supplier and report back to you. We will also inform you of any unusual results and arrange for site checks to be made to identify the reasons.

Technical advisory service

We will give you the following technical support:

• removal of redundant supplies/meters where required by suppliers or legislation, resolving queries to ensure meter readings are accurate
• general management reports providing energy and water budget information, market news and general advice on conservation and efficiency
• general advice on energy efficiency, including identifying potential savings
• information and advice using Salix Loan Finance to identify and implement energy savings
• advice on complying with energy legislation including Display Energy Certificates (DECs), air-conditioning reports and carbon reporting.

Contract management service

We make sure your school receives the full benefits of being part of a framework contract for your energy supplies. We do this by:

• monitoring market prices, trends and developments to make performance comparisons that support our negotiations with suppliers, securing competitive pricing tariffs
• maintaining a database of meter read data, annual consumption,meter point and other essential information used during tendering and management of contracts
• arranging supply contracts in accordance with standing orders, Government and European Commission procurement regulations and directives
• installing AMR and promoting e-billing to support timely and accurate invoicing data
• maintaining a good relationship with suppliers by having regular meetings
• raising awareness of topical issues via newsletters and other communications.

Additional Services

Where you require additional support such as new supplies for a scheme you are undertaking our services are available on a pay-as-you-use basis. Our costs will depend on the level of service you need but will generally be based on hourly rate. The Schools Energy Team is happy to discuss your individual requirements.

Pricing

All prices are per school:

• Secondary schools – £450 per year
• Primary/special schools (over 2000m2) – £300 per year
• Primary/special schools (1200 – 2000m2) – £225 per year
• Primary/special schools (up to 1200m2) – £150 per year

Industry rebates (as applicable) are re-invested to support technical system development and upgrades. This enables us to work more efficiently and effectively on your behalf.

Funded Support

Getting The Most From Your Service

To get the most from your service you should:

• let us know the name of your nominated point of contact (normally the person who pays the energy and water bills) and tell us if this changes
• tell us about changes such as building works, new supplies, removal of meters and other alterations
• let us know when problems occur with supplies
• keep a log of site meter readings to help us identify and resolve your problems
• check the Virtual Schoolbag for updates.

What Your School Needs To Do

By using energy and water more efficiently your school can support the County Council's Carbon Management Plan and use any savings to support your school improvement plan.

If you do not invest in this service your school will not be included in the County Council's group energy supply contracts and you will need to make your own arrangements for these supplies.

Quality Assurance

When you contact us by letter, email or fax, we aim to reply within five working days of receiving it. If we cannot give you a full reply within that time, we will let you know when we will send you one.

If you ask us for a site visit, we’ll agree a mutually acceptable date and time. We will do our best to keep to all appointments and will give you as much notice as possible if we need to make changes or when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Terms & Conditions

Support