by Chris Hargreaves | Nov 12, 2025 | Case Studies, Energy
Background
A prominent educational institution in the Waikato operates a large campus with boarding facilities, relying heavily on natural gas for heating and hot water. Energy costs represent a significant portion of its operating budget, making cost control a priority.
The Challenge
As the school’s existing gas contract approached renewal, the incumbent supplier presented a renewal offer. While straightforward, the proposed rates were substantially higher than current market prices. Accepting the offer would have locked the school into two more years of inflated costs, putting pressure on budgets that could otherwise support educational programs.
The school needed:
- A cost-effective solution without sacrificing service quality.
- A smooth transition with minimal administrative burden.
- Confidence that the new contract would remain competitive over time.
The Solution
Total Utilities conducted a comprehensive review of the school’s gas usage and current contract terms. Leveraging market expertise and supplier relationships, the team:
- Benchmarked the incumbent’s renewal offer against competitive market rates.
- Ran a competitive tender process with multiple suppliers.
- Negotiated favorable terms and managed the transition seamlessly.
The Outcome
The new gas supply contract delivered $57,000 in savings over two years compared to the incumbent’s renewal offer. Additional benefits included:
- Transparent pricing and improved contract terms
- Budget certainty with locked-in competitive rates
- Confidence in long-term cost control
Key Insights
- Benchmarking renewal offers can uncover significant savings.
- Competitive tendering drives better pricing and terms.
- Expert procurement support ensures compliance and reduces risk.
“Total Utilities made the process simple and delivered real savings. Their expertise gave us confidence that we were getting the best deal.” – School Business Manager
How Total Utilities Can Help Your Business
Don’t let rising energy costs eat into your bottom line. At Total Utilities, we help Kiwi businesses lock in the most competitive natural gas rates available. Our expert team keeps an eye on market trends, negotiates on your behalf, and makes sure you get the best deal—saving you time and money.
Take control of your energy costs today.
👉 Get in touch with Total Utilities now and start optimising your natural gas pricing to future-proof your business.
by Chris Hargreaves | Oct 25, 2025 | Case Studies, Energy, Solar Power
Client Overview
Inghams Enterprises is one of New Zealand’s leading poultry producers, operating multiple facilities nationwide. With a strong focus on cost efficiency and sustainability, Inghams aimed to reduce energy costs and improve environmental performance of its energy contracts.
Challenge
Inghams faced rising electricity costs and needed to explore long-term procurement options. The challenge was to identify a solution that balanced:
- Cost certainty
- Sustainability outcomes
- Operational feasibility
Options considered included traditional electricity supply, on-site solar, and market-based renewable energy solutions.
Our Approach
- Detailed financial modelling and market analysis of current and future electricity pricing
- Evaluation of multiple procurement pathways: traditional supply, behind-the-meter solar, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
- Feasibility assessment of a solar farm at the Waitoa site
- Facilitation of direct engagement with Lodestone Energy to structure a tailored long-term supply agreement
PPA Specifics
- Type: Offsite PPA with Lodestone Energy
- Procurement Method: Direct negotiation following market analysis
- Contract Structure: Long-term fixed pricing agreement
- Term Length: Multi-year, designed to deliver price certainty and sustainability benefits
Alternate Solutions Explored
- Behind-the-meter solar farm feasibility study for the Waitoa site
- 25-year financial projection modelling revenue, savings, and risk exposure
Outcome Delivered
- Secured a long-term supply agreement with Lodestone Energy
- Achieved approximately 25% savings compared to traditional market rates
- Enhanced sustainability profile by supporting new renewable generation
- Delivered cost certainty and reduced exposure to market volatility
Lessons Learned & Innovations
- Combining market analysis with feasibility modelling enables informed decision-making
- Early engagement with renewable developers unlocks competitive pricing and tailored solutions
- Long-term PPAs can deliver both financial and environmental benefits when aligned with operational goals
How Total Utilities Can Help Your Business
Whether you’re looking to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability, or secure long-term price certainty, Total Utilities can help. We offer:
👉 Contact us today to explore how we can help your business secure competitive energy contracts and future-proof your energy strategy.
by Chris Hargreaves | Oct 23, 2025 | Case Studies, Panoramic Power
Client Background
A New Zealand local council committed to the sustainable utilisation of natural resources launched an initiative to better understand and manage water usage for irrigation across its recreational parks.
The Challenge
The council faced a significant challenge in monitoring water consumption from boreholes used for park irrigation. Traditional analog water meters required manual readings, which were time-consuming, costly, and lacked real-time visibility. This limited the ability to proactively manage water schedules and detect anomalies in water flow.
Innovative Solution by Total Utilities
Total Utilities (TU) identified a borehole at Scott Street in Hobsonville Point, West Auckland, as an ideal site to pilot its Panoramic Power solution. The goal was to transform the existing analog water meter into a smart, connected device.
What made this solution unique:
- The existing water meter was equipped with a KY pulse output, which TU leveraged to connect its Gateway/Bridge unit.
- This integration enabled real-time data capture and visualisation on TU’s PowerRadar dashboard, displaying:
- Volume (m³)
- Flow rate (m³/h)
Implementation
The installation was carried out by TU’s internal team and took just 2 hours to complete and commission. This rapid deployment demonstrated the simplicity and efficiency of the Panoramic Power solution.
Results
- The council gained remote, real-time visibility into water usage.
- The need for manual meter readings was eliminated, saving both time and operational costs.
- The system provided automated alerts for anomalies, such as:
- Unexpected water flow outside scheduled pumping times.
- Sudden stoppages indicating potential faults.
Impact
With accurate and timely data now at their fingertips, the council can:
- Optimise irrigation schedules based on actual usage.
- Respond quickly to issues, reducing water waste and improving resource management.
- Enhance sustainability efforts by making data-driven decisions.
How Total Utilities Can Help Your Business
Our expert team can help you unlock significant energy savings with a short-term return on investment (ROI). Typically, we can identify up to 25% savings with an ROI of less than 2 years.
We achieve this by conducting a comprehensive site-wide energy audit (Type 1), examining everything from lighting and HVAC systems to chillers, boilers, refrigeration and other energy-intensive systems. Additionally, we install Panoramic Power our non-intrusive energy intelligence system, providing real-time device-level energy data visibility. For more information check out a brief overview of our service here.
Ready to start saving? Contact us today to schedule your energy audit and begin your journey towards greater efficiency and cost savings!
by Chris Hargreaves | Aug 14, 2025 | News
In today’s fast-paced business world, organisations across Aotearoa are relying more than ever on a complex network of vendors and suppliers. After staff costs, the supply chain is often the biggest expense for any business. Yet, many companies struggle to manage these relationships effectively—leading to compliance risks, costly contract breaches, and underperforming suppliers.
While there are plenty of software tools out there, most fall short of delivering a truly integrated solution. What’s missing is a smart combination of technology and expert consulting to help businesses manage vendors and contracts strategically—not just administratively.
What’s the Gap?
The real gap lies in the disconnect between what businesses need and what most tools offer.
Many vendor and contract management platforms are either repurposed CRM systems or basic document storage tools. They might help with workflow automation or compliance tracking, but they often lack:
- Real-time performance monitoring
- Predictive analytics
- Risk mitigation tools
- Visibility into supplier costs, categories, and contract links
These tools tend to operate in silos, leaving businesses without the insights needed to make informed decisions. And without the internal expertise to build a robust vendor strategy, many organisations miss out on cost savings and expose themselves to unnecessary risk.
How Software + Consulting Can Close the Gap
A truly effective solution combines smart software with expert guidance.
On the tech side, imagine tools that offer:
- AI-powered supplier analysis
- Automated compliance alerts
- Dynamic dashboards
- Risk scoring models
Pair that with consulting support to:
- Segment suppliers strategically
- Optimise contract terms
- Establish best-practice onboarding and performance management
This dual approach ensures the technology aligns with your business goals—and that you’re getting the most out of it.
What Happens When the Gap Is Closed?
Closing this gap can transform how your business manages suppliers and contracts.
Benefits include:
- Lower operational risk
- Better compliance
- Cost efficiencies
- Stronger supplier partnerships
With better visibility and analytics, you can negotiate smarter, spot underperformance early, and avoid supply chain disruptions. Plus, you’ll be able to scale your vendor strategy as your business grows or the market shifts.
We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
There’s a real opportunity here for Kiwi businesses to rethink how they manage vendors and contracts. By combining advanced tech with expert consulting, you can turn supplier relationships into strategic assets that drive competitive advantage.
Start Small, But Start
It’s okay to start small. Begin by reviewing your current supplier and contract management setup. Understand your stakeholders’ needs, identify key risks, and prioritise what matters most.
Then, let’s work together to build a software solution that fits your business.
Ready to take the next step?
Contact us today to book a consultation and explore how smarter vendor management can help your business thrive.
by Chris Hargreaves | Jul 19, 2025 | Case Studies, News, Panoramic Power
And Solved It in Just 5 Minutes ⚡
At Total Utilities, we’re always looking for smarter ways to help Kiwi businesses reduce energy costs and improve operational efficiency. One of our recent pilot programmes with a logistics company delivered exactly that—and the results were both immediate and eye-opening.
We installed Panoramic Power, a real-time energy monitoring system, at one of their trial sites. Within just 24 hours, the system flagged 74kW of continuous energy waste. The source? A few misconfigured control settings in the site’s Building Management System (BMS). The solution? A simple five-minute adjustment.
💡 The impact:
- $10,000+ in annual savings, unlocked almost instantly
- No need for major upgrades or capital investment
- Immediate ROI from a low-risk pilot programme
But the story doesn’t end there.
As the system continued to monitor energy use, it uncovered a further $60,000 in potential savings—this time related to the site’s refrigeration system. These insights are now guiding the client’s decisions around future upgrades, maintenance priorities, and operational changes.
Why this matters:
This pilot proves the power of real-time energy visibility. It’s not just about identifying waste—it’s about enabling fast, cost-effective fixes that deliver measurable results. For businesses in logistics, manufacturing, or any energy-intensive sector, this kind of insight can be a game-changer.
Energy waste often hides in plain sight. Without the right tools, it goes unnoticed—and costs businesses thousands every year. With Panoramic Power, our clients gain the clarity they need to act quickly and confidently.
Ready to uncover hidden savings in your operations?
Whether you’re managing a single site or a nationwide network, we can help you take control of your energy use and unlock real value.
👉 Book a demo today and see how Panoramic Power can transform your energy strategy.
