by chris | Feb 13, 2017 | Energy
For many businesses, energy can make up a large portion of the cost of doing business however in many cases it is not subjected the same level of scrutiny that other expense areas do. Often getting a better price through procurement is seen as good enough or all that can really be done when it comes to managing energy as businesses are so focused on their core purpose or there is not an available resource to execute an energy management plan.
Retail pricing is increasing
Over the last 12 months or so we have seen over the counter retail pricing slowly increasing. The 15-20% energy savings of 2 or 3 years ago are now a distant memory however customers are still able to contract similar or slightly improved pricing compared with their expiring agreements.
What can be done? It’s like the old saying, give a person a fish and eat for a day, teach a person to fish and they can eat for a lifetime.
Long-term energy savings
Energy management can be seen in the same way, getting a better “deal” is only a short-term fix and should be part of a much wider strategy. Understanding how and where energy is being consumed, measuring and reporting on energy, understanding how energy use is impacted by changes in production and or environmental conditions can lead businesses to make informed strategic decisions about their longer-term goals so that these align with their wider business plans.
In our experience, customers who understand and measure where energy is being used to instigate change can achieve savings of 10% or more.
More detailed analysis can be done that will identify cost-effective savings in the range of 20-25%, and total savings of up to 40% including large capital measures. Once implemented, these savings can be forever rather than just for a 2 or 3-year energy retail contract term.
Measurable energy efficiency drives results
While many businesses track their site level energy costs and kWh volume, and have a fair idea about what systems are the most energy hungry, many customers cannot point to concrete data that underpins their view.
In a recent survey conducted by IPSOS on behalf of EECA, respondent businesses stated that energy efficiency is not seen as a top priority, however I would ask, what risk are you taking if the competition takes a different view?
The top 6 priorities were listed as:
- Employee Safety
- Longevity
- Achieving Growth
- Brand Development
- Employee Relations
- Productivity
Around 50% of respondents said that improving energy efficiency would have a direct impact on the above.
If we apply the principle of Moore’s law (computer chips will run twice as fast and halve in price every eighteen months) to energy, technological advances will bring product efficiencies in time but at this stage replacing a HVAC system or production line like we would replace our iPhone every couple of years remains out of the question. But that’s changing fast.
Smart energy monitoring is here!
The Internet of Things gives us the ability to assign a unique internet identifier to a virtually unlimited number of devices anywhere in the world. That means we can monitor the performance, or activity, on a unit by unit basis: collecting device-level energy data is much easier and more affordable.
Smart energy metering has now mostly been rolled out in New Zealand so customers can access half hour meter reads. While this provides a plot summary it cannot deliver the whole story.
A common barrier for businesses implementing an energy management strategy is that measuring consumption behind the revenue meter and at a high level of granularity has in the past been expensive and relatively difficult.
With the Internet of Things beginning to enter the large commercial and industrial space this is a thing of the past. Total Utilities can provide Panoramic Power’s nonintrusive, cost effective, and scalable metering solution along with a range of consulting services based on an OPEX pricing model.
Safer, cheaper, better — with the Internet of Things
Gaining visibility of device level behaviour leads to a better understanding of usage cycles and patterns. It can also change the way in which regular maintenance is carried out. While the change to preventative maintenance is a huge improvement on responsive maintenance this still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of cost management and efficiency.
Benchmarking similar pieces of equipment, systems or comparable locations can be a good way to understand when maintenance should be carried out however a device level data lead model of predictive maintenance can be adopted if customers can measure granular energy usage and operational up / down time.
A data-led energy strategy may lead to;
- Real and measurable long term energy savings.
- Improved environmental conditions.
- Increased staff productivity.
- Improvements in health and safety through predictive maintenance.
- Reductions in insurance premiums by monitoring energy intensive equipment that stores perishable or fragile products.
- Marketing value for green credentials.
Having an energy management strategy could be the difference in making more profits than your competitors, winning more competitive contracts, or securing longer term tenants through a lower delivery cost, a more productive work force or a more comfortable environment.
So, what can you do?
Total Utilities can be your virtual energy manager providing a pragmatic and full end to end approach in helping your business transform energy from just a cost of doing business to a strategic and competitive advantage.
For more information on the services that we provide, click the links below:
Energy Monitoring and Targeting
Energy Management and Strategy
Energy Procurement
Energy Audits and Feasibility Studies
NABERSNZ ratings
To discuss your specific requirements and how we might assist your business please contact me on 021 650 336, [email protected] or Pushkar Kulkarni on 021 273 4337, [email protected]
by chris | Nov 7, 2016 | Energy
Unfair contract terms provisions were introduced in March 2015 as part of changes to the Fair Trading Act. The provisions are designed to protect consumers from contract terms that create a significant imbalance of rights or obligations between the company and the consumer.
Energy Contracts in New Zealand
The Commerce Commission has now completed its review of retail energy contracts (including retailer feedback) to ensure that they meet minimum standards required by the fair trading act. While focused heavily around the consumer market the results of the review will have an impact on commercial customers.
This is mainly in the area of liability and automatic renewals with opt out clauses along with contract termination fees that are applied to auto renewed contract terms. A review of these clauses has been long overdue, as an adviser and consultant this is an area that we have always held a negative view and retailers have been at times very stubborn when proposed changes are requested. For our customers, clauses such as this have always been highlighted and further contextual information requested especially around liability.
Commissioner Anna Rawlings said,
The majority of the nine energy companies included in the review had made real efforts to comply with the provisions before they were introduced. However, we did identify 59 terms that we considered potentially unfair. Many of the terms were common across the contracts, particularly those that limited the liability of the company, allowed the company to unilaterally vary the contract or automatically renewed fixed term contracts unless the customer opted out.
The commission ruled on these areas as follows:
- Liability needs to be balanced between the retailer, customer and distribution provider.
- “Opt Out” contract renewals are not unfair per se but the commission does not look fondly on them.
- Termination fees cannot be charged on auto renewal agreements given that the customers have not signed a new contract term.
Of the retailers that had auto renewal terms in their small commercial contracts, some have dispensed with opt out renewals completely whereas others have agreed not charge termination fees.
Regarding the wider terms that were highlighted, in some instances the companies were able to provide information to the Commission to show that the term was necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the company. In all other cases, the companies accepted the Commission view and have amended or agreed to amend the terms concerned.
Rawlings further commented,
We are pleased that the energy retail companies constructively engaged with us and were receptive to our concerns, avoiding the need for the Commission to consider court action. Most New Zealanders have a standard form consumer contract with an energy retail company or live in a house that is covered by one. Our review covered 90% of the energy retail market in New Zealand and New Zealanders can now be more confident about the fairness of those contracts, which is a great outcome.
With the review of telecommunication contracts in February and energy contracts now complete, the commission is now investigating gym membership and credit contracts.
Total Utilities reviews all contract terms and conditions prior to submission of recommended contracts to customers, this includes comments where applicable around required quantities, assignment, termination and force majeure along with project-specific needs.
by chris | Oct 25, 2016 | Energy
The MBIE has released their latest update of the Electricity Demand and Generation Scenarios (EDGS) which suggests that prices may remain lower for longer.
New Zealand Electricity Demand and Generation Scenarios
Under the Mixed Renewables projection – which is the base case for the 2016 update – the market would not see average wholesale power prices climb above $100/MWh, measured in 2013 dollars until about 2032. They wouldn’t get above $105 until after 2045. This differs from the 2015 update which projected $100/MW by 2021 and $110/MW after 2035.
Tiwai Turning Off?
Of the most interesting is the “Tiwai off” scenario assuming that the smelter closes at the beginning of 2018 and assuming that oil remains below USD $80/barrel until 2037. The drop in demand would see older thermal based generation such as the TCC and old Huntly units close within 12 months. Some gas-fired peakers would be built in their stead but no further wind capacity would be needed until 2027.
Assuming low GDP growth and demand averages an increase of 0.4% per year, the market would see wholesale prices average $93/MW in 2013 dollars to 2047. In this scenario pre Tiwai off national demand would not recover until 2032.
What you should know about New Zealand Energy Predictions
Other notable projections are:
- 1.35 TWh per year in 2050 coming from the transport sector.
- EV fleet to reach 1.77million by 2040 with 3200GWh of charging demand off set by 1600GWh of solar PV generation.
- 580,000 household solar systems installed by 2050. 66% of systems are likely to have batteries by 2040, by which time solar PV costs are expected to be down to $3.16/W for a 3 kW system, while battery costs are down to $167/kWh.
- A high uptake of solar and EV’s may drive average wholesale prices above $109/MW by 2035.
Further reading can be done here.
by Paul Bannister | Jun 13, 2016 | Energy
As the New Zealand agents for Energy Action we are able extend our vast market knowledge, expertise and business and financial analytics to Trans-Tasman customers.
The following is a guest post written by Dr Paul Bannister from Energy Action regarding the recent Energy Management Association of New Zealand conference that he recently attended along with Total Utilities.
I spent most of last week in NZ attending the Energy Management Association of New Zealand conference, and was once more reminded of how well the Kiwis do some things.
For starters, there was the conference itself. Two days of excellent speakers – enough to keep my attention for probably 75% of the time, which is well above average for a conference. Over 100 in attendance including practitioners, clients, suppliers, etc. Easily a match for many of its peers in Australia, in my humble opinion.
Then there was the EECA Awards night. This is energy-efficiency-in-New-Zealand’s “night of nights”, with 11 industry sponsored awards covering all aspects of energy efficiency, showcasing many excellent projects. As an event, this is way beyond anything we have in Oz, with a comedic MC (and indeed a fairly comedic Chairman of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), big production values, etc etc. Minor grumbles about food aside (they starved us until 8:30pm and then served us canapes…), it was an excellent evening and an insight into many project types you don’t see in Australia, particularly in the industrial and institutional sectors. Most obviously, the Kiwis are well ahead of us when it comes to biofuels, prompted particularly by the lack of reticulated gas in the South Island. In general I’m of the opinion that NZ has a greater focus on industrial energy efficiency than I’ve seen in Australia; while their commercial sector work has some catching up to do.
Of course there is also a paradigm difference in NZ: their electricity is already mainly hydro so they have the march on Australia in terms of greenhouse intensity, even allowing for the sheep. So whereas we seem to think of gas as being clean, for them it’s actually more emissions intensive than electricity.
And then there was the forceful reminders of how much smarter their electricity market seems to be than ours. Before I rant on, just consider this: the purpose of a market is to enable buyers and sellers to meet and determine a natural price. So if you have too much generation relative to demand, electricity is cheap, while if there’s too much demand and not enough generation electricity becomes expensive. The ultimate reflection of this dynamic is the spot market, which is the price that electricity sells at on a 15 minute basis. Of course, normally we don’t see this because electricity retailers on-sell electricity to us at essentially fixed prices; if the spot market goes crazy, they take the hit on our behalf. But that makes no sense because as users of electricity we can respond to a spot price signal, so we need to have the ability to access that signal. In NZ, it is normal practice for large energy users to have some direct spot market exposure and indeed it is possible to buy electricity at a spot market linked price at a residential level. This sort of transparency is missing in Australia, and indeed we are a long way off from getting near to it. But in a generation market with increasing exposure to the variability of renewable generation, it’s increasingly important that we catch up with the Kiwis and join the 21st century.
Overall, I’m inclined to make an observation: Kiwi ingenuity has been driven by the necessities of working in a country with a hydro-dependent electricity system that goes into crisis around once a decade; that doesn’t have the population or gas reserves to support gas infrastructure across the South Island; and that has comparatively limited coal reserves. Economically, when the world catches the sniffles, NZ tends to catch double pneumonia because it the economy lacks the inertia provided by a large mining sector. Necessity is the mother invention and the Kiwis have responded by being smart and adaptable.
It’s hard not to contrast this to the situation in Australia where we have rich fossil fuel reserves, an electricity network that is stable to the point of stagnation and of course a mining industry that has been propping up our lifestyle for a half a century. So whereas the Kiwis have had to be nimble, it’s hard not to look at Australia and think we are just a little too secure and comfortable for our own good. Now I’m not knocking that security but at times I think we need to ask ourselves whether we have become complacent. Australia has many great minds, many great innovators and many great opportunities but a bit of a track record of forcing them overseas because the local policy and economic environment isn’t as supportive as that of our trading partners. We need to learn from the Kiwis and embrace a little bit of the frisson of excitement that change and instability can give so that we can be leaders of positive change rather than the ballast of resistance and intransigence.
by guest_hans | Mar 29, 2016 | Energy
A Brief History of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in New Zealand
In 2008, the New Zealand Government introduced an emissions trading scheme (ETS) for greenhouse gases. It required upstream energy suppliers, the users of imported fossil fuels, and industries with CO2 process emissions, to surrender a New Zealand Emissions Unit, for every tonne of greenhouse gas (GHG) that would be subsequently be emitted. Upstream suppliers pass on the costs of these emission units to downstream users.
The Government was aware that energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries would suffer competitively if they were fully exposed to this cost. It therefore provided a free allocation of up to 90% of the emission units required to these industries. It provided a price cap of $25 for an emissions unit.
Geothermal power Station, near Taupo New Zealand
In 2009, the incoming Government made some amendments to the ETS, in recognition of the effects of the global financial crisis. It reduced the requirement to surrender emission units to one unit for every two tonnes of GHG emitted. It delayed indefinitely the planned phase-out of the free allocation of units to energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries.
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