Client: Torbay County Council
A local government agency, with over 500 sites, Torbay County Council have been with British Gas for 3 years and give them a 5 star rating.
The energy manager at Torbay County Council, Chris Varker has a difficult job to do, managing the fuel efficiency at over 500 sited and the Council as a whole delivers services to around 100,000 people, meaning that they have to ensure that they keep their energy costs low and demonstrate value for money. Gone are the days when local authorities could simply spend what they like: now they have to be actively seen to be spending money wisely and efficiently.
Chris explained that what he values about using British Gas is they way in which he can ensure that accounts and bills are always accurate, through submitting up to the minute meter readings and making sure that information is passed on immediately.
He can also take information directly from the British Gas Business online service, in order to ensure that he can analyse exactly how much energy is used in a specific building. This means that he can use the information for the certification process, required as part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, so he can use British Gas not just for fuel, but for information as well. Since information is an integral part of planning for the future, this in itself is an extremely important business tool.
He also values the role of the Account Manager, who can keep him appraised of new developments and also can inform him of any significant changes to the account, so information is constantly shared and then updated. The Account Manager, Chris explained is also very accessible, so it is more like a team approach than one where the customer and service provider are separate bodies. It is like working for a common goal, he added.
Chris is also very keen to embrace any new technology, particularly something like Smart Meters, where it will be even easier to access live, up to date and extremely accurate information, relating to how much energy is used in buildings and as a result it will be easier to check how energy is used and thereby reduce fuel costs overall: a major aim of the local authority, as part of its drive for increased efficiency.
So Torbay County Council are well aware of how British Gas Business can help them to move towards being much more fuel efficient and therefore having more money to allocate directly towards services that are traditionally short of resources. So it is a 'win win' situation for the local authority: all thanks to British Gas!
