Energy and Billing
Case reference EIR2023/00536
Published 26 January 2024
Request
Please can the below be answered and returned in excel or excel format like below. Question Answer Any Other Comments How do you currently manage your energy portfolio? What your portfolio consists of - number of electricity, gas and water meters and if known, the annual consumption Current contracts in place, eg suppliers, brokers and length of contract. Do they currently procure their energy direct or via a broker Do you have an energy manager/service team - if not who would need to be the authorising signatory and their contact details? Are current bills sent electronic e.g. EDI Current payment terms - BACS/DD - Days to pay, etc Do you have an energy management software Do you require/complete net carbon reporting Do you outsource any other energy services e.g. EPCs/DECs Do you have any requirements for carbon reduction? Do you have any requirement or plans for solar panel installs - if yes have you considered Power Purchase Agreements? Do you require any additional services - online portals, etc?
Response
How do you currently manage your energy portfolio?
We manage billing and reports on utility and carbon data using commercial software as well as a little Excel analysis.
What your portfolio consists of - number of electricity, gas and water meters and if known, the annual consumption?
We have 728 Elec, 121 Gas and 188 water accounts. Approximate annual use Elec 8.8m kWh,Gas 13.5m kWh and Water 68,186 cu.m
Current contracts in place, eg suppliers, brokers and length of contract.
The information regarding the brokers is commercial in nature as per Exception 12(5)(e.).The disclosure of this information gives an indication the activeness of the organisation in the energy field .This can be used to get commercial advantage in getting a shortlist of less active councils ,as the utility bills are significant regular outgoings. The information on brokers, combined with the total spend and usage would prejudice the commercial interests of Council and its suppliers. Private suppliers would be unlikely to engage in future negotiations and discussions as they would not want information on their arrangements with the Oxford City Council to be made public. Private businesses are under no obligation or expectation of transparent disclosure as with public authorities and many suppliers would react strongly to us disclosing confidential business information. Such disclosure would prejudice their interests; in turn this would prejudice our interests as we must consider both quality and value for money when procuring services and this would be jeopardised if various suppliers refused to interact with us.
The contract is for 4 years, expires on 30/09/2024.
Do they currently procure their energy direct or via a broker?
We use a public sector broker to follow public sector rules.
Do you have an energy manager/service team - if not who would need to be the authorising signatory and their contact details?
Yes -Oxford City Council employ an Energy & Carbon Manger and are recruiting an Energy Project Manager
Are current bills sent electronic e.g. EDI
Nearly all billing is via EDI.
Current payment terms - BACS/DD - Days to pay, etc
30 days.
Do you have an energy management software
3 types of M&T software.
Do you require/complete net carbon reporting?
We do report on carbon, our M&T software assists with this.
Do you outsource any other energy services e.g. EPCs/DECs?
Outsource EPCs DECs and Ars.
Do you have any requirements for carbon reduction?
Yes -similar to most councils. See strategy priority:
Pursue a zero carbon Oxford
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20328/our_strategy_2020-24.
Do you have any requirement or plans for solar panel installs - if yes have you considered Power Purchase Agreements?
Have significant solar panels mostly on owned building roofs.
Do you require any additional services - online portals, etc?
We are seeking PPAs but are probably too small without a partner.
Documents
This is Oxford City Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.