First Utility announces first national three-year contract with house builder Miller Homes

First Utility, the independent energy provider, today announces a national deal with house builder Miller Homes. The three year contract means that first:utility will supply all new-build Miller Homes with energy and dual fuel smart meters. The award winning housebuilder is the sixth largest in the UK and is aiming to build over 2000 homes by the end of 2010.

First Utility won the business as part of a competitive tender, against nine other companies. Miller Homes’ brief demanded a national smart meter supplier which would be scalable and able to meet their energy supply needs as a developer and house builder of energy efficient homes.

First Utility provides gas and electricity with a more intelligent approach - at the heart of the proposition is Smart Meters which enable consumers and businesses to more easily manage their energy usage and bills. This approach has appealed to house builders due to the benefits it brings to them on a number of levels. Developers can manage energy supply from plot up to sale; it enables them to be active in responding to government directives on energy efficiency and also makes the finished homes more attractive to potential purchasers, differentiating them from the competition.

Miller Homes is the UK’s largest privately-owned house builder and is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Martin Moir, Head of Sales, first:utility, commented on the deal: “We are pleased to have been selected to work with Miller Homes, and supply their sites and homes with smart meter energy.  We recognised that Miller Homes, with its focused commitment to customer care and innovative approach to communicating with its customers, held a lot of synergy with what first:utility’s aims are. 

“Since our launch, first:utility has always aimed to provide our customers with a real alternative when it comes to a more intelligent approach to energy – and with smart meters at the core of the offering it enables businesses and consumers to better manage their energy usage, change their behaviour and ultimately reduce energy wastage.”

Garry McDonald, Head of Procurement at Miller Homes, said: “Providing our customers with a high-level of customer care is at the heart of what we do at Miller Homes.   In First Utility we have found a smart meter provider which enhances that level of customer commitment.   No other contenders for the business came close to being able to provide level of detail and usability that first:utility’s solution can.   First:utility have taken into the account the needs of the house builder from plot-to-sale.  The offering caters for our energy needs on site – and more importantly simplifies them.  And from a customer perspective the smart meters provide a competitive advantage when it comes to marketing and selling the homes.”

First Utility already works with over 200 UK developers and has refined its offering to the house building community so that it takes away the usual headaches related to energy supply and enables them to focus on their job of construction and selling houses. The benefits of modern metering for todays houses, without additional costs, include:

•    Billing: First Utility provide consolidated accurate and regular billing on developments taking away the need to spend man-hours on reconciling multiple estimated bills and eliminating the probability of over/under payments on accounts. Developers receive one monthly bill from First Utility with accurate readings and breakdown of energy use from all the meters on site.
•    Smart Meters contribute to the Code for Sustainable Homes: Smart Meters installed on each supply point will provide accurate and detailed online visibility of use every half an hour. It is this ‘every 30 minutes’ management of energy used during construction that is recognised as the criteria contributing points towards code levels.
•    Installation and project management: Each developer is assigned a first:utility dedicated New Build  Manager who will make will make proactive contact to plan meter installations in advance and react to changing circumstances. Meters are fitted within schedule by first utility’s own meter installers.
•    Show home support package: first:utilty work with show home staff to explain the benefits of smart energy supply and provide sales literature and handover packs.

Notes to Editors

About First Utility

First Utility is the smarter independent utilities supplier, offering electricity and gas services.  It is the only energy provider to roll out smart meters to all its business customers.  First Utility is rolling out smart metering to all domestic customers starting with the East and West Midlands.  It is through the use of smart metering technology that first:utility can empower consumers to manage their own energy consumption and bills. It is headquartered in Warwick.

www.first-utility.com

For further information regarding Miller Homes, visit www.millerhomes.co.uk