First Utility celebrates 150 developments signed up to developer-friendly energy supply

First Utility, the independent energy provider, today celebrated  the 150th housing development signed up to its brand new Smart Meter Supply service, as Cuckoo Point, Colchester, developed by Andersons Design and Build.

As a result of reaching this milestone, First Utility is now contracted to supply over 12,000 Smart Meters with leading UK house builders.

First Utility provides gas and electricity with a more intelligent approach  - at the heart of the proposition are Smart Meters which enables consumers 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. Smart Energy Supply helps house builders to 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 their end-product more attractive to potential purchasers, differentiating them from the competition.

Martin Moir, Head of Sales, First Utility, said: “For a long time now developers have had real issues with utilities within new developments. Take for example a development with tens or hundreds of different plots and as many different activation dates for new accounts; it can create an administration nightmare for developers, not to mention huge costs involved in sorting it out.”

First Utility has amassed a great deal of experience in shaping an energy supply which takes away the usual headaches related to energy supply on developments and enable them to focus on their job of construction and selling houses.  The key benefits include:

•    Modern metering for modern houses without any addition costs
•    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.

Martin Moir at First Utility comments: “We have always been convinced that our Smart Energy offering will resonate well with developers and the fact that we have now reached 150 housing developments is testament to this.   Our more intelligent approach to energy provision enables developers to focus on their main priority of building houses and selling them, which in this current climate is even more important.  The benefits of the first:utility offering extend across the build stage and can be passed onto the homeowner once they take the keys to the door.   With Smart Meters at the heart of the offering it provides developer and homeowner alike with the ability to take control, once and for all, of their energy management.”

Notes to Editors

About first:utility

First Utility is the smarter independent utilities supplier, offering electricity, gas, phone and broadband services to a range of consumer and business customers.

It is the only energy provider to provide smart meters to all its customers, and therefore the only utility company to ensure 100% accurate billing across all its services. It is through the use of smart metering technology that first:utility can empower consumers to manage their own energy consumption and bills.

First Utility is a CarbonNeutral® company.
www.first-utility.com

Further information

Please contact Abbie Strudley, Rachel Brewin or Sian Gaskell at BOTTLE PR.
Tel: 01865 882988
Email: abbiestrudley@bottlepr.co.uk siangaskell@bottlepr.co.uk or rachelbrewin@bottlepr.co.uk