Energy management for multi-utilities

Abstract

Energy management has long been a concern for large industrial and commercial users and whilst utilities have often ventured into this arena, it has usually been only a secondary activity and frequently abandoned. What we have seen emerging due to the nature of competitive supply, is the issue of energy management becoming attached to the core of a utilities business-electricity supply and distribution. Competition in electricity supply usually starts with the large electricity consumers. These are the same organisations that also require energy management services. It was inevitable that the commercially astute industrialists would demand energy management services as part of their negotiated electricity supply contract. The most astute supply companies saw this as an opportunity to differentiate their product from simple kWh offerings. This paper looks at how this new combined market has developed and specifically looks at the UK. The paper looks at the future of energy management for both industrial and commercial users of electricity and the utilities that supply and distribute electricity. It covers the initial proposals of utilities supplying floppy disks with base meter data through to automatic bureau systems providing detailed reports on energy use. The paper concludes with a review of energy management requirements of industrial and commercial customers both large and small and provides a matrix of products and services available to fulfil those needs.