Energy Solutions
Effective Solutions That Put You In Control Of Your Energy Costs.
There are no silver bullets when it comes to managing energy costs. At
Centerprise Group, we help you find the right combination of solutions
that will have the most positive impact on your business. The analysis,
negotiation, verification and monitoring of your data allows us to identify
and implement the plan that best fits the needs of your organization. Our
process is proven. Our results are clear.
Utility Bill Verification
Are your accounts assigned to the best rate? Are you paying more for energy than you contracted for? Contract terms can be complicated and confusing, incorporating a variety of rates, taxes and terms. In many deregulated energy markets, energy providers combine their charges into a single line item on the bill. This type of billing can often lead to errors and even incorrect taxation, because some charges are regulated, some are not, and individual cost components may be taxable or tax-exempt.
Centerprise Group leverages best-in-industry analysis software and the
expertise of specialists to scrutinize your bills. This process reveals
and confirms the individual cost components, making the billing process
more transparent and uncovering errors that may have resulted in over billing.
This includes notification of overpayment and recovery opportunities.
When performed in conjunction with ongoing energy management services,
future billing errors can be minimized or avoided entirely. Ultimately,
a clean baseline is created from which sound energy analysis, strategies
and applied solutions can be implemented.
Rate Optimization
Centerprise Group will assess and recommend contract structures that best
fit your energy and budget needs. In deregulated markets, Centerprise Group
solicits pricing from pre-qualified competitive energy providers. We then
analyze pricing nuances versus market conditions to provide you with detailed
reports illustrating the projected budget impact of energy decisions.
In regulated markets, Centerprise Group evaluates the incumbent provider’s
tariff to identify all of the factors that contribute to the calculation
of your utility bills. While you may be restricted to a specific energy supplier,
each tariff contains multiple rates, riders and general rules. Understanding
each facility’s energy demand, usage and voltage profile can reveal opportunities
to switch to more cost-effective options.
Finally, through our understanding of regulatory issues, we can identify
special incentives at local, state and federal levels that include economic
development, energy efficiency, interruptibility, renewables, sales tax
exemptions and others.
And, every Centerprise Group service includes our industry-leading customer
service team, a trained, dedicated and knowledgeable group available to
answer your questions and ensure your complete understanding and satisfaction.
Risk Management
Centerprise Group’s risk group utilizes industry expertise and best-practice
analytics to properly balance price certainty with lower-price market opportunities.
Our proprietary Budget Simulation Model combines client usage, prices and
other factors to project a statistical range of consumption and cost outcomes,
from which to budget and develop a comprehensive energy-risk management
strategy.
Our energy risk-management strategy provides methodical discipline to procurement
and hedging practices. Our ongoing hedge support helps identify and evaluate
favorable price opportunities and execution strategy.
The Centerprise Group Difference
Budget Simulation Model
Centerprise Group uses our proprietary Budget Simulation Model to generate
a range of outcomes for energy usage, cost and underlying energy prices.
We use statistical methods to observe and quantify these outcomes.
The Model incorporates price volatility, market and contract prices,
expected usage variations — and adjusts for energy conservation and operational
cost measures which may be implemented during an upcoming budget cycle.
The Model is updated quarterly with actual results from the prior quarter
and a fresh simulation of the remaining year to help you track and report
energy cost performance dynamically throughout the year. Centerprise
Group’s Budget Simulation Model is presented in a brief, easy-to-read
format.
Energy Risk Strategy Development
Interviews with clients’ energy management staff and key financial decision
makers will provide the framework for the risk-management strategy. The
strategy defines the rules governing what and how much of future months
to lock in, triggering signals and deadlines. The completed strategy will
include documentation of the hedge strategy, management controls, authorities,
reports and approved processes.
A detailed strategy not only guides the program, but also enables the energy
management staff to spend much less time on market timing and increases
the level of sophistication of the energy management process. Supply contracts
may integrate an energy risk-management strategy for both electricity and
natural gas that is specific for each appropriate geographic market and
consistent with each market’s deregulatory status and structure.
Hedge Execution Support
Centerprise Group monitors market activity to assess favorable versus unfavorable
price environments for hedging. Hedge transactions will be executed based
upon the above strategy and upon statistically significant market indications.
Centerprise Group provides frequent summary information and recommendations
from market data that affects discretionary-period hedge opportunities.
Centerprise Group’s reports monitor performance against the key metrics
established in the Budget Model. These include measuring against budget,
target and most-likely cases. Note that these are distinctly different
metrics than “the market,” which certain spot market indices typically
represent.
And, every Centerprise Group service includes our industry-leading customer
service team, a trained, dedicated and knowledgeable group available
to answer your questions and ensure your complete understanding and satisfaction.
Energy Procurement
The Centerprise Group Energy Procurement Service assists clients in the
purchase of natural gas and electricity from competitive suppliers. Historically,
businesses have managed their own energy procurement process. However,
the deregulation of the marketplace has introduced complexities and nuances
that Centerprise Group helps our clients understand and respond to effectively.
Our familiarity with all available pricing mechanisms allows us to identify
the option, or mixture of options, that best meets your objectives. Because
our experts are immersed in the marketplace, we are positioned to recognize
and act upon opportunities as they unfold. Furthermore, since we are not
affiliated with energy providers and hold no supply positions in the energy
markets, Centerprise Group is completely unbiased in our recommendations.
Centerprise Group will assess and recommend product and contract structures
that fit your energy and budget needs for today and the future.
In regulated markets, Centerprise Group evaluates the incumbent provider’s
tariff to identify all of the factors that contribute to the calculation
of your utility bills. While you may be restricted to a specific energy
supplier, each tariff contains multiple rates, riders and general rules.
Understanding each facility’s energy demand, usage and voltage profile
can reveal opportunities to switch to more cost-effective options.
Once a new provider or rate is identified and selected, we monitor your
billing on an ongoing basis to ensure established contracts remain in compliance.
Should errors be found, we will facilitate a resolution.
Finally, we can identify special incentives at local, state and federal
levels: for economic development, energy efficiency, interruptible service,
renewable energy, sales tax exemptions and so on.
Centerprise Group’s Energy Procurement Service Also Includes:
- Preparation of comprehensive energy usage reports (electricity and natural gas)
- Monitoring of supply contracts for selected facilities
- Reporting on the status of transition to new suppliers
- Periodic presentations to management on regulatory and market issues
- Monitoring and documentation of usage history
- Tariff representation and negotiation
- Availability as a point of contact for questions and issue resolution
Going Green
We recognize that many organizations are committed to reducing the impact
of their energy consumption on the environment. Whether driven by internal
operational mandates or the demands of external audiences, they seek
to achieve their growth goals while protecting the environment and assuring
sustainable energy options for the future.
Our recommendations for energy procurement, optimized consumption and risk
management can, when applicable, include utilizing energy from renewable
sources.
Centerprise Group is committed to promoting and supporting responsible
energy usage. Capitalizing on our scope of services, we craft solutions
that acknowledge the importance of striking a balance between organizational
and societal needs — all while providing our clients with the options essential
for making responsible decisions to both support the present and enable
the future.
And, every Centerprise Group service includes our industry-leading customer service team, a trained, dedicated and knowledgeable group available to answer your questions and ensure your complete understanding and satisfaction.