Optima™ strongly believe that we can help your Consultancy obtain the benefits that our current portfolio of Consultants is gaining through the implementation of our software solutions. We would welcome the opportunity to arrange a meeting in order to share our experiences, demonstrate our product offering and to explore, without obligation, your current energy management challenges and objectives.

Please contact Optima™ using the following link

Optima™ makes the process of managing energy efficient and effective by providing fast and secure access to your data through a logical user interface and robust database platform. The easy to use software allows users to highlight waste through Monitoring & Targeting and Performance. This means the results achieved and the time saved ensure that Optima™ provides both a rapid return on investment and ongoing savings.

Optima™ strongly believe that we can help your University obtain the benefits that our current portfolio of Universities is gaining through the implementation of our software solutions. We would welcome the opportunity to arrange a meeting in order to share our experiences, demonstrate our product offering and to explore, without obligation, your current energy and carbon management challenges and objectives.

Please contact Optima™ using the following link

The new increase came on the back of talks on the global economic recovery and increasing industrial demand. The later, in Europe, prompted an outburst of forward buying across gas and power markets by financial institutions and speculators, triggering frenzied buying from other market players in the face of limited selling interest – All of this despite a relatively healthy supply/demand balance.

Oil prices have had relatively small impact on wholesale prices as North Sea crude remained broadly stable – around $86/barrel – and US oil prices have in fact fallen, coming under pressure from stocks reaching a 20-year high and a stronger dollar.

These latest increases have continued into May and even with temperatures well above SNT, day ahead gas prices are touching 40 p/therm. Although prices are not at the lows of last month it is still prudent to consider looking at any contract renewals this year right away.

Even if your energy contracts are not due for renewal until later this year, it is still worth putting a framework in place that allows you to make purchasing decisions now should prices move up.

As well as purchasing gas and electricity on a fixed or flexible basis, we also provide the following tailored services:

• Invoice Validation
• Consumption Reporting
• Forecasting and Budget Monitoring
• Carbon Trust Surveys
• Market Intelligence

We offer complete transparency in our charges.

Market Overview – Electricity

Weather sensitivities have had a strong influence on power prices over the last month with April ‘10 Annual veering between £39–£41/MWh and October ‘10 trading slightly higher at £40.5–£42/MWh. Despite the cold snap experienced, supply has remained comfortable which has helped ease pressure on prices. The long term outlook has been influenced by the oil and coal markets, both of which have softened considerably, leading to downward movement in power prices.

However, with forecasts of another drop in temperatures in February, both short and long term prices may come under renewed pressure, as fears escalate over the ability of gas storage facilities in the UK to continue to provide adequate supplies.

Market Overview – Gas 

With the cold snap taking many by surprise in January, a drop in temperatures brought with it an increase in demand for gas, providing a boost to gas and power prices. The National Grid was forced to issue four Gas Balancing Alerts during this period and a number of industrial customers on interruptible gas contracts were forced to switch to back-up energy supplies as they saw their gas supplies cut amid record national demand.

In addition, record demand for gas across Europe, coupled with supply glitches in Norway, where a large proportion of UK gas now comes from, added upward pressure to energy prices. Whilst falling oil markets have relieved pressure on gas markets, a further cold snap across Europe could cause additional infrastructure issues in Norway, leading to tightness in the market and the increasing probability of price hikes.                                            Note: Pricing information sourced via Spectron

What To Do Next

Call us on 0121 222 5622 to speak to one of our professional, local Optima Service team.

Our friendly team will provide an overview of your current gas and electricity supplies and offer a FREE, NO OBLIGATION proposal to identify potential financial savings.

James Miller – Bureau Manager  BSc (Hons)  James’ experience is based on delivering a wide range of specialist energy procurement and bureau services to organisations seeking to outsource some or all of their energy management functions. Optima’s customers benefit from his wealth of experience in energy procurement and management services, on both the supply and the energy buyer sides of the equation. This unique insight makes the service a natural complement to the day-to-day use of Optima Energy software, whereby customers benefit from the value of the Optima Services team to provide accurate, secure and efficient management of energy data.

Gemma Black – ISBA Account Manager – BA (Hons) Having worked her way up from Renewals Administrator to Broker Sales Manager at an independent energy supplier for 5 years, and since 2008, acted as Senior Account Manager at a successful energy consultancy managing 5 of the 8 major accounts, Gemma brings to the Optima service team a considerable wealth of experience and skills in portfolio management, invoice validation and query resolution involving all utilities including electricity, gas and water. Gemma has vast experience using the Optima software to obtain the best energy solutions for schools within the Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA), as she used Optima software in her previous employment as a tool to provide ISBA schools with competitive energy proposals. Through this connection Gemma worked closely with Paul Stott, Optima Operations Manager, and has been the ISBA Account Manager for Optima since April 2009. Steve Wright, Managing Director, says: “We all warmly welcome Gemma to Optima Energy Management. In fact, Gemma previously worked in the energy market using Optima software in previous employments, so we were all the more delighted when she decided to join our team. With her impressive track record, Gemma will provide ISBA with further valuable support to enable us to continue to provide best value.” 

Zaman Khan – Service Data Analyst – BSc (Hons) For over 2 years, Zaman has been Optima’s Service Data Analyst. In his role, Zaman focuses on promoting a performance culture based on accurate data, driving through software innovation and superior data analysis at the heart of Optima. Zaman joined Optima with extensive data manipulation experience within the Public Sector, having worked within a number of IT projects at the Birmingham City Council, DCA (Department of Constitutional Affairs) and HMCS (Her Majesty’s Courts Service).  His position strengthens Optima’s value proposition as we drive to expand our energy management services in supporting the public sector. The position consolidates Optima’s leading position in delivering continuously improving services to our clients and underlines our commitment to working in partnership with both the private and public sectors to provide energy management services which fully provide reductions in energy consumption and costs and increase efficiency and profit. Zaman explains: “I am proud that we are developing new and innovative services at a time when organisations are experiencing the toughest of economic times. I believe that the Optima service team has a track record in delivering energy management solutions that identify substantial savings and reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, we will continue to do so as we uniquely position ourselves to help organisations better meet the Carbon Reduction Commitment and eliminate energy waste altogether.”

Caroline Bellingham – Head of Procurement – BA (Hons) Taking on the role of Head of Procurement, Caroline brings more than 10 years’ experience within the energy industry to Optima. Prior to joining Optima Energy Management, Caroline worked as Operations Manager for a large energy consultancy, managing a team of Account Managers. She was also responsible for liasing with key clients and managing the relationship with energy suppliers. “Caroline has a proven track record of delivering quality service to end users with the energy industry, and has a real knowledge when it comes to the requirements of energy users and energy suppliers. With her credentials, Caroline will indeed bring valuable experience to ensure that Optima Energy Management continues to deliver first-class services to our customers and excellent working relationships with the energy suppliers.” says Steve Wright, Managing Director for Optima Energy Management.

• The Co-operative Masked and Fabulous Christmas Charity Ball – 3rd December 2009 at the GEMEX Centre in Manchester – Target is to raise over £3million for RNID (charity for deaf and hard of hearing people) http://www.maskedandfabulous.coop

• Data Centre World Conference and Expo – 23^rd and 24^th February 2010 at the Barbican Exhibition Halls, London http://www.datacentreworld.com/

• aM&T, eighth national aM&T conference and exhibition – 25^th February 2010 at the E.ON Lounge, Ricoh Arena, Coventry http://www.esta.org.uk/EVENTS/2010_02_25_aMT_Conference/2010_02_25_aMT.php

• Nemex 2010, 20th to the 22nd April 2010, in halls 3a and 3 at the NEC, Birmingham http://www.sustainabilitylive.com/

• ESTA – Spring 2010, dates TBC http://www.esta.org.uk/

• The Energy Event 2010, 8th and 9th September 2010, at the national motorcycle museum, Birmingham, http://www.theenergyevent.com/energyevent/exhibitionnews

• ESTA – November 2010, dates TBC http://www.esta.org.uk/

Mr. Clive L Gutteridge
Bursar, Finance and Personnel Manager
Appleford School

Even if your energy contracts are not due for renewal until next year, it is still worth putting a framework in place that allows you to make purchasing decisions now should prices move up.

As well as purchasing gas and electricity on a fixed or flexible basis, we also provide the following tailored services:

• Invoice Validation
• Consumption Reporting
• Forecasting and Budget Monitoring
• Carbon Trust Surveys
• Market Intelligence

We are completely transparent on what we charge, so call our experienced, professional advisors for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on 0121 222 5617.

Market Overview – ELECTRICITY

With forecasters predicting a sharp drop in temperatures in the run-up to Christmas, short-term power prices have seen upward movement, which has also put pressure on forward periods.  

In addition to forecasts of colder temperatures, forward prices have also been pushed higher by further gains in the price of EUAs (emissions allowances which generators factor into power costs) and a rebound in gas prices.

April Annual ‘10 prices are currently hovering around the £40/MWh mark, whilst October ‘10 Annual prices are steady around £42/MWh.

With supply margins looking comfortable for winter, Day Ahead prices look unlikely to fall below current levels of £32/MWh, with this figure reportedly being close to the marginal cost of generation.

Neither coal or oil prices are currently having much impact on the power market, with oil having dropped to a two-month low, falling below $70/barrel.                                                                          

Note: information sourced via Spectron 

Market Overview – GAS

After the warmest November in fifteen years saw prices on a downward spiral for much of the month, forecasts of a cold spell saw a sharp upturn in the market. Although gas prices are traditionally indexed to oil prices, recent weeks have seen gas being far less influenced by the oil market.

Increasing US gas (Henry Hub) prices, currently higher than the UK for Summer ‘10, have added upward pressure to the market in anticipation that the UK may be in competition for future LNG cargoes.

The increase in short-term prices, in anticipation of the drop in temperatures, has also impacted on the forward curve, which has also been affected by lower than expected imports from Norway. With Norwegian operators able to command higher prices on the continent than in the UK, imports have been diverted elsewhere.

April Annual ‘10 and October Annual ‘10 prices are currently trading around the 38p/therm and 44p/therm mark respectively.  Note: information sourced via Spectron    

 What To Do Next?

For further information, just call our experienced, professional advisors for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on 0121 222 5622.