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Opus Energy: Opus Energy drives business forward with FirstGroup
contract
(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
RDATE:31072008
LONDON -- Britain's largest transport operator, FirstGroup plc, has
signed an agreement with Opus Energy, a leading independent supplier of
electricity to UKbusinesses. First's 600 UK sites will benefit from
Opus Energy's dynamic approach to energy management, which includes
access to wholesale energy prices, a cleaner energy supply, and the
technology to help keep energy consumption to a minimum. 100% of
First's electricity supply for its buildings will be sourced from
cleaner low-carbon sources, generated from on-shore wind, small scale
hydro and biomass.
From 1st August 2008, First will be able to take full advantage of Opus
Energy's cutting-edge energy purchasing product, Opus Evolution. This
flexible service empowers customers, providing them with direct access
to wholesale energy prices. Using a secure online platform First will
be able to purchase electricity at the prevailing market price to suit
the company's consumption demand.
Last year, First unveiled its Climate Change Strategy which outlined
ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions in its bus division by 25%
and rail division by 20%, both by 2020. As part of this strategy First
is looking to use alternative cleaner energy sources and be more energy
efficient. Opus Energy will install smart meters across all of First's
qualifying business locations in Britainby April 2009. Smart meters
bring innovation to energy management, andwill enable First to monitor
electricity usage more closely, monitor any peaks in performance and
reconcile its energy bills, all without the need to take actual meter
readings.Forward-thinking First is committed to taking a responsible
approach to the environment, working with Opus Energy to ensure its
impact on the environment is minimised.
Niall Waters-Fuller, Head of Group Procurement at First said: "We
chose to make the switch to Opus Energy as we were impressed with the
energy solutions the company had to offer. In particular, its
innovative and flexible approach will ultimately help us with our
environmental commitments as well as managing price risk.Choosing an
energy partner that displays an environmental commitment and could
supply a 100% renewable electricity supply was imperative, as we are
committed to managing the business in a responsible way."
Steve James, Commercial Director at Opus Energy said: "We are excited
to be working with the UK's largest transport company and look forward
to a long and successful partnership. We are becoming the supplier of
choice in the transport sector with our corporate team demonstrating
excellent understanding of specific customer requirements.
"For First, the combination of using smart meters in tandem with the
Opus Evolution product is key as this allows the company to directly
monitor its usage and then plan and purchase energy accordingly. First
is putting itself ahead of the game by choosing a modern energy
management solution that will bring benefits both to its bottom line
and the environment."
About Opus Energy
Opus Energy's management team has a 50 percent stake in the business,
while International Power Plc (LSE:IPR.L) holds 30 percent and Telecom
Plus Plc (LSE:TEP.L ) has 20 percent.
Opus Energy is a leading independent supplier of business electricity
offering companies best-price electricity together with tailored
customer care. Its flexible, tailor-made solutions suit businesses
across the SME and larger corporate market. Opus, with offices in
Oxfordand Northampton, has over 40,000 customers across the country,
including Yell Group, Thorntons, Stagecoach, Reuters, Farmfoods and
Deloitte & Touche.
Between April 2006 and March 2007, 66% of the energy supplied by Opus
Energy to its customers came from cleaner, low-carbon sources - 47%
from renewable generators and 19% from cleaner Combined Heat and Power
(CHP) produced by CHP generators.
About Opus Evolution
Launched just six months ago the Opus Evolution flexible purchasing
product is a market first. Using new technology, pioneered and offered
exclusively by Opus Energy, a secure online platform allows energy
buyers direct access to real time, wholesale energy prices. The web
site displays the customer's forecast energy consumption against the
current energy price. Customers can then purchase bundles of
electricity at the current market price according to their company's
consumption needs.
About FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is the world's leading transport company with annualised
revenues of over GBP5 billion a year. We employ approximately 137,000
staff throughout the UKand North Americaand transport more than 2.5
billion passengers a year.
UKBus
The Group is Britain's largest bus operator running more than one in
five of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries
approximately 3 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns
and cities.
UKRail
The Group operates one quarter of the UKpassenger rail network, with a
balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter and regional services,
carrying almost 275m passengers per annum.
The Group is the UK's largest rail operator with four passenger
franchises - First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First ScotRail
and First TransPennine Express - and one open access operator, Hull
Trains.
The Group operates rail freight services through First GBRf and
operates the Croydon Tramlink network on behalf of Transport for
Londoncarrying over 26 million passengers a year.
North America
In North Americathe Group has four operating divisions: Yellow School
Buses (First Student), Transit Contracting and Management Services
(First Transit), Vehicle Fleet Maintenance and Support Services (First
Services) and intercity bus services (Greyhound). Headquartered in
Cincinnati, FirstGroup America Inc. operates across the USand Canada.
In mainland Europe Firstgroup operates some 150 buses in south west
Germanyand, from January 2009, we will operate, with our partner DSB,
the resund rail franchise which includes routes in and between
Denmarkand Sweden.
CONTACT: Georgina Ruttle / Susie Patterson, Opus Energy Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)207 269 7255
Tel: +44 (0)207 269 7233
e-mail: georgina.ruttle@fd.com
e-mail: susie.patterson@fd.com
WWW: http://www.opusenergy.co.uk
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Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd.
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