Mark Johnson, a director of Torse Ltd, is interviewed by Maria Loreto Urbina regarding the current energy market in the UK with regards to pricing fluctuation, long term contracts and advice for existing and new clients wishing to renew their energy contracts

Video Content

Here is a brief summary of issues discussed

• 0:00 > 2:00 | Current energy prices and predicting the future
• 2:00 > 3:30 | The key players and energy company behaviour
• 3:30 > 4:20 | How Torse finds the best deal, advises and provides informed quotes
• 4:38 > 6:10 | Safe advise and secure deals with, ideally, fixed term contracts
• 6:10 > 7:45 | Negotiating with suppliers and serving notice in advance of renewal
• 7:45 > 8:40 | If left too late or contracts are not correctly established things can get more expensive
• 8:40 > 9:46 | Clients could complete contract process but requires considerable experience / time
• 9:46 > 10:37 | Clients sometimes compare to old prices
• 10:37 > 11:46  | If you delay the contract process and wait for best price, you could lose any savings

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What is E.on up to at the moment in the SME commercial energy market? Is there something sinister about E.on’s current behaviour? What’s it all about?

Over recent months E.on’s SME division have been sending out documentation to Brokers, Consultancies and sales agencies for signature relating to a ‘Code of Practice’ and a new ‘updated E.on contract’. Despite the increased efforts of Ofgem and the government to improve market liquidity [Big 6 forced to sell 25% of generation on wholesale market], some energy companies are still making efforts to erode the independent status of third parties; is this to be considered anti-competitive behaviour?

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The Olympic Flame passed within metres of Torse offices in Nottingham’s Lace Market yesterday evening around 6.40pm. Some members of Torse staff took the opportunity to watch from the third story whilst others stood at ground level and watched the flame literally pass the front door.  Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean were due to appear with the flame in the city centre and were whisked along in a police vehicle along with the coaches and floats associated with the torch relay. High Pavement was the final stretch of the route to Market Square in Nottingham, where the torch relay would conclude for the day.

How can Torse protect businesses from predicted energy price rises over the next few years?

The economic recession perhaps does have something of a ‘silver lining’ for businesses at the moment. Supply and demand returns to playing a larger part in the price of Oil and Gas; fundamental influencers of the price of Power and Gas in the UK. Maybe something of an oversimplification, however, despite the best efforts of OPEC to maintain artificially high $ per barrel and a reduction in the volatility as the speculators struggle to manipulate the markets their way; we are experiencing a relatively low plateau in Energy prices. Whilst is doesn’t quite hark back to the days of early regulation, with huge savings and fixed prices for up to 5 years [hard to believe!], what we are beginning to see is a fragmented return of longer term business contracts, initially for gas, but also longer-term Electricity contracts. continue

Oh the curse of Spring! One of our highly valued Client Services Team is off to pastures new. She and her beau are off to London to seek out ‘the streets paved with gold’, as he’s been offered a well-heeled opportunity with one of those German automobile businesses. What that means for us is that we’re keen to find an equally talented and capable individual to fill that position. This is an excellent chance for someone to take on a role with responsibility, authority and personal development opportunities.

No surprise; we’re looking for someone good who will be an integral part of the team, who we anticipate developing within the business. It’s not necessarily about energy industry experience, [we believe that can be acquired], it’s about the right candidate, with a commercially mature outlook, an ability to think and take on responsibility. It’s not just a job, it’s a career and we want it to be a positive move for you. Have a look at the Torse website by all means; but don’t be overwhelmed, it’s not quite rocket science. If you want to find out more, complete an application form and send your CV, and we may well be talking further. Closing date for applications is the 22nd February, and initial meetings for strong candidates will be offered very quickly.

Download Job Specification [PDF]
Download Application Form [PDF]

Smart meters are due for domestic roll-out by 2018 and 2020 for commercial. The basic premise is that energy isn’t going to get any cheaper in the near future and consumers; domestic and commercial are going to have to manage their energy consumption – why? Because we’re digging the hard stuff [oil, gas and coal] out of the ground and the alternatives are either hugely more expensive or dangerous [e.g. Fukushima]. To enable this to happen successfully requires that the consumer is engaged in the process with the result being that they will be able to see how much, when and at what cost energy is consumed.

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With 2011 proving to be a particularly turbulent year for worldwide energy prices, heads are now turning to what to expect in 2012.

With civil unrest in the Middle East unlikely to ease, mixed with increased export capabilities, wholesale prices are expected to fluctuate heavily. European leaders look likely to impose an oil embargo on Iran, with Tehran warning of rising tensions and likely retaliation.

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