The benefits of employing Clifford Talbot Partnership have been proven once again,

A client recently requested that Clifford Talbot Partnership undertake a procurement exercise for a relatively small electricity supply, despite the recommendation from CTP that it is generally more beneficial to utilise the partnership’s full bill validation and analysis services. 

After the massive hikes in oil, gas and electricity prices during 2008, and the subsequent falls back to early 2008 levels, we are now seeing a stabilisation in the wholesale markets, suggesting that the markets may be at, or near to their lowest levels.  Since the long term trend is ever upwards, we are taking this opportunity to go out to tender early for contracts that expire later in the year.

In February 2009 DEFRA will issue a user guide to provide information on what an organisation has to do to assess whether it qualifies for the scheme and to guide it through the registration process. 

We are seeing many gas and electricity suppliers looking closely at the credit ratings of potential and renewing customers, and if there is any doubt, they are either not quoting, or they are placing very onerous terms on the offered contract. 

The extended cold weather, a small recovery in oil prices, and the worry about gas supplies from Russia as a result of their dispute with the Ukraine, has had a knock on effect on gas and electricity markets, which have risen slightly over the past week. 

After the recent jump in gas and electricity prices, we have seen prices fall back to the level that they were at the end of November.  Let’s hope that this continues!

Last week saw oil fall to it’s lowest level at close on $40 per barrel and then bounce back to nearly $46.  The gas and electricity markets reflected this bounce with wholesale prices jumping by some 10% to 15%. 

Continuing with an important contract for Novartis International AG, Clifford Talbot Partnership will be carrying out a second Energy Audit of a major site in the USA during January 2009.