Who Can Benefit?

The ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) Utilities Scheme has been specifically designed so that it can be used by all organisations that are members of ACEVO, regardless of size. Not only is this particularly beneficial to smaller third sector organisations that will benefit from the pooling of resource, but larger organisations can enjoy similar benefits normally reserved for corporate private sector companies.

ACEVO members retain complete independence and have arrangements in place completely bespoke to their needs, whilst benefiting from the group procurement strategy and services provided.

Strategic Partner

Energycentric has been an ACEVO strategic partner for many years providing utility management and procurement advice to its members, through the ACEVO Utilities Scheme. We have helped many third sector clients achieve thousands of pounds of savings on their gas, electricity & water contracts.
In these difficult financial and economic times, we have been able to secure fully fixed 100% green electricity at no additional unit price cost, providing budget certainty in line with environmental and sustainability policy.

Member Benefits

  • Competitive Price Group Contracts

  • 100% Renewable Electricity

  • Sustainable Metering

  • EV & Solar options

  • Dedicated Account Manager

  • All your invoices validated

  • Online portal access

  • Multi-site portfolio management

  • Gas, Electric & Water Contracts

  • Metering Management Advice

Jane Ide OBE – CEO ACEVO

“Due to shrinking budgets, political changes, and a turbulent economy, charities are facing additional financial pressure. As the economy has become more uncertain, operating costs have increased, and demand for services have increased too. ACEVO’s utility scheme is an important way for our member charities to collaborate by using their collective buying power.
Energycentric provides our members with a host of benefits and services including competitive group utility rates and 100% renewable energy, as well as advising members on how to further their organisation’s sustainability goals.”

Acevo Utilities FAQ’s

What is the ACEVO UtilitiesScheme?

In broad terms, it is a product designed exclusively for ACEVO members, encompassing a selection of services tailored to the Third Sector, to provide competitive utility costs and usage going forward.

You will be able to enjoy competitive price gas, electric & water contracts using the collective buying power of the group and enjoy a host of other benefits and services.

  • Competitive group priced, gas, electric & water contracts
  • 100% renewable sourced electricity
  • All your invoices validated
  • Sustainable metering and management advice
  • Online portal
  • Multi-site portfolio management
  • EV & Solar options
  • Dedicated Account Manager

Energycentric has been working with ACEVO for over 10 years and in that time, has achieved considerable savings on their energy contracts, as well as recovering monies overpaid in a previous period. Since then, Energycentric has become a strategic partner of ACEVO, working with many of their member organisations to save money on their gas and electric contracts whilst providing a host of energy consultancy services. With the deregulation of water, Energycentric has also secured key relationships with three of the largest water retailers.

In 2011, a working committee was formed to design a product based on the energy needs of ACEVO member organisations. Having established a framework, an ongoing due diligence programme was put in place. Suppliers are subsequently invited to tender and present, based on an agreed set of standards and values. Following a process of elimination, a supplier is selected based on their ability to provide competitive prices; a vast range of additional sustainable services; a comprehensive CSR policy and their experience in the sector. With regards to water, Energycentric selected three retailers that are nationally based, provide bespoke consumption reducing measures and competitive pricing.

Common question. By signing the contracts, you are entrusting Energycentric to negotiate the price going forward at the ultimate time. This is regardless of whether your contract starts in the middle or end of a year. Because the latest group energy contract has been agreed, a price will be provided regardless of the start date, using the group co-terminus end dates (30/09/2024 for Gas and 30/09/2025 for Electric). With regards to water, prices are published annually by all retailers.
Prices will be fixed for the year and Energycentric will negotiate a discount based on your location and usage on a bespoke basis.

Another frequently asked question. Of course, there is no guarantee that the scheme price will be lower than the one you receive at renewal from your incumbent supplier but we are confident that the commitment made by our suppliers and the volume of energy and water being bought will drive the price lower. Don’t forget, it is also about using the services within the scheme to reduce usage that will ultimately reduce costs going forward.
A Securing a contract at the right time is essential, as opposed to just tendering to all suppliers at a set time prior to renewal (usually three months). For example, those member organisations that were part of the ACEVO 2017 group contract secured fixed rates that provided savings and budget certainty over a two-year period when electricity prices increased by 62%!
A similar scenario occurred in 2021 when we were able to secure fixed contracts for those in the scheme, prior to the unprecedented price increases in the wholesale gas and electric markets.

Energycentric will guide you through the process and advise you how to join based on your specific requirements and needs. All that is needed to start the ball rolling is a “Letter of Authority” and copies of supplierinvoices.

The simple answer is any time. The contracts allows flexibility regardless of when you join or wish to leave the scheme. Many ACEVO member organisations have committed to the scheme and have aligned their contracts accordingly. However, you can join at any time during the term of the agreement and even be part of the next one.

The current supply contracts expire at the end of September 2024 (gas) 2025 (electric), so you can join anytime because the supply contracts will continue to be renewed on a rolling basis. It is important that you understand that even if you have a variety of contracts with different energy suppliers due from now until 2025, now might be the right time to secure your contracts going forward.

This will be the situation in most cases. Commercial contracts are normally secured over a fixed term and there is a process of termination that needs to be adhered to, in accordance with Ofgem regulations. By joining the scheme now, Energycentric will manage the process and ensure a smooth transition once your existing contracts expire. For water, the process is different and varies with each supplier. Once we have all the information, we can advise you on the type of contract you are in and what needs to be done going forwards.

The scheme has been designed specifically to accommodate this scenario. For gas and electric, you will be able to secure a contract from the end of your current arrangement to the co-terminus date of the new group agreement thus aligning all your contracts to a common end date. Using the dates above, two contracts can be put in place (secured at the most optimum time by Energycentric, regardless of the start date) from June and October 2024 to the 30th September 2024 and 2025.

You can still join the ACEVO Utilities scheme at any time regardless of whether you are in this situation. Energycentric will ensure that your current arrangements are honoured, and any internal changes are managed efficiently. Completing a “Letter of Authority” is all that is needed to change energy consultants thus allowing Energycentric to take over the running of your existing contracts and arrange the transition into the scheme. This is commonplace and does not affect any existing utility contracts you have in place.

Once again, this is not unusual and something that is come across on a regular basis. You may be part of a management framework agreement and need to check the terms and conditions (something Energycentric can assist you with). It will cost you nothing to compare the benefits and the procurement strategy of your existing arrangement with those within the ACEVO Utilities scheme. Once you have undertaken this exercise and a decision has been made, assistance will be provided in the process regardless of whether you decide to join the scheme or remain with your existing arrangement.

In these difficult and unprecedented times, this is the most popular question we get asked. By combining a group procurement strategy with a comprehensive range of utility services, every scheme member will mitigate price increases and, in some cases, reduce them. Not only will your organisation benefit from the expertise of a national utility consultancy firm and the buying power of the UK’s leading utility suppliers you also will be able to use all or part of the services on offer at no extra charge to reduce usage in a sustainable manner.

As part of the ACEVO Utilities scheme, you will have access to an online portal which will enable you to manage your portfolio more efficiently. You will be able to monitor your usage and costs at each site, raise queries through a ticketing system and obtain copy invoices for accounting purposes.

Energycentric is pleased to confirm that the electric contract has been purchased using 100% renewable sources at no additional cost. You will receive a “Renewable Guarantee of Origin” (REGO) Certificate which helps you to demonstrate that you have obtained your electricity in a sustainable manner.
Also available is free advice on AMR installation, energy management, solar panel & CHP installation, wind turbines, biomass boilers and ground source heat pump options. The scheme can also provide each organisation with an individual assessment of current sustainable option arrangements (you may already have solar panels and/or AMR’s) and have a look at invoices to see if costs can be reduced further. By joining the ACEVO Utilities scheme, your organisation can explore sustainable options without unnecessary financial outlay.

Having elected to join the scheme, a copy of your invoice will be sent electronically to Energycentric for validation. Not only will they ensure that the invoice includes the correct information, rates & VAT but their online software will apply up to 25 triggers as agreed on a bespoke basis. This is part of the scheme and a valuable service which will save money; on overpayment based on estimated bills, for example. For water, checking bills is the quickest way to find out if you have a leak somewhere and investigating at the earliest possible time.

The installation of an AMR/Smart Meter negates the need for anyone having to take a meter reading and any organisation having to pay for over-estimated invoices. As you may or may not be aware, the government is phasing in the mandatory introduction of AMR/Smart Meters in the coming years as part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions. If you are an organisation with several sites, this could represent a substantial financial saving.

With over 30% of bills incorrect, how do you know that you have not overpaid for your energy? Energycentric can conduct an exercise using its customer management system to check invoices for anomalies, going back at least 3 years and recover any monies owed to you from the supplier. A reduced fee for ACEVO Utilities scheme members’ is applied based on the amount of monies recovered and if no anomalies are found, no fee is due.
Energycentric is pleased to announce its collaboration with one of the leading water forensic companies in the UK, meaning ACEVO member organisations now have access to find out if they have been overcharged going back several years.

Any ACEVO member organisation can join the scheme at any time. From a small single-site charity to a large multi-site organisation, this scheme can benefit all and offers the chance for all ACEVO members to join their peers, whilst maintaining financial independence.

Working together for a sustainable future

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