Software firm powers ahead in energy sector

FAST-growth business Utiligroup, which supplies software and services to many of the challenger energy providers, has been appointed by an new municipal dual-fuel supplier in the South West.

The Chorley firm, which is backed by Manchester-based private equity investor NorthEdge Capital, is supporting Bristol Energy in its launch.

Bristol Energy – formed by Bristol City Council – is the first municipal energy company in the South West and one of the first in the country.  It is among a new generation of energy company that contributes to the economic and social resilience of the city and wellbeing of local communities.

Bristol Energy is socially motivated  – it will reinvest profits in the city to support services and community projects – while also seeking to help consumers use less fuel and pay lower bills.

Matthew Hirst, chief executive of Utiligroup said: “As more and more non-traditional organisations establish themselves as suppliers, the utilities industry is becoming an exciting and varied marketplace. We’re proud to support Bristol Energy’s vision to reach out to local communities, together with supporting local renewable energy generators to link with initiatives with a shared ethos across the city and region.”

Peter Haigh, managing director of Bristol Energy, added: “This is a new era for the sector, and Bristol Energy is proud to set itself apart from other energy companies as a force for social good. We believe that energy customers, businesses and communities deserve something better, now and into the future – and this means doing things differently. I really believe people will want to get behind us.

“We have to pay energy bills anyway, so why not pay them to a company that will spend the profits on local services and projects?”

To date, Utiligroup has enabled over 26 new entrant suppliers to break into the industry and manages two million customer registrations for suppliers.

Clients include a host of recent market entrants including The Co-Operative Energy, Ovo Energy and Robin Hood Energy.

Utiligroup, which expects turnover to top £10m this year,  has celebrated its rapid growth by moving in to a new 16,000 sq ft office facility and heavily expanding its workforce, doubling its headcount to more than 160 staff.