Type Private | Industry Utilities | |
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Founded 2002 (Business Energy Solutions Ltd) Key people Andy PilleyMichelle Davidson Products Commercial ElectricityCommercial GasTelecom | ||
BES Utilities is a UK-based, independently owned group of companies, comprising Business Energy Solutions Ltd, BES Commercial Electricity Ltd and BES Telecom Ltd. With offices based in Fleetwood, Lancashire, BES Utilities provides commercial electricity, gas, and business telecommunications in the United Kingdom.
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History
Business Energy Solutions Ltd (trading as BES Commercial Gas) was established in 2002, BES Commercial Electricity Ltd was founded in 2009, and BES Telecom was founded in 2013. All three operating units are headquartered in Fleetwood, Lancashire. In 2013, the three companies were combined to form the BES Utilities group of companies.
In October 2013, BES Utilities announced that BES Commercial Electricity would set a price freeze on its electricity tariffs until spring 2014. In April 2014, it announced that BES Commercial Gas would also freeze its tariffs until winter 2014. BES would extend the electricity price freeze until October 2014.
In April 2015, BES Commercial Electricity announced it would cut its prices by 5%.
BES Utilities partnered with Blackpool Illuminations, an annual lights festival in Lancashire, to provide electricity for the lights for free in 2014 and at a discounted rate in 2015. The expected value of the deal exceeded £100,000, making BES the largest contributor to the lights in the last ten years.
BES Water
In November 2015, BES Utilities applied for a water services licence with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
Controversy
BES Utilities fell under criticism by consumer organisation Energywatch in 2008 for employing contract terms that purportedly took advantage of customers. A subsequent government investigation by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) found that BES failed to explain customer contract details and, in some cases, wrongly blocked customers from switching suppliers. The Ofgem investigation resulted in a fine of £980,000.
Smart Meters
BES Commercial Electricity uses smart meters, which record energy consumption and send data back for remote reporting.