Full Version - Essential Energy
Full Version - Essential Energy Full Version - Essential Energy
14 Green sales skyrocket Since our new green product, countrygreen TM energy, was launched in November 2004, 6,000 new customers have signed up (around 150 new customers per week). For only $1.50 extra per week (including GST), or $78 a year, countrygreen energy customers can purchase 100 per cent green energy (based on an average residential customer’s energy consumption of 6.95 megawatt hours per annum). The program is monitored, audited and approved through the national Green Power accreditation program. 2004-2005 target – 50 new countrygreen TM energy, customers per month Outcome – an average of 150 new countrygreen TM energy customers per month, exceeding overall target by an overwhelming 245 per cent Future goals – 500 new countrygreen TM energy customers per month, reach the 10,000 customer mark during October 2005. www.countryenergy.com.au Our website recorded a 53 per cent increase in visits during 2004-2005. Currently ranked by Global Reviews as amongst the best websites for all Australian energy providers (Global Reviews Energy Web Benchmark Q3 Report 2005), the site features popular new functions such as an energy wise calculator and online direct debiting. The growing number of subscribers to the account management tool, energy.web, particularly amongst business customers, is also pleasing. The energy.web tool offers a range of time-saving, innovative features and can be used to pay accounts by credit card, access account details, check energy consumption and previous payment and transaction records. Customers can also subscribe to receive an email when their latest account is ready to be viewed. Total green power customers 9000 8000 Number of customers 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1 Jul-2004 1 Aug-2004 1 Sep-2004 countrygreen events Launched in September 2004, this product allows individuals and organisations from anywhere in Australia, to make an event ‘green’. Recent users include the CSIRO, the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS), WWF Australia and Dubbo City Council. In each case, signs promoted the fact that “This event is proudly powered by sun, wind, waste and hydro – 100% renewable energy from Country Energy”. 1 Oct-2004 1 Nov-2004 1 Dec-2004 Month 1 Jan-2005 1 Feb-2005 1 Mar-2005 1 Apr-2005 1 May-2005 Energy efficiency specialists Our specialist energy efficiency team, energy answers, has helped customers from a diverse range of industries in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. energy answers has advised on the installation of power factor correction and energy efficient lighting and air conditioning to thermography, energy audit, motor controls and cogeneration. 1 Jun-2005 1 Jul-2005 During the year, the team formed a partnership with seven North Coast TAFE campuses, leading to the project management of more than $350,000 worth of energy management applications. COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005
This resulted in the campuses reducing their electricity costs by 15 per cent. Subsequently, these savings have been used for further energy management activities. Recent wins have been both diverse and technical in nature. Examples include – • Project managing the replacement of Lord Howe Island’s $400,000 powerhouse control system for future development of energy demand requirements • Standby generation management and audit plan for 18 regionally-based State Emergency Services control centres • Implementing efficiency measures at Wollongbar TAFE, which resulted in 13 per cent reduction in energy use in first six months – campus now recognised as a benchmark for others. energy answers is also assisting retail sales in increasing gross margin, by leveraging energy efficiency services when retaining and acquiring retail contracts, and is implementing a purpose-built customer relationship management system to provide the highest possible customer and supplier services. Future goals – build on relationships with retail account managers to increase customer numbers and retain existing clients. Expand into Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), stand-by generation and co-generation markets. Environmentally friendly hot water In conjunction with the Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA), energy answers has promoted a competitive offer for Quantum hot water heat pump systems. The systems significantly reduce water and heating costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and to date, more than 900 contracts for their installation have been secured. Unlike other solar water heating systems that rely on heat from direct sunlight, the Quantum system uses heat pump technology that recovers solar energy from the warmth in the air, so it can heat water 24 hours a day, rain, hail or shine. Each unit can produce up to 2,800 litres of hot water every day and uses less than one third of the energy of conventional electric hot water systems, significantly reducing running costs. Future goals – realise the Quantum hot water product’s benefits by promoting it to more local councils, TAFE campuses and other education facilities. Electronic billing Country Energy heralded a new era in billing for business customers by launching an online electronic billing service in June 2005. The hassle-free, one-stop account management system enables customers to receive and download their account information via the web, potentially replacing paper bills. Designed initially with the needs of large business in mind – particularly those managing multiple sites – the service is quick and user-friendly. It allows customers to view and print tax invoices, download information for analysis and upload data electronically into their own financial system. Gone are the days of time-consuming administrative processes and manual data uploads. Future goals – expand service to meet growing demand in the residential market. Some things just go together Bundling of products is a selling point sought by many customers. To meet this demand, we launched a new dual-fuel campaign to promote the company as a provider of electricity, gas and LPG – attributes that add value to the Country Energy brand. The campaign plays on the idea that ‘some things just go together’, like a shoe and sock, knife and fork and gas and electricity. Positioning ourselves as a dual fuel supplier has become an important goal, with research indicating that customers prefer to deal with one supplier. We also conducted a natural gas direct mail campaign in a number of townships to increase the number of dual fuel customers. Roll out of LPG gas Our LPG customer base continues to grow and now stands at 3,600. For the year ending 30 June 2005, Country Energy had acquired 2,178 new customers. Future goals – continue to expand the LPG business. 15 COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005
- Page 1 and 2: Becoming Australia’s leading util
- Page 3 and 4: Priorities in 2004-2005 Country Ene
- Page 5 and 6: A leader in safety 5 COUNTRY ENERGY
- Page 7 and 8: Detailed audit schedules have been
- Page 9 and 10: Workers compensation In addition to
- Page 11 and 12: A successful national retailer 11 C
- Page 13: Looking inside We recognise that ou
- Page 17 and 18: The best network manager 17 COUNTRY
- Page 19 and 20: The table below highlights some exa
- Page 21 and 22: • Large snowfalls in the Snowy Mo
- Page 23 and 24: Vegetation management The managemen
- Page 25 and 26: Information services In addition to
- Page 27 and 28: A responsible environmental manager
- Page 29 and 30: One of the most rewarding aspects o
- Page 31 and 32: Our increasing involvement in proje
- Page 33 and 34: Waste management A code of practice
- Page 35 and 36: A valued part of the community 35 C
- Page 37 and 38: Increased presence Our program of r
- Page 39 and 40: Nu 1000 0 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-
- Page 41 and 42: Sponsorship spend $82,424 $125,000
- Page 43 and 44: An employer of choice 43 COUNTRY EN
- Page 45 and 46: Apprentices by region / operational
- Page 47 and 48: Employees also initiated a fundrais
- Page 49 and 50: Employee assistance program Country
- Page 51 and 52: Our Executive Craig Murray - Managi
- Page 53 and 54: Director Current appointment Board
- Page 55 and 56: Risk management Country Energy appr
- Page 57 and 58: Executive remuneration At the end o
- Page 59 and 60: Consultants A total of $1.3 million
- Page 61 and 62: • Electricity Industry Act 2000 N
- Page 63 and 64: Financial statements contents Indep
14<br />
Green sales skyrocket<br />
Since our new green product, countrygreen TM energy,<br />
was launched in November 2004, 6,000 new customers<br />
have signed up (around 150 new customers per week).<br />
For only $1.50 extra per week (including GST), or $78 a<br />
year, countrygreen energy customers can purchase 100<br />
per cent green energy (based on an average residential<br />
customer’s energy consumption of 6.95 megawatt<br />
hours per annum). The program is monitored, audited<br />
and approved through the national Green Power<br />
accreditation program.<br />
2004-2005 target – 50 new countrygreen TM energy,<br />
customers per month<br />
Outcome – an average of 150 new<br />
countrygreen TM energy customers per month,<br />
exceeding overall target by an overwhelming 245<br />
per cent<br />
Future goals – 500 new countrygreen TM energy<br />
customers per month, reach the 10,000 customer<br />
mark during October 2005.<br />
www.countryenergy.com.au<br />
Our website recorded a 53 per cent increase in visits<br />
during 2004-2005. Currently ranked by Global Reviews<br />
as amongst the best websites for all Australian energy<br />
providers (Global Reviews <strong>Energy</strong> Web Benchmark Q3<br />
Report 2005), the site features popular new functions<br />
such as an energy wise calculator and online direct<br />
debiting.<br />
The growing number of subscribers to the account<br />
management tool, energy.web, particularly amongst<br />
business customers, is also pleasing. The energy.web<br />
tool offers a range of time-saving, innovative features<br />
and can be used to pay accounts by credit card,<br />
access account details, check energy consumption and<br />
previous payment and transaction records. Customers<br />
can also subscribe to receive an email when their latest<br />
account is ready to be viewed.<br />
Total green power customers<br />
9000<br />
8000<br />
Number of customers<br />
7000<br />
6000<br />
5000<br />
4000<br />
3000<br />
2000<br />
1000<br />
0<br />
1 Jul-2004<br />
1 Aug-2004<br />
1 Sep-2004<br />
countrygreen events<br />
Launched in September 2004, this product allows<br />
individuals and organisations from anywhere in<br />
Australia, to make an event ‘green’. Recent users<br />
include the CSIRO, the Department of <strong>Energy</strong>, Utilities<br />
and Sustainability (DEUS), WWF Australia and Dubbo<br />
City Council. In each case, signs promoted the fact that<br />
“This event is proudly powered by sun, wind, waste<br />
and hydro – 100% renewable energy from Country<br />
<strong>Energy</strong>”.<br />
1 Oct-2004<br />
1 Nov-2004<br />
1 Dec-2004<br />
Month<br />
1 Jan-2005<br />
1 Feb-2005<br />
1 Mar-2005<br />
1 Apr-2005<br />
1 May-2005<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> efficiency specialists<br />
Our specialist energy efficiency team, energy<br />
answers, has helped customers from a diverse range<br />
of industries in Queensland, New South Wales, the<br />
Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia.<br />
energy answers has advised on the installation of<br />
power factor correction and energy efficient lighting<br />
and air conditioning to thermography, energy audit,<br />
motor controls and cogeneration.<br />
1 Jun-2005<br />
1 Jul-2005<br />
During the year, the team formed a partnership with<br />
seven North Coast TAFE campuses, leading to the<br />
project management of more than $350,000 worth<br />
of energy management applications.<br />
COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005
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