Talk the talk

Patrick Eccles, supply manager at ESB Independent Energy, talks to David Clerkin.

What is ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE) and how does it differ from the ESB?

ESBIE is a wholly owned and ring-fenced subsidiary within the ESB group. It was set up to supply independently produced power to the deregulated power markets in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Two new independent generators underpin our customer offering - the 400 megawatt Synergen plant in Ringsend, Dublin, and a similar sized plant in Coolkeeraghin, Derry. Like all independent suppliers, we are licensed by the regulator and compete on a level playing field.

We aim to provide a choice in electricity supply to business customers. We’ve offices in Dublin, Belfast and Derry and 60 employees. We supply 24% of the business market in the Republic and are the largest new entrant in Northern Ireland.

What businesses are you targeting?

We operate in the Business-to-Business sector. Our customers in the Republic spend over €25,000 a year on electricity and achieve savings of between 5% and 15% off the published ESB tariffs. Our client base includes most of the leading multinational corporations in Ireland and many household names in the commercial sector. We have the capability to provide customised billing services and sophisticated account management services to meet specific needs of customers.

What about smaller businesses?

We also provide a renewable energy service, or green electricity, to all businesses. These customers can achieve savings of up to 10% off the published ESB tariffs - so your business can benefit from cheaper electricity and contribute to a cleaner environment.

What should business owners be most concerned about when buying power?

Compare savings between competing supply offers by focusing on the bottom-line average unit price for electricity. Ask whether your supplier can help you to cut your costs by reducing energy consumption, using effective energy management. See what billing arrangements are being offered and whether bill accounts can be tailored to suit your accounting requirements. You should also be sure a professionally-trained account representative looks after you and that the overall package on offer is good value.

What’s your view on the size of the Irish market?

In comparison to the UK market, the size of the Irish market is relatively small and it’s unlikely to sustain a large number of players.

How do you see competition in the household market panning out in the years ahead? Would you find it attractive?

Full deregulation is a fairly recent event and it will probably take some time for this to fully trickle down to the level of consumers.

In the meantime, I’m sure suppliers are assessing the opportunity of the residential sector of the market.

ESB won’t actively target the residential sector. We’ll be focusing our efforts on the business market instead.