Birmingham City Council are the

largest Local Authority in the UK

Future-proofing Birmingham City Council's energy management.

Birmingham City Council, the UK's largest local authority, faced significant challenges in managing its extensive energy portfolio of over 2,000 supplies. Through a strategic partnership with West Mercia Energy (WME), the Council has revolutionised its energy management processes, achieving improved efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced operational control.

Who are West Mercia Energy?

Specialising solely in managing energy contracts for the public sector, WME is a Public Buying Organisation, jointly owned by four local authorities: Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire councils, respectively. WME are committed to supporting public sector customers to achieve their specific net zero ambitions and work collectively to achieve the Government’s net zero pledge.

Overview

Birmingham City Council grappled with many challenges in managing its energy portfolio before reaching out to WME. The Council struggled with slow response times from suppliers, which often led to frustrating delays in addressing critical issues. Frequent rebilling problems plagued the system, causing administrative headaches and potential financial discrepancies. Maybe most significantly, the Council struggled with delayed pricing information, which severely hindered its ability to create accurate budgets in a timely manner.

This lack of timely data made it difficult to forecast energy costs effectively, leaving the Council in a state of financial uncertainty. These combined issues resulted in significant inefficiencies in the overall energy management processes and created a pressing need for a more streamlined and responsive energy management solution.

Our Work

The transition to WME's fully managed service was remarkably smooth, thanks to thorough planning and hands-on support. WME's expert team provided on-site assistance to ensure a seamless transition.

  • Transparent energy procurement
  • Proactive portfolio management
  • Flexible purchasing options
  • Bill validation and payment management

The path to partnership

Birmingham City Council first became aware of WME through a procurement-focused networking event.

After a thorough options appraisal and evaluation of various frameworks, WME emerged as the most advantageous choice due to their comprehensive service offering and transparent approach to energy procurement.

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, this collaboration serves as a model for other local authorities seeking to optimise their energy portfolios.

Time and cost-saving energy efficiency

WME's fully managed service has revolutionised Birmingham City Council's energy management process, delivering a comprehensive suite of improvements. The Council has experienced a significant boost in data accuracy through WME's commitment to regular meter readings and proactive pursuit of missed readings, resulting in reduced errors and improved billing accuracy. This attention to detail has been complemented by WME's efficient query management system, which has led to faster resolution times and a notable reduction in the operational burden on the Council's team. The provision of earlier pricing information has greatly enhanced the Council's financial planning and budgeting processes, allowing for more accurate forecasting and strategic decision-making.

WME’s innovative flexible trading provides the Council with unprecedented flexibility and control over energy procurement. The option to separate purchasing strategies for schools and corporate entities has been particularly valuable, allowing for tailored solutions that align precisely with the Council's diverse needs, and risk appetites, across its portfolio.

WME's proactive approach to portfolio management has further empowered the Council, providing greater control and visibility over its energy data. A winning combination of regular meter readings, immediate action on missed readings, and direct engagement with site contacts for streamlined issue resolution ensures success. By maintaining this level of diligence and responsiveness, WME has significantly reduced errors and improved billing accuracy across the board, instilling a higher level of confidence in the Council's energy data and processes, and enabling more informed and strategic energy management decisions.

Full control through transparent and streamlined operations

Birmingham City Council particularly values several key aspects of WME's service that have significantly enhanced their energy management processes. WME's highly efficient bill payment and query management system, which has streamlined operations and reduced administrative burdens has been huge for the Council. Equally important is WME's commitment to transparency in their purchasing processes, and all elements of their service provision. This openness has fostered a strong sense of trust and confidence, assuring the Council that they are receiving optimal value for their investment.

WME's clear and comprehensive explanation of purchasing strategies has been instrumental in aligning the Council's financial operations with its procurement strategies. This alignment has resulted in more cohesive and effective energy management across the organisation. The combination of these elements has created a synergistic partnership, empowering the Council to make informed decisions and optimise its energy portfolio with greater confidence and efficiency.