Case Study Overview

Howden Insurance is one of Ireland's leading insurance brokers, with offices across Leinster, Munster and Connacht. As the business grew and acquired other companies, it inherited multiple electricity contracts across different suppliers and locations.

By the time Howden Insurance contacted Utilityfair, the group was managing 28 electricity meters across five different suppliers, with different contract end dates. This created a significant administrative burden for the finance team. Most meters were also on more expensive out-of-contract rates, providing an opportunity to reduce energy costs.

Utilityfair reviewed the electricity usage and rates across all 28 meters and completed a full market comparison. The meters were moved back onto contracted pricing and consolidated under one supplier and group account, reducing annual electricity costs by €61,084.

Utilityfair also aligned the contract end dates across all 28 meters. Howden Insurance now receives one monthly bill with a breakdown for each meter, making electricity billing and future contract renewals considerably easier to manage.

Key highlights: €61,084 annual electricity savings, with 28 meters consolidated under one supplier and group account with aligned contract end dates.

Howden Insurance Review: Key Figures
Industry	Insurance & Financial Services
Location	Leinster, Munster & Connacht
Annual Electricity Usage	679,577 kWh
Annual Electricity Spend	€275,633
Procurement Strategy	Full market comparison and supplier consolidation
Contract Length	Mixed initial contract lengths to align end dates
Outcome	€61,084 annual electricity savings across 28 meters

Customer Testimonial: Howden Insurance on Working With Utilityfair

"As a rapidly growing insurance and financial services business across Leinster, Munster and Connacht, we had acquired a large number of companies over time and absorbed them into our own brand. By the time we spoke with Utilityfair, we had 28 electricity meters spread across five different suppliers, all with different contract end dates. The administrative burden of managing the individual energy contracts had become significant.

Utilityfair compared every meter against the best available rates on the market and talked us through the options for bringing everything onto a single group account. Moving the meters back onto contracted rates will save us €61,084 a year. As we expand further, new electricity meters will be added to the same group account with all contract end dates aligned.

We now receive one monthly bill with a clear breakdown by meter, which has taken a real weight off our admin team. The whole process was handled smoothly, and I'd have no hesitation recommending Utilityfair to any business managing multiple sites and suppliers."

— Naomi Fogart, Financial Controller, Howden Insurance

The Challenge: Managing 28 Electricity Meters Across Five Suppliers

As Howden Insurance expanded and acquired other companies, it inherited electricity contracts across multiple locations and suppliers. By the time the business contacted Utilityfair, 28 electricity meters were spread across five different suppliers, with different contract end dates.

Most of the meters were on more expensive out-of-contract rates, while others remained under contract with different expiry dates. This made it difficult to review the group's electricity requirements together and increased the administrative work involved in managing contracts, billing and renewals.

Howden Insurance wanted to reduce its electricity costs while bringing the 28 meters into a more coordinated structure, with fewer suppliers, aligned contract end dates and a simpler billing process.

How Howden Insurance Worked with Utilityfair to Consolidate 28 Electricity Meters

Utilityfair reviewed the electricity invoices, consumption data, existing rates and contract end dates across all 28 meters. We then completed a full market comparison to identify the available pricing options and potential savings for each meter.

Working with Howden Insurance's Financial Controller, we reviewed the results and discussed how the meters could be consolidated under one supplier and group account. The meters that were out of contract could be moved immediately, while those still under contract could be added to the group account as their existing contracts expired.

Utilityfair managed the contracting and supplier registration process, bringing all 28 meters onto the same group account. Different contract lengths were used where necessary to align the contract end dates across the portfolio.

All 28 meters are now consolidated under one supplier and group account with aligned contract end dates. Howden Insurance also receives one monthly bill with a clear breakdown for each meter, simplifying billing and creating a single coordinated renewal window for the group.

Results: €61,084 Saved on Commercial Electricity Costs

Total Savings: Howden Insurance saved €61,084 annually on electricity costs by moving meters from out-of-contract rates onto discounted 'in contract' pricing.
Supplier Consolidation: All 28 electricity meters were consolidated under one supplier and group account, simplifying the management of electricity across the business.
Aligned Contract End Dates: Contract end dates were aligned across all 28 meters, creating a single coordinated renewal window and reducing the risk of meters returning to expensive out-of-contract rates.
Simplified Billing: Howden Insurance now receives one monthly bill with a clear breakdown for each of its 28 electricity meters.

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