BES Utilities teams up with Lancaster University for ground-breaking research

Commercial energy supplier, BES Utilities, has teamed up with experts from Lancaster University to undertake ground-breaking research aimed at reducing energy costs for its customers.

The Lancashire-based power firm has joined forces with the University – Europe's leading centre for forecasting research – to develop new forecast systems which more accurately gauge gas and electricity consumption across the UK.

The new data-driven system, which Masters students are helping to develop, will enable BES to more accurately buy wholesale power at the most competitive price.

David Ballantyne, BES Utilities’ commercial director, said: “We are committed to developing and implementing new systems which enable us to pass on the benefits to our customers.

“For example, in April, which was actually colder than December, we saw prices fluctuate between £45 per megawatt hour (Mwh) to £500 per Mwh. This shows the need to have systems in place which can more accurately predict customer needs and demand.

Lancaster University and its Masters students have recently worked with the likes of L'Oreal, Jaguar Landrover, NHS England, BT, United Utilities and global toy giant LEGO on forecasting projects designed to cut costs and improve processes.

Not only will the research form a vital part of the configuration of BES’s new systems, but it will also allow the two masters students to conclude their MSc studies and potentially open the way for them to gain jobs in the hugely competitive energy supply market.

Rimpy, 24, from Delhi, India, added: “Through the university, we were given a number of options as to which companies to work with and we both chose BES because we could see how we could use our skills in forecasting to develop new systems to benefit the company.”

“We are delighted to be working with BES Utilities and believe our expertise can help the company best develop new systems which will be invaluable for both BES and its customers.”