There was a time when a business’s electricity and natural gas needs were two different topics.

Two kinds of meters on the wall, two people in different uniforms showing up on different days to take two sets of readings.

But nowadays, astute CEOs and managers look at their energy needs as a whole, and consider ways to make their consumption efficient and strategically designed.

That’s where Direct Energy Business Services comes in. The Business Services western division, based in Calgary, can look at a client’s building and assess every relevant factor, including insulation and peak energy- consumption times, and dovetail them with strategies for long-term electrical and gas purchase.

The Direct Energy Business Services includes, back row from left, Chris Lambert, Greg Garnsey and Grant Gattinger and, front row, Rob Orgill, Brenda Lizzi, Coral Phelps and Steve Pope.

Direct Energy Business Services is one of North America’s largest unregulated energy retailers. It provides integrated energy solutions to more than 25,000 commercial businesses throughout Canada and the United States.

Direct Energy Marketing Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British based Centrica plc. In 2003, Direct Energy Marketing Limited and Enbridge Business Services became Direct Energy Business Services, launching a new era in integrated energy solutions for Canadian business. Direct Energy Business Services is a partnership business managed by Direct Energy Marketing Limited.

Peter Dixon, Vice-President in Western Canada, Business Service, calls it a holistic approach.

“At Direct Energy Business Services, our prime objective is working with medium to large commercial customers and industrial customers – to provide a holistic approach to how they manage their business as it relates to the purchasing and usage of both natural gas and electricity.

“In essence, we actually help our customers manage both sides of their meter by coupling a supply-side contract for either natural gas or electricity with a robust on-site energy-reduction program.”

It’s not every company that will help you find ways of reducing your purchases from them, but that’s what Direct Energy Business Services does.

It guides clients toward becoming more energy-efficient.

While the company’s extensive size has its advantages in buying power and range of products, it is primarily the expertise and innovative approaches by Direct Energy Business Services that allows it to meet customers’ needs. Its experts are thoroughly aware, for example, of the direct correlation between natural gas and electricity consumption in a building.

Take fluorescent lights, for instance. If your building has been around for a few years, it probably has banks of tubes using old ballasts that are heavy draws on electricity and give off much more heat than modern equipment would.

If you devote part of your business budget to replacing the fluorescents, the expense would immediately yield a saving on one side of the ledger – and a loss on the other.

Why? Dixon explains.

“If you were to do a major retrofit in this building,” he says, scanning the walls around his office, “the electrical energy savings would have to be compensated with an increase in your gas consumption, which is referred to as a ‘heating penalty. That’s because the heat that we used to get off the old ballast is no longer resident in the building. It’s a dynamic that most people wouldn’t understand.”

Even so, it should be taken into account when considering all energy options.

For most businesses, a more immediate concern is a stable supply of energy, a service at which Direct Energy Business Services excels.

“We help businesses take the worry out of energy by controlling the volatility of their gas and electricity bills and offering a range of innovative technological solutions to manage energy consumption,” says Bob Huggard, President of Direct Energy Business Services.

You only have to read a couple of news stories about natural gas these days to realize it’s getting more expensive, and many experts predict this trend will continue. Demand is outstripping supply, new supply is increasingly difficult to access and, because natural gas is used to generate electricity throughout North America, that puts pressure on prices.

Locking in the price for natural gas makes sense. It mitigates the risk of fluctuating prices and allows you to plan effectively. The price of natural gas remains the same over the term of your contract and budgets can be set over a longer time period.

Direct Energy Business Services, a result of Alberta’s energy deregulation a few years ago, has been well received in the marketplace.

“Our market entry has been long awaited,” Dixon says.

“Customers we have been working with prior to market entry have shown tremendous appetite. Historically, people who contemplate on-site energy reductions have no relationship with the supply side.

“In today’s environment, where the supply side is based on a certain consumption profile, there’s actually a deterrent to reduce the consumption because there could be a penalty from the supplier. Unless, of course, the supplier is in control of both sides of the meter, as Direct Energy Business Services is.”

For more information, go to www.directenergy.com; phone 1.888.827.9811.

In accordance with legislation, you are not required to purchase natural gas, electricity or other goods and services under contract from Direct Energy Business Services. Customers currently served by ATCO will automatically receive natural gas and/or electricity at regulated rates from Direct Energy Regulated Services. Direct Energy Business Services Natural Gas offers are not available to customers of member owned gas co-ops or some municipally owned gas utilities.

For a current list of licensed retailers or more information visit www.customerchoice.gov.ab.ca