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43-513: Telecom Plus plc is a British multi-utility supplier of gas, electricity, home insurance, and landline, broadband and mobile services to residences and businesses. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index . The company was founded in 1996 as a telecommunications business. Its first product, launched in 1997, was a least cost call routing 'Smart Box',

86-577: A combined service provision. This service provision has various manifestation in the business market: Outside of the Netherlands, there are various other multi-utility companies. The best known examples are Stadtwerke in Germany and Austria . In order to stand their ground against large power companies (Eon, RWE ), these companies have developed themselves to become versatile enterprises. In addition to energy and water, these companies are also involved with

129-542: A decade ago, while energy bonds make up 15.7% of the $ 1.3   trillion junk bond market, up from 4.3% over the same period. Since the cost of energy has become a significant factor in the performance of societies' economies, the management of energy resources has become crucial. Energy management involves utilizing the available energy resources more effectively, that is, with minimum incremental costs. Simple management techniques can often save energy expenditures without incorporating fresh technology . Energy management

172-459: A gadget that plugs into a phone socket and routes the calls to alternative networks at a cheaper rate than British Telecom. In 2017 the company sold its 20% stake in Opus Energy to Drax Group . In October 2023, the company had over 949,000 customers. Andrew Lindsay , a world-class rower who was a member of the gold medallist British team at the 2000 Olympics , joined Telecom Plus in 2007. He

215-429: A light) requires resources and has an effect on the environment. Many electric power plants burn coal, oil or natural gas in order to generate electricity for energy needs. While burning these fossil fuels produces a readily available and instantaneous supply of electricity, it also generates air pollutants including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulfur dioxide and trioxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxides ( NOx ). Carbon dioxide

258-505: A multi-utility company in Canada is ATCO . ATCO provides engineering services, modular infrastructure, and natural gas products. Because of their diversification, Atco is able to tie together several related services which enables the company to offer excellent product consistency. In the Netherlands , multi-utility became very popular amongst power companies in the 1890s. As a consequence of

301-416: A network of grid cables . The transportation of energy, whether by tanker, pipeline, or transmission line, poses challenges for scientists and engineers, policy makers, and economists to make it more risk-free and efficient. Economic and political instability can lead to an energy crisis . Notable oil crises are the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 oil crisis . The advent of peak oil , the point in time when

344-408: A number of serious problems, some of which, such as global warming , present potentially grave risks to the world. In some industries, the word energy is used as a synonym for energy resources , which refer to substances like fuels , petroleum products, and electricity in general. This is because a significant portion of the energy contained in these resources can easily be extracted to serve

387-584: A strong association with public utilities, which led to the name multi-utility. In the business markets, partnerships were often created as well with (large) customers, particularly in relation to cogeneration , the combined generation of heat (steam) and electricity (power). In the seventies, cogeneration expanded enormously. Large industries in particular invested in cogeneration, but smaller applications saw benefits as well. You could think of horticulture , swimming pools or hospitals . Cogeneration installations were placed at many companies, sometimes paid by

430-476: A turnover of more than 80 billion Euros . In the Netherlands, the company is active in energy (under the name of Electrabel ), waste ( SITA ) and industrial service provision (Cofely, called GTI until 2009). Energy sector The energy industry is the totality of all of the industries involved in the production and sale of energy , including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution. Modern society consumes large amounts of fuel, and

473-458: A useful purpose. After a useful process has taken place, the total energy is conserved. Still, the resource itself is not conserved since a process usually transforms the energy into unusable forms (such as unnecessary or excess heat). Ever since humanity discovered various energy resources available in nature, it has been inventing devices, known as machines, that make life more comfortable by using energy resources. Thus, although primitive man knew

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516-646: Is an important greenhouse gas , known to be responsible, along with methane , nitrous oxide , and fluorinated gases , for the rapid increase in global warming since the Industrial Revolution . In the 20th century, global temperature records are significantly higher than temperature records from thousands of years ago, taken from ice cores in Arctic regions. Burning fossil fuels for electricity generation also releases trace metals such as beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, mercury, nickel, and silver into

559-400: Is argued that there is also the potential to develop a more efficient energy sector. This can be done by: Best available technology (BAT) offers supply-side efficiency levels far higher than global averages. The relative benefits of gas compared to coal are influenced by the development of increasingly efficient energy production methods. According to an impact assessment carried out for

602-529: Is in the context of the Iraq Wars . Some political analysts maintain that the hidden reason for both 1991 and 2003 wars can be traced to strategic control of international energy resources. Others counter this analysis with the numbers related to its economics. According to the latter group of analysts, U.S. has spent about $ 336 billion in Iraq as compared with a background current value of $ 25 billion per year budget for

645-529: Is most often the practice of using energy more efficiently by eliminating energy wastage or balancing justifiable energy demand with appropriate energy supply. The process couples energy awareness with energy conservation . The United Nations developed the International Standard Industrial Classification , which is a list of economic and social classifications. There is no distinct classification for an energy industry, because

688-406: Is the intersection of national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led to significant vulnerabilities. Threats to energy security include the political instability of several energy producing countries,

731-449: Is to explore means of producing hydrogen fuel from water. Though hydrogen use is environmentally friendly, its production requires energy and existing technologies to make it, are not very efficient. Research is underway to explore enzymatic decomposition of biomass. Other forms of conventional energy resources are also being used in new ways. Coal gasification and liquefaction are recent technologies that are becoming attractive after

774-483: Is very important to the global economy. All economic activity requires energy resources, whether to manufacture goods, provide transportation , run computers and other machines . Widespread demand for energy may encourage competing energy utilities and the formation of retail energy markets . Note the presence of the "Energy Marketing and Customer Service" (EMACS) sub-sector. The energy sector accounts for 4.6% of outstanding leveraged loans, compared with 3.1%

817-505: The European Commission , the levels of energy efficiency of coal-fired plants built have now increased to 46-49% efficiency rates, as compared to coals plants built before the 1990s (32-40%). However, at the same time gas can reach 58-59% efficiency levels with the best available technology. Meanwhile, combined heat and power can offer efficiency rates of 80-90%. Since now energy plays an essential role in industrial societies ,

860-416: The environment . Managing the use of energy is inevitable in any functional society. In the industrialized world the development of energy resources has become essential for agriculture , transportation , waste collection , information technology , communications that have become prerequisites of a developed society. The increasing use of energy since the Industrial Revolution has also brought with it

903-430: The liberalization of the energy market, these companies were looking for opportunities to widen their product range. In addition to energy, they started to offer products and services through cable (internet, television) as well; in the business market they also became active in the fields of environment and waste . They considered these markets as logical complements to the traditional energy supply . These markets had

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946-466: The Dutch power companies have abandoned this multi-utility strategy. They have chosen to focus on energy: mono-utility. By doing so, they are returning to their roots as it were. An exception to this is DELTA, from the Dutch province of Zeeland . Due to the increase in scale that has taken place in the energy sector , DELTA has explicitly chosen to further deepen their relationship with their customers through

989-475: The activities and/or business units that are not considered the core business, or are considered as complementary activities, are contracted out. This phenomenon particularly occurred at ICT departments of companies, but also administrative tasks, the contact with customers (through a call center ) and facility services were often outsourced. They would preferably choose a party for whom these activities concerned were part of their core activities. By now, most of

1032-612: The classification system is based on activities , products , and expenditures according to purpose . Countries in North America use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The NAICS sectors #21 and #22 (mining and utilities) might roughly define the energy industry in North America. This classification is used by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission . The Global Industry Classification Standard used by Morgan Stanley define

1075-428: The client, sometimes via a joint venture , but also often paid for by the power company. Management and maintenance of these installations are performed by the power company. Power that is not consumed by the client, is supplied to the electricity grid . The excess steam is also used for other applications. The management of these cogeneration installations also fitted the trend of outsourcing . In case of outsourcing,

1118-416: The economy. Until recently, fossil fuels were the primary source of energy generation in most parts of the world and are a significant contributor to global warming and pollution . Many economies are investing in renewable and sustainable energy as part of human adaptation to global warming. The use of energy has been a key in the development of the human society by helping it to control and adapt to

1161-414: The energy industry as comprising companies primarily working with oil, gas, coal and consumable fuels, excluding companies working with certain industrial gases. Add also to expand this section: Dow Jones Industrial Average Government encouragement in the form of subsidies and tax incentives for energy-conservation efforts has increasingly fostered the view of conservation as a major function of

1204-576: The energy industry generate considerable pollution , including toxic and greenhouse gases from fuel combustion, nuclear waste from the generation of nuclear power, and oil spillages as a result of petroleum extraction. Government regulations to internalize these externalities form an increasing part of doing business , and the trading of carbon credits and pollution credits on the free market may also result in energy-saving and pollution-control measures becoming even more important to energy providers. Consumption of energy resources, (e.g. turning on

1247-427: The energy industry is a crucial part of the infrastructure and maintenance of society in almost all countries . In particular, the energy industry comprises: The increased dependence during the 20th century on carbon-emitting energy sources, such as fossil fuels , and carbon-emitting renewables, such as biomass , means that the energy industry has frequently contributed to pollution and environmental impacts on

1290-410: The energy industry: saving an amount of energy provides economic benefits almost identical to generating that same amount of energy. This is compounded by the fact that the economics of delivering energy tend to be priced for capacity as opposed to average usage. One of the purposes of a smart grid infrastructure is to smooth out demand so that capacity and demand curves align more closely. Some parts of

1333-443: The entire U.S. oil import dependence Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production , distribution and consumption . The attributes of energy policy may include legislation , international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation , taxation and other public policy techniques. Energy security

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1376-440: The environment, which also act as pollutants. The large-scale use of renewable energy technologies would "greatly mitigate or eliminate a wide range of environmental and human health impacts of energy use". Renewable energy technologies include biofuels , solar heating and cooling , hydroelectric power , solar power , and wind power . Energy conservation and the efficient use of energy would also help. In addition, it

1419-438: The exploitation of traffic light installations, public swimming pools. Shareholders are municipalities . In Norway , Hafslund and Lyse Energi refer to themselves as multi-utility companies. Another example is GDF Suez , an international industrial and service group. This company was created in 2007 and originated from France . It is active in the field of energy, energy related services and environment. In 2008 it had

1462-459: The foreseeable future. With as much dependence that the U.S. currently has for oil and with the peaking limits of oil production; economies and societies will begin to feel the decline in the resource that we have become dependent upon. Energy security has become one of the leading issues in the world today as oil and other resources have become as vital to the world's people. However, with oil production rates decreasing and oil production peak nearing,

1505-424: The manipulation of energy supplies, the competition over energy sources, attacks on supply infrastructure, as well as accidents, natural disasters, the funding to foreign dictators, rising terrorism, and dominant countries reliance to the foreign oil supply. The limited supplies, uneven distribution, and rising costs of fossil fuels , such as oil and gas, create a need to change to more sustainable energy sources in

1548-425: The maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, will likely precipitate another energy crisis. Between 1985 and 2018, there have been around 69,932 deals in the energy sector. This cumulates to an overall value of 9,578 bil USD. The most active year was 2010 with about 3.761 deals. In terms of value 2007 was the strongest year (684 bil. USD), which was followed by a steep decline until 2009 (-55,8%). Here

1591-507: The ownership and control of energy resources plays an increasing role in politics . At the national level, governments seek to influence the sharing (distribution) of energy resources among various sections of the society through pricing mechanisms; or even who owns resources within their borders. They may also seek to influence the use of energy by individuals and business in an attempt to tackle environmental issues . The most recent international political controversy regarding energy resources

1634-544: The presence of a source of usable energy, such sources are of great worth in society. While energy resources are an essential ingredient for all modes of transportation in society, the transportation of energy resources is becoming equally important. Energy resources are frequently located far from the place where they are consumed. Therefore, their transportation is always in question. Some energy resources like liquid or gaseous fuels are transported using tankers or pipelines , while electricity transportation invariably requires

1677-424: The price of exporting and importing oil will increase due to increased demand. Producing energy to sustain human needs is an essential social activity, and a great deal of effort goes into the activity. While most of such effort is limited towards increasing the production of electricity and oil , newer ways of producing usable energy resources from the available energy resources are being explored. One such effort

1720-717: The realization that oil reserves , at present consumption rates, may be rather short lived. See alternative fuels . Energy is the subject of significant research activities globally. For example, the UK Energy Research Centre is the focal point for UK energy research while the European Union has many technology programmes as well as a platform for engaging social science and humanities within energy research. All societies require materials and food to be transported over distances , generally against some force of friction. Since application of force over distance requires

1763-517: The utility of fire to cook food, the invention of devices like gas burners and microwave ovens led to additional ways of how energy can be utilised. The trend is the same in any other field of social activity, be it the construction of social infrastructure, manufacturing of fabrics for covering, porting, printing , decorating, for example, textiles , air conditioning , communication of information, or for moving people and goods ( automobiles ). Production and consumption of energy resources

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1806-486: The world has come to protect what resources we have left. With new advancements in renewable resources, less pressure has been put on companies that produce the world's oil; these resources are geothermal, solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric. Although these are not all the current and possible options for the world to turn to as the oil depletes, the most critical issue is protecting these vital resources from future threats. These new resources will become more valuable as

1849-501: Was the chief operating officer in 2009 and was promoted to chief executive officer in July 2010. Lindsay held the CEO role jointly with Stuart Burnett from 2021, and in 2023 the company announced that Lindsay would step down at the 2024 AGM. The company has two subsidiaries: The company uses a multi-level marketing model to recruit customers and distributors. Multi-utility An example of

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