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Lowering standing charge for Robert Thomas Farms

Picture of Stephanie Beadling Stephanie Beadling Jun 2, 2025 12:19:02 PM

2:50

CLA Energy Services, powered by Troo, works in partnership with the Country Land and Business Association to provide energy advice and support to businesses in rural areas.

Whether it’s managing energy contracts, addressing supply challenges, or supporting sustainability goals, we’re here to help businesses of all types take control of their energy.

Client overview

Robert Thomas Farms approached CLA Energy Services with their energy contracts already in a strong position. They were aligned with a reliable commercial supplier, and their contract terms were well-structured. However, they were seeking competitive pricing and expert advice on contract length to navigate the current market conditions.

The challenge

While reviewing their energy setup, we discovered an overlooked issue: their KVA (kilovolt-ampere) limit was set at 500 on their high-voltage (HV) half-hourly connection. This unnecessarily high-capacity limit was significantly inflating their standing charges, despite their usage not requiring such a high level. The client agreed this wasn’t needed, but they hadn’t been advised of the impact previously.

Our solution

We proposed adjusting the KVA limit to reflect the client’s actual needs. After analysing their usage patterns and consulting with them, we worked with the supplier to:

Reduce the KVA limit: We reduced the KVA limit from 500 to 250.
Change HV banding: This adjustment moved the client from HV Band 2 to HV Band 1, which lowered their standing charges.

The adjustment ensured their capacity was appropriate for their requirements, while delivering impressive cost reductions.

The impact

The optimisation of the KVA limit provided a long-term reduction in costs:

Lower standing charges: A yearly saving of £25,476 for as long as the meter remains on supply.
Tailored capacity to actual use: The KVA limit now reflects the client’s actual energy demands, avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Improved cost efficiency: A small operational change that yielded lasting financial benefits.

Client feedback

“CLA Energy Services were a step ahead when it came to identifying where we could save. We thought our contracts were already in great shape, but their expertise revealed opportunities we didn’t know were there. They explained the issue clearly and made the process of reducing our KVA limit seamless. It’s reassuring to know we’re now set up efficiently, and the ongoing savings will make a big difference to our costs over time.” – James Thomas.