Freedom Energy Logistics Enables Customers to Get Creative on Energy Management

Auburn, NH – Energy costs in New England run higher than other regions, and that issue has been at the forefront over the past several years for large energy users, including manufacturers, colleges and municipalities. But like any commodity, energy prices do fluctuate, and there is a product on the market that enables savvy customers to use this to their advantage.

Freedom Energy Logistics (FEL) customers that utilize their Direct to Grid program can buy energy at real time pricing and model work plans around times when energy costs may be lower to save money. These larger energy users can benefit from the fluctuations between demand and forecasted supply in the energy grid and avoid long term contracts. It serves as an example of the creative ways being developed to bring cost control and stability to energy markets for these large energy producers.

“Real time buying requires a more sophisticated energy buyer that is more willing to be involved in the monitoring and purchasing of energy and be able to reap the benefits associated with pricing fluctuations,” said Gus Fromuth, founder and managing director of Freedom Energy Logistics.

FEL’s Direct to Grid program places large-scale electricity users into the wholesale market as direct participants. This method, pioneered by Freedom Energy Logistics, can be the most cost efficient and transparent product in the market. Clients gain access to retail products at wholesale prices. Benefits include:

• The ability to modify usage patterns and habits to take advantage of lower off-peak prices.
• Purchase wholesale blocks of power directly from generators, including green energy options (Direct to Green).
• Certain states exempt Direct to Grid clients from purchasing renewable energy credits resulting in further cost reduction.

“Before Union Leader Corp. outsourced the printing of its newspapers, running our press and all the ancillary pre- and post-press equipment put a high premium on our daily electric power consumption. Buying power directly from ISO-NE when the rates were favorable was a no-brainer, saving the company thousands of dollars every month,” said Dirk Ruemenapp, executive vice president. “And Freedom Energy Logistics was invaluable in helping us every step of the way to navigate the regulatory paperwork process that was necessary to join ISO-NE, and then acting as our go-between during the nearly 10 years of ISO-NE membership.”

The Direct to Grid model is attractive because of the flexibility that it provides. At true market rates, clients can block and index their energy purchases when heading into a few winter months, meaning part of their pricing can be fixed and part can be purchased on the spot market.

“This year we had some clients who decided to ride the spot market through the whole winter, and have done very well doing so. Others decided to go with fixed pricing during the winter and ended up paying a little more for that security. The flexibility extends to the commitment itself – they are only obligated to their next monthly meter-read. So at any time, they can alter their strategy and lock in a fixed price if they chose to for whatever reason,” Fromuth said.

About Freedom Energy Logistics

Freedom Energy Logistics is a New Hampshire based company started shortly after the electricity market was deregulated in 2004 in an effort to assist large commercial and industrial businesses in becoming members of the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL). Once a member, FEL acts as their full-service agent. FEL’s management team are widely recognized as industry leaders in innovative and cost cutting procurement strategies. Learn more at felpower.com.

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