New online account management helps customers manage their energy bills
firmus energy, the company which provides natural gas to 12 towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including Portadown, Craigavon and Lurgan, today launched a unique online account management service which will allow business and domestic customers to take more control of their gas bills.
Mark Prentice, general manager for firmus energy explains, “We want to do all we can to help our customers manage their gas consumption and even though we are one of the youngest energy utilities in Northern Ireland, we believe we are the first in the province to offer both business and domestic customers a complete online meter reading, bill management and payment service.
“We have completely revamped our website to make it as user friendly as possible and to give our customers and visitors to the site easy access to the features in which they are most interested. At a time when most people want to take as much control as possible of their energy bills, this new online service will allow our customers to easily monitor how much they are spending on gas and pay their bills at the touch of a button.
“The facility offers customers the opportunity view their last bill, plus the previous 12 months invoices which will allow them to easily compare their gas bills over the last year and will go some way into helping them budget their fuel costs.
Brian Irwin, Chairman of local company Irwin’s Bakery said, “We made the switch to firmus energy earlier this year as we wanted to take advantage of the general efficiencies, cleanliness and green credentials of natural gas. As we use a lot of energy in our manufacturing process, we felt that the economic benefits of this new fuel would help us keep competitive which is to be particularly welcomed at a time when the price of our raw materials is rising so dramatically.
“This new service will allow us to monitor our bills and check what we are spending on a monthly basis as well as being able to easily compare it against previous months. This is in line with our own significant investment in industry best practice, and ERP system (Lawson Software’s QuickStep Food and Beverage) through which we control and monitor all aspects of our operation business, from stock control, financial procedures, production and delivery,” he added.
Mark Prentice continues, “As many customers tell us that estimated bills aren’t as accurate as they would like, a further advantage of the online account management service is that it will now enable gas users to input their meter readings which will provide them with a precise costing. In addition, customers who don’t pay by direct debit, will then be able to securely pay online, saving them both time and effort.
“It will also provide another benefit for businesses or people who manage the energy requirements for a number of locations as they can link all their accounts, enabling them to easily manage gas consumption and bills across multiple sites.
“This online service does not replace the traditional gas bills sent though the post, but is an additional service we will provide to assist our customers. This service, which is now up and running, will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The secure web page can only be accessed by customers via a username and password so users can be assured that viewing and paying their bills online will be confidential.
“To take advantage of the new Online Account Management functionality, go to firmusenergy.co.uk and click on ‘Register Here’ under ‘Online Account’. Business customers will need to select the Commercial tab. Then simply enter your name as it appears on the bill, together with your customer account details (located on your gas bill) and your e-mail address to register.
“I am sure customers will find this online service extremely useful and it will take some of the effort out of keeping energy bills under control.”
firmus energy is bringing the cost and environmental benefits of natural gas to customers in Portadown, Lurgan, Craigavon, Derry, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Antrim, Banbridge, Armagh and Newry.
For more information, please contact the firmus energy on 08456 08 00 88.
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For further information, please contact Josephine Lamb of Davidson Cockcroft Ltd on 028 9040 2296 or
07894 698296
