In 1990 a team of people came together by chance. Over three decades this has transformed into a trusted and experienced team of energy trading experts providing a unique online auction. What has not changed is our commitment to helping suppliers and generators get the best price for their electricity and certificates, and our unwavering support to help navigate the process.
The company NFPA was created by Northern Electric to negotiate with renewable energy generators on behalf of the 12 regional electricity companies in England and Wales, and the first round of NFFOs (Non-Fossil Fuel Obligations) contracts were issued. A small handful of staff were seconded from the Northern Electric to manage the NFPA business, including our very own Mel.
Our now Finance Director, Jason, and IT Director, David, joined NFPA during this period. The team ran NFFO orders on behalf of the government to kickstart renewables in the UK. At this time energy companies had to commit to a certain amount of energy coming from renewable sources and energy developers (generators) participating in NFFO rounds could submit bids to supply electricity from renewable projects. Successful bidders were awarded contracts (often 15 years long) at a fixed price, which was typically higher than the market price for electricity.
At this time the business also moved from Bamburgh house to Portland House in Newcastle.
From 2000 NFFOs started coming to an end for the very early adopters. We adapted our business model to start selling energy on behalf of renewable generators on a commercial basis, continuing to do all of the negotiation and admin for them in dealing with energy suppliers. Edgefield Farm was one of our first contracts and a historic moment for the business.
REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) were introduced in the UK as part of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (2001/77/EC). As a way of promoting transparency within the renewable energy market, the REGO system has played a critical role in the growth of the renewable energy market in the UK, as it enables customers to choose energy tariffs that are backed by renewable energy.
In this year we move to the Blue Carpet Higham house
The Renewables Obligation scheme came into force in 2002, a new government subsidy that provided incentives for large-scale renewable electricity in the UK. It required licensed UK electricity suppliers to source a specified proportion of the electricity they provide to customers from eligible renewable sources.
In response we set up the Non Fossil Purchasing Agency Services (NFPAS) to be able to sell ROCs and the birth of our online auction took place.
From this date our auctions increased frequency to twice a month and things really started ramping up.
At this point we started seeing real value of REGOs for our clients and introduced our REGO online auction. At this point the final NFFO contracts came to an end (2018 England and Wales, 2019 in Scotland).
This significant year also saw our management buyout of NFPAS from the holding electricity companies and we became fully independent. The end of an era, the original NFPA was also closed at this point.
New e-POWER headquarters were established in the heart of the North East at Washington Business Centre
We transformed into an Employee-Owned Trust in June 2024. Securing our future and that of our employees, we are proud to be building on the great name of e-POWER and continually moving forward.
My career in energy spans too many years to mention! Having worked first at Northern Electric as an internal auditor and moving through all iterations of the business we see today as e-POWER. I oversee the whole operation of the business, from the auctions to the sales, client management and business development. Oversee everything auctions, sales, client management, business development. We offer the type of service that you don’t see elsewhere, because we are a boutique and friendly business you get to develop much closer, long-standing relationships with clients. It’s so rewarding to see the trust they develop in our honest and reliable team.
I started way back when in database and relationship marketing at Northern Electric. I then moved to NFPA in 1996, managing contractual arrangements and then moving to responsibility for the online auction and intranet. I’m responsible for the online auction at e-POWER. I love the agility and resilience we have in our culture, meaning we can develop our platforms rapidly and respond to growing customer needs.
I’ve been here since 1995 as a Finance Assistant from when we were originally NFPA. My role in e-POWER is to oversee all of the accounts, tax matters and management accounts. The company is about as family-orientated as you can get. I look forward every day to coming in to a friendly, trustworthy team with an enviable track record in handling clients energy trading affairs.
I help to manage and run the auctions, supporting new clients to get onboarded and overseeing all billing and settlement queries, as well as handling the regulatory administration. I started in 1999 after being a gas trader at Northern Electric – I came for a secondment and never left! e-POWER has that effect on you – the operations run so smoothly because of the team behind it, and I’m proud to be a part of what we do.
After a career in IT with manufacturing and consultancy firms, I started here in 2010 and am hands on with all elements of the auctions. From setting up and developing the systems, to managing the day-to-day technological requirements, I ensure their successful running and compliance. There’s a real sense of pride in working at e-POWER. All of the team provide an exemplary service and we have a legacy of successful clients as a result.
I have a long history in the energy market, having worked in both Northern Electric and NFPAS previously. My role at e-POWER includes client and business administration, maintenance and handling customer queries. I believe e-POWER has a really unique offering in the market, providing a hassle-free link between generators and suppliers to trade.
I joined in 2002 after a career in logistics within the manufacturing sector. I support the running of the auctions, as well as handling billing & settlements, dealing with Ofgem and submitting monthly export figures. I’m also the first port of call for any billing queries for both generators and suppliers. I’ve been here over 20 years and see the same pattern with our clients. They stay with us because of the consistency we deliver and the knowledge and support we offer.
Believe us when we say we have it in droves. Our team are long-standing experts in renewable energy and bring the knowledge and consistency you need to know that your energy and energy certificate trading is in safe hands. From our online auction energy tech expertise to our understanding of the regulatory and operational frameworks in which trading takes place, we live and breathe our industry, translating this into outstanding service for our clients.
Our unique online auction system is the beating heart of how we offer the best value to our clients. Our auctions provide a simple route to market for generators selling electricity and associated renewable benefits to the highest bidder, held monthly to give flexibility for when our traders want to come to market. Our tech team ensures a secure online bidding environment, with an excellent track record in offering competitive prices for both suppliers and generators. Independent analysis by Cornwall Energy shows that e-POWER auctioned electricity achieves 96-98% of market value, (typical short-term PPAs achieve around 90% and long-term PPAs around 70% of full market value).
Consider us a one-stop shop for all of your energy and certificate trading requirements. With us, there’s no need to negotiate with different suppliers or be an expert in PPAs –it’s all taken care of in one, easy online auction. The team handles everything from your initial set-up on the auction to certificate administration to regulatory compliance. With speedy settlements, you can count on your returns being with you when they should, and we are seasoned at supporting with issues such as imbalance charges and meter registration and settlement. We deal with all sizes of batches, from small to large, and are extremely flexible with changing trading needs and contract lengths.
Relax, we’ve got you. Our team is here every day and there is no question we haven’t dealt with before. From our auction tech team to our energy certificate trading experts, we’re with you every step of the way. We remove the administrative headache, taking care of billing and settlement and responsibility for Ofgem reporting.
Looking to join a team that believes in each other and what they do? Learn about what a career at e-POWER could look like and see the latest vacancies.
Washington Business Centre
2 Turbine Way
Sunderland
SR5 3NZ
