This is a quote from the Firstport website on the 30/09/15 headlined "Electrifying Deal For Firstport Power Supply, written by the head of Firstport procurement, Julian Shepherd, who subsequently left the company in November 2016(after what was said to be some internal company disquiet)
Firstport has sealed an electrifying deal for residents living in its managed properties by negotiating a contract for the common areas that is 19.85 cheaper than domestic tarrifs.
We have worked in a transparent, fair and inteligent way to strike the best deal for our customers.
Note there is no mention of the use of an energy broker, nor any commissions they may have earned?
The statement on the Firstport website is crystal clear. They have negotiated a deal, and that deal is transparent.
Now we turn to an energy broker by the name of Energycentric. Their website makes mention of Firstport.
In 2011 Energycentric tendered to handle the power needs for 1,600 developments in the Firstport portfolio. According to the website, so pleased were Firstport that in 2013 Energycentric were awarded the contract for all Firstport developments numbering some 5,000 developments and 10,000 meters.
Oddly after Energycentric were challenged by the stalwart campaigner Jaq about these numbers (which were 1,300 more than the claimed developments on the Firstport website, within minutes the website was changed to 3,700 developments and 8,100 meters.
The energycentric website also says " We put in place a management framework agreement encompassing procurement, bill validation, payment services and all related bureau services" So, despite what residents may have been led to believe, firstport have outsourced the entire electricity supply chain. When you see a bill from EDF (even if it has EDF written on the invoice, it is not directly from them. It is not even from Firstport. It is in fact from Energycentric.
About Peverel can see legitimate reasons for outsourcing but not for hiding the fact that outsourcing has taken place.
And now to the thorney issue of residents being charged 20% VAT instead of the correct rate of 5% for communal electricity.
Responding to a request from Jaq, Mr Paul Lomas (a director of Energycentric) tro clarify matters , Mr Lomas initially said he would explain the situation to Jaq, but then changed his position writing " I am afraid I have been told not to respond to you and to pass the emails to Firstport's legal team"
Jaq not to be outdone also contacted J.B Leitch and received a very interesting reply from a Mr Charlie Fishwick, a trainee solicitor who said "With regard to your query with respect of the electricity VAT, we are advised that the VAT is 20% as the power is purchased by a commercial company for commercial use"
So according to J.B Leitch it would appear that Energycentric would be purchasing the electricity and selling it on. Otherwise, if purchased by developments, it would be clear that the electricity was for domestic use and thereby attracting a VAT rate of 5%. Thus far every development that has challenged the rate of VAT has been rebated by Firstport, who are trying to keep the repayments confidential. Residents are strongly advised to demand repayments of charges that were never applicable.
It may be of interest to note that a company called Energycentric NW based in Romford Essex of which Mr Paul Lomas was listed as a director was officially dissolved on 02/05/17.
