Bright Spark offers deal in rentals market, The Negotiator- Vol 2- Jan/Feb 2008

A new energy provider, Spark, has come into the market, supplying gas and electricity to the residential lettings market.
 
It has so far secured deals worth nearly £2 million, signing up more than 40 property agencies managing over 8000 properties between them.
Those so far signed up include Pattinson Rentals in Newcastle and Courtney Green in Horsham, Sussex.
The agents earn commission when they introduce tenants to Spark, who in return get guaranteed lower energy bills when they switch.
 
Located on the Scottish borders, Spark has won a recent £500,000 backing from a London investment house and is looking to expand.
Following deregulation, Spark Energy is one of the only companies to have broken through the significant barriers to entry, securing a position as the UK’s eighth largest utility – or, as chief executive PJ Darling, picture, put I, the UK’s smallest utility, as there are only eight.
 
Darling said: “As an independent energy company, we have complete control over pricing, partner support and customer service delivery. Our competitors are not interested in the residential lettings market. We spotted this opportunity and are here to provide the support this sector needs.
 
“The administration of utilities is a painful process for letting agents, from billing during void periods, to tracking down existing suppliers and managing tenants moving in and out.

Utilities service aimed at landlords, UK Landlord-Jan 2008
 

Spark Energy, a company providing gas and electricity to the residential lettings market, is proving adept at taking the hassle out of switching utilities over from one tenant to another, having signed deals with letting agents worth over £ 1.75 million in November
last year.

Spark aims to take all the hassle away by looking after the administration surrounding the change of supply and change of tenant
process and covering the cost of energy during short void periods between tenancies.
The deals struck by Spark Energy, which is now the eighth largest utility in the UK, covered 8,000 properties in Brighton, Horsham and
Newcastle and the energy provider is keen to continue expanding its coverage nationwide.
Spark is expanding its place in the energy market by exploring niche markets ignored by the ‘Big 6’ suppliers, including supplying
residential tenants, property companies and private landlords.
Commission is paid to landlords and letting agents for every property switched to Spark Energy and the tenant benefits from a price guarantee, renewable energy targets and commitment to excellent customer service.
“This is great news and confirms the need and demand for our service” commented PJ Darling, Spark Energy’s CEO. “As an independent energy company, we have complete control over pricing, partner support
and customer service delivery. The ‘Big 6’ are not interested in the residential lettings market and we are here to provide the support
this sector needs.”
Spark is offering smart-meters to replace estimated bills and SMS customer alerts whenever an online energy bill is ready.

Spark Energy exhibits at the ARLA Conference 2008

Spark Energy wins work worth £1.75m
The Scotsman- 11th Dec 2007

SPARK Energy, the Borders-based gas and electricity supplier, secured deals last month worth about £1.75 million. The firm, which specialises in servicing the residential letting market, has signed partnerships with 40 property management companies managing a combined portfolio of 8,000 properties. They include Newcastle's Pattinson Rentals, Courtney Green of Horsham.

The Selkirk-based company is recruiting new staff in customer service, financial and management. Last month, it completed its latest funding round with a £500,000 investment led by a London-based investment house. Spark Energy claims to be one of the few companies to have broken the barriers to energy-market entry, securing a position as the UK's eighth-largest utility. Spark specialises in managing frequently changing users, including billing during void periods and managing tenants moving in and out.

Commission is paid for every property switched to Spark Energy and the tenant receives a price guarantee and a commitment to increase the use of renewable sources. PJ Darling, Spark's chief executive, said: "As an independent energy company, we have complete control over pricing, partner support and customer service delivery. The 'big six' energy providers are less focused on the residential lettings market and we are here to support this sector." Launched in January 2007, Spark has 16 employees. Darling, its co-founder, previously co-founded Blueback, a London-based minicab service for which he jointly raised £5m in equity financing from angel investors in North America and the UK.