Enfield Council’s heat network company – energetik – has welcomed its first customers.
energetik’s first heat network is now supplying new homes at Arnos Grove and the company is now developing three other heat networks around the borough.
The other networks will be built on council estate redevelopments at Ponders End and Oakwood, and at the Meridian Water regeneration site, where all the new homes will be supplied by energetik.
The firm’s managing director, Jayne Clare, said all the heat networks are being designed to a “far higher standard than what’s usual for the UK market”.
“But we haven’t just concentrated on the technical side of things,” added Clare.
“At every stage, our customers have been our first consideration to make sure their service is reliable – from installing multiple back-up systems in our energy centres, to increasing insulation on above-ground pipework to reduce heat loss, to extended testing and commissioning to make sure everything works as it should before residents move in.
“We take the time to meet with our customers face-to-face to help them understand the system, as it’s new for most of them. None of this is rocket science but many of these aspects are often overlooked or rushed in private-sector schemes, and their customers end up suffering as a result,” added the managing director.
In August, it was announced that Vital Energi had won a £15 million contract to deliver and manage the network on behalf of energetik.
“With the council behind us, we’re providing a sustainable and adaptable energy infrastructure that can continue growing over decades,’ added Clare.
‘We want to protect our customers in a market that’s still unregulated, focusing on giving them a great service that’s reliable and good value. The fact that we can do this whilst improving air quality and giving benefits back to the council is a win-win.”