Filter Case Studies:
Australia / Finance
Client: One of Australia’s largest financial institutions engaged NUS to provide a complete audit of their fixed line telephone invoices and related provider contracts.
Result: A refund in excess of $330,000 and annual savings in excess of $135,000.
Details: Of particular issue was the fact the organization’s telecommunications costs had significantly increased over the past year and a previous in-house investigation failed to yield any answers to its cause. Upon completing an exhaustive… Read Moree analysis utilizing its proprietary interrogation software, NUS discovered the agreed contract pricing was only being applied to specific lines and services while remaining lines and services were being charged at superseded non-contract rates. Additionally, the analysis uncovered long duration and double billed telephone calls as well as contract clauses that allowed for the re-negotiation of unfavorable pricing without incurring penalty payments. After discussions with the client, NUS confronted the provider with its findings. Following protracted negotiations between NUS and the provider, the client received refunds totaling over $330,000 and had its contract pricing reduced resulting in an annual savings in excess of $135,000.
Australia / Healthcare
Client: A rural state health agency in Australia retained NUS to audit their data services and invoices.
Result: An annual savings of $140,000 was achieved
Details: Data pricing options are complex and, for this reason, often misapplied. After compiling the client’s historical data bills, NUS identified that while the agency was purchasing its telecommunications requirements under a very competitive state… Read More government pricing plan, potential cost reduction opportunities on particular data services were available. NUS prepared a detailed report with its recommendations, which required no capital expenditures or transfer from the current service provider. After a period of consultation with NUS, the client implemented NUS’ recommendations resulting in annual savings of $140,000.
Australia / Healthcare
Client: A large aged care provider contracted NUS Consulting to tender their energy supplies, undertake an analysis of network tariffs and ensure contract compliance.
Result: Annual savings of $225,000 were achieved for the client.
Details: Upon receipt of the client’s various electricity and natural gas invoices and contracts, NUS began its analysis. Initially, we identified reductions in their network charges for 14 of their 15 sites. In implementing these… Read More recommended changes, the client saved over $77,000 per year. In tendering their energy contracts, NUS received numerous bid proposals with contract terms ranging between one to four years. Our analysis of the bids reviewed that in the case of longer term contracts, there existed significant price increases in the later years. Accordingly, NUS recommended a shorter term contract advising the client that we were taking the position that energy prices should fall, not rise, in the later years. In following NUS’ recommendation, the client achieved significant savings in the later years of approximately $34,000 per annum. In another recommendation, NUS advised the client that they were eligible to receive access to a Government gas contract thus substantially reducing their annual expenditures. This recommended course of action resulted in the client savings an estimated $114,000 per year.
Australia / Retail
Client: One of Australia's largest retailers with 40 sites across the country retained NUS Consulting to review and tender its electricity purchases.
Result: Savings in excess of $300,000 were achieved on behalf of the client.
Details: After carrying out the initial tender, we advised the client not to contract immediately as, although prices had been increasing significantly, we expected them to decline in the near future. Two months later, when… Read More we carrying out a second tender, NUS was able to secure pricing 20 percent lower than the initial proposals. After carrying out an analysis of the client's network tariffs we were able to identify eight locations where an alternate tariff would produce savings. The total cost reduction was over $300,000 per annum.
Benelux / Chemical
Client: A major chemical manufacturer located in Belgium retained NUS Consulting to negotiated its electricity supply contracts.
Result: Savings of €100,000 per year were achieved.
Details: As in most cases, the electricity supplier in this instance was very eager in retaining this client. While the incumbent supplier was aggressive in its marketing approach, the client needed some assurances that the… Read More prices being offered were competitive. NUS reviewed the supplier’s offers as well as researched pricing amongst other available sources. As a result of NUS’ efforts, the incumbent supplier further reduced their offer as well as offered more flexible contract terms.
Benelux / Entertainment
Client: A major sports stadium located in Holland engaged NUS Consulting to review its electricity costs.
Result: Savings in excess of €40,000 per year were achieved.
Details: After receipt of the client’s historical paid electricity invoices, NUS undertook a review of the client’s purchasing practices as well as its electricity supply contract. NUS found the client was being charged at prices… Read More well above then current market conditions. With the client’s consent, NUS entered negotiations with the supplier. Initially, the supplier refused to improve upon its contract pricing citing its own purchasing situation. However, after several rounds of intense negotiations, the supplier ultimately improved upon its pricing resulting in savings for the client.
Benelux / Food Beverage
Client: A meat processing company located in the Netherlands contracted with NUS Consulting to review its electricity supply contracts.
Result: Savings of approximately €12,000 per annum were achieved.
Details: Upon receiving the client’s paid electricity invoices and relevant supply contracts, NUS commenced its analysis. Immediately, NUS discovered that the client has signed a new supply contract without terminating the previous contract with another… Read More supplier. Accordingly, the client was in a position of potentially being charged twice for the same service. After intense negotiations with the suppliers, NUS was able to secure a new supply agreement resulting in the consolidation of services as well as securing a savings.
Benelux / Hospitality
Client: An international operator of vacation resorts headquartered in Belgium contracted with NUS Consulting to review its grid usage agreements.
Result: The client was awarded refunds of nearly €80,000.
Details: Upon receipt of its previously paid energy invoices as well as the client’s grid usage agreements, NUS undertook a study of the data soon realizing that a meter reading mistake had been made by… Read More the supplier. The supplier had used an incorrect factor in calculating the client’s usage volumes thus resulting in billing overcharges. As a result of further research, NUS determined that the mistake had occurred over a five year period later resulting in a significant refund for the client.
Benelux / Manufacturing
Client: Upon receiving the client’s paid electricity invoices and relevant supply contracts, NUS commenced its analysis. Immediately, NUS discovered that the client has signed a new supply contract without terminating the previous contract with another supplier. Accordingly, the client was in a position of potentially being charged twice for the same service. After intense negotiations with the suppliers, NUS was able to secure a new supply agreement resulting in the consolidation of services as well as securing a savings.
Result: Savings of approximately €9,000 per annum were achieved.
Details: A review of the paid energy bills and supply contracts revealed that due to a substantial change in the client’s usage profile, they had become subject to significant take-or-pay liabilities in the grid contracts.… Read More As such, without immediate attention to the matter, the client faced an enormous increase in its energy expenses. Realizing that time was of the essence, NUS initiated negotiations with the grid operator. The contract was subsequently adjusted to reflect the client’s proper usage requirements resulting in a savings.
Canada / Agriculture
Client: A large farm feed company with several locations in Canada engaged NUS to review their utility and telecommunications services and agreements.
Result: Annual savings in excess of $45,000 per year were achieved.
Details: As the cost of utilities was a major factor in pricing the client’s product, NUS immediately began assembling historical invoices from each of the client's sites and constructing a database of vital billing data.… Read More The majority of their energy services were located in Ontario and given the fact that electricity and natural gas services in this Province are deregulated; the client was purchasing their requirements on the volatile spot market. After analyzing the client’s particular load profiles, NUS was able to negotiate energy supply contracts at fixed prices producing savings as well as allowing the client to accurately forecast their future energy costs. Additionally, in the areas of telecommunications and petroleum products, NUS consultants and analysts met with the client and recommended alternative purchasing strategies that yielded significant cost reductions.