The Department for Education’s Energy for schools is a new way to buy energy for your school or trust. Offering full DfE oversight and support, removing the burden of complex procurement processes from schools.

How does it work?
Essentially, schools are joining the DfE’s existing energy contract. The DfE become the ‘contracting authority’ and help schools to onboard to the new contract. Schools continue to get their own energy usage data and pay their own bills direct to the supplier.

You can add additional sites during the contract. You will just need to provide site information, and they can be added to the DfE account like any other school in your trust.

It is a rolling contract, and to terminate your contract you will need to give 30 months, plus a minimum of 15 working days notice.  You can only terminate within 1 month if the building is sold, demolished or change of tenancy. 

What next?
We hope that now we have proved this option can deliver savings during the pilot, that more schools and trusts will review their options for energy as and when their contracts come up for renewal.

To get further information about how your school or trust can access the service, please email: DFE-Energy.SERVICES-TEAM@education.gov.uk