Why should I use an energy consultant?

Why using an energy consultant to support your procurement is essential in challenging times

Alongside boosting revenues, keeping outgoings to a minimum vies for pole position on the priority list of almost every business. As energy represents one of the largest expenditures for many organisations, keeping bills low is an important area of focus. True though this has always been, in these present times, with energy costs hitting record highs, it has taken on an extra level of urgency.

However, identifying the most suitable suppliers that can offer the most cost-effective tariffs, and then whittling them down to just one can be a lengthy, complex process that takes employees away from other mission-critical tasks. It’s for this reason that acquiring the services of professional energy consultants has become such a widespread option.

So, what is an energy consultant?

Most business owners will be familiar with the role of consultants. These third parties are invited into organisations to provide a specific level of expertise with the goal of ramping up productivity in whichever field they specialise. Energy consultants are no different.

Entrenched in the energy market and with a high degree of sector knowledge, an energy consultant will examine all aspects of your energy consumption and identify the various ways outgoings can be slashed.

Here, we present five reasons why acquiring the services of an energy consultant today can prove so essential for tomorrow.

1. Access energy industry expertise and perspective

Energy consultants work in the role they do because of their expertise. Typically, they have worked within the energy industry itself and have since developed track-records of improving the energy consumption of businesses belonging to a variety of sectors. As well as expertise, this means your energy consultant will likely be able to benchmark your business against others to produce an even clearer idea of what you should be paying and what level of sustainability is possible.

With energy forming the bedrock of their careers, energy consultants have also seen everything. However messy or neglected your tariffs or relationships with suppliers may be, their well-drilled problem solving abilities and enlightened perspective will lead to the development of robust, outcome-driven strategies.

2. Learn about the latest energy technologies

Much like any other sector, the energy sector is always innovating and always taking new technologies to market with the aim of achieving optimal energy efficiency. When running a business however, keeping abreast of technological developments in the energy sector is often one task too many.

With part of their remit being to know all the latest movements in the energy sector, an energy consultant can share with you the latest innovations which will drive the best results for your business. Their service will go beyond merely imparting knowledge and extend all the way to supporting with the purchase and installation of your preferred technologies, whether that’s eco-friendly solutions for sourcing energy, or even generating your own.

Using the right technologies for your business’ consumption needs, it is possible to get to a stage where energy is not only a cost-neutral, net-zero resource but can generate additional revenue streams into the business.

3. Vary the sources of your energy

As well the modern energy market providing countless suppliers and technologies to choose from, there’s also plenty of energy sources and your consultant will be able to advise you on each.

Many businesses today combine the energy sources they use with the likes of electricity, gas, oil, and propane all being consumed at different points and for different purposes. Despite the multiple benefits, orchestrating such an energy mix is complex and can take a long time to accomplish.

An energy consultant will take ownership of this task, procuring energy from multiple suppliers in a smooth process that prioritises price while taking the stress out of managing a complex network of sources and suppliers.

4. Accelerate your journey to net zero

With the heatwave of July 2022 putting the threat of climate change back under the microscope, businesses are ramping up their green agendas. For some though, developing a realistic strategy towards the Holy Grail of net zero has proved elusive.

Again, this is where an energy consultant can simplify the complicated. From beginning to end, they will design an eco strategy that matches your budget and brings you through the various checkpoints on the way net zero. Throughout the process, they will analyse your energy consumption and uncover energy reduction opportunities that may have been missed and which can help lower your carbon footprint.

5. Free your workforce to focus on other tasks

Organisations that choose not to use an energy consultant are left with only two real options:

1. Take a member of staff off a project to fulfil the role – one they likely will have little experience of and who will require training
2. Recruit a full-time professional with the all the costs, time, and complexities that requires

This is partly what makes the use of energy consultants such an attractive proposition. You can access the various benefits of having an expert manage a key part of your business while side-stepping the cost of recruitment or training.

Moreover, it means your full workforce can concentrate on the roles they are paid to carry out rather than pulling them away to do a job they aren’t trained for.

What to look for in an energy consultant

Should your business decide to go down the route of brining in an energy consultant, it’s important to find one who you can be confident will deliver the best results. If you look for the following criteria, the chances of this will be improved significantly.

Experience and Testimonials

This isn’t just about years served, look at the type of experience the consultant has and if they have worked with companies similar to yours. A shorter but more diverse CV working history can be just as rich as a longer but more uniform one. A successful consultant will also be able to provide proof of the achievements they have delivered for previous and existing clients.

A bespoke service

Every business is different. Budgets are different, energy needs are different, and core objectives are different. A good energy consultant will know this and will tailor the service they provide to you accordingly.

Transparency and Cost Effectiveness

The job of an energy consultant is a lot more specialised and labour-intensive than you might think so be wary of anyone who offers a price without knowing anything about your business first. A good consultant will find out as much about your goals and consumption as possible before discussing fees.

With a price agreed and a relationship established, energy will soon become one less thing for you to worry about.