How To Choose The Right Energy Advisor For Your Business

An energy advisor or consultant supports companies in various energy-related subjects related to energy supply and management. The main goal of an energy consultant is to support their client’s unique energy needs, provide comprehensive energy solutions and help companies meet environmental regulations by optimizing energy procurement and use.

They assist with performing energy audits, procuring energy, inspecting equipment, and managing your energy portfolio. Energy advisors help companies make informed decisions about their energy needs and management.

There are several ways energy consultants can help you optimize energy usage. However, the most important thing an energy advisor does is take the time to understand your company’s energy goals and develop a detailed understanding of your current energy costs and usage. A consultation will identify areas that can be optimized, including energy rates, utilizing energy-efficient technology, and upgrading systems.

Several benefits come with working with an energy advisor:

• Cost optimization: Energy advisors leverage their industry knowledge and relationships to negotiate improved power purchasing rates and reduce monthly energy bills. They also optimize energy systems to be more energy-efficient to minimize energy consumption.
• Industry-specific expertise: Energy advisors have intimate knowledge of the energy industry and continue to stay up-to-date with the constant changes. They leverage this knowledge to create an energy strategy that suits your company’s needs and budget. Having worked with various companies across numerous industries, they can help companies understand if your energy use and cost align with industry standards.
• Resource management: Managing your energy systems requires time and resources. Energy consultants handle everything related to your power and energy usage, freeing up resources for you to spend on other areas of your business. They also support your renewable energy goals and sustainability initiatives and keep up with the latest technology and industry updates.
• Transparency and accuracy: Energy consultants ensure you clearly understand your entire energy contract, from usage to costs. An energy consultant monitors your energy systems to ensure you pay fair prices and do not overpay. Reporting on your energy systems provides accurate data on your usage and optimization strategies.

Energy advisors play a crucial role in your business. As a result, you must take the time to choose the best energy advisor for your business. There are several factors to think about when choosing an energy consultant, from their reputation to industry expertise to portfolio capabilities.

1. Reputation

One of the first points you must consider is your potential advisor’s reputation and track record. Energy advisors are essential to your company, so you need complete trust and confidence in their skills and advice.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure your energy advisor is professional and suited to your needs:

• Take the time to vet potential advisors to ensure they are credible, dependable and experienced.
• Research their reviews and customer testimonials on Google and other trusted review platforms.
• Ask for references from companies they have partnered with or speak to these companies directly.
• Request proof about claims of providing multiple supplier quotes, results when working with similar businesses, adding renewable energy solutions, and how many similar-type projects they have executed; for example, community solar, net metering, power purchasing agreements (PPAs), or battery storage solutions.

The advisors you are researching should be able to share data on the number, size and scope of the transactions they have completed for clients. They should also be able to describe which industries, markets and services they have delivered energy solutions for to ensure they match your business energy needs.

2. Transparent Contract Terms and Energy Rates

A comprehensive energy strategy details everything from energy procurement to energy use. With the various components of an energy strategy, it is essential to have a partner that is as transparent as possible about procurement processes, PPAs, service costs and contract agreement terms. Your energy strategy, including contract length, price of energy, and renewables can vary, which may also affect the cost of your energy solution.

A credible energy consultant should be upfront about their services, the costs and the various components that affect the prices of commodity. They should also explain the impact supply, demand, industry fluctuations, and world events can have on energy costs, and help you understand how upcoming events may impact costs.

2. Industry Expertise

Industry expertise and skills are crucial. Energy advisors need to understand how energy procurement works, know the best technology for various industries, and keep up to date with the rapidly evolving energy regulations. Energy advisors must be energy experts to ensure they provide their clients with the best possible solutions.
However, the skills and expertise of an energy advisor can vary depending on their services. Different energy advisors assist with only certain aspects of developing and implementing energy strategies.
Some energy advisors specialize in PPAs, where the extent of their services is helping companies in finding a power supplier and negotiate cheaper energy rates. Other advisors will manage every aspect of a business’s energy use, including facilities management, PPAs, and the implementation of energy efficiency strategies.
Ensure the energy advisor you choose provides all the services you require.

4. Diverse Portfolio Capabilities

Achieving sustainability goals and reducing energy costs can be a complex task. Every aspect of your business needs to be reviewed and optimized to meet sustainability and cost reduction goals. Energy advisors must rely on the expertise of various professionals to provide comprehensive solutions when managing energy strategies.

Large companies have complex energy needs and often require different energy solutions for different departments. An experienced and knowledgeable energy advisor can leverage their team’s skills, expertise and industry relationships to provide diverse solutions and services.

5. Customer Service and Support

Choose an energy advisor offering excellent customer service and support throughout the contract period.

An experienced and credible energy advisor will maintain regular contact with your company, explain everything happening, and update you on industry changes, including energy prices and regulations. They should also provide post-contract service when new equipment or systems are implemented.

Look at reviews to see if a potential energy advisor’s service and support are mentioned and in what way. There are also a few questions you can ask potential energy advisors to understand their customer service and support, including:

• Who will be managing my account?
• What customer support will be available?
• What is the quickest way to reach customer support?
• Are there additional fees associated with customer support?

6. Custom Solutions

Every business is unique, and so are its energy requirements. As a result, each business needs a custom energy solution tailored to its unique energy demands. A professional energy advisor can find and develop the best solution for your requirements rather than providing a standard, one-size-fits-all approach.

From the first time you reach out to a potential energy advisor, they should show a level of interest in your business’s energy needs that make your company feel like a priority. Ask potential advisors if they can customize energy solutions for your business.