Switch energy supplier or reduce energy consumption?

In corporate environments, the use of electric energy often generates expensive bills — both for the business and for the environment. Especially in the summer, the demand from electronic equipment and household appliances tends to be higher, which is why it is necessary to pay attention to strategies to reduce energy consumption.

In this context, it is not uncommon for managers to wonder whether it is worth reducing consumption or simply changing suppliers. In this post, we have brought a series of tips that will help you better understand the subject and make the most advantageous decision. Check it out!

How to reduce energy consumption?

If you have already looked for tips on how to save electricity in the summer, it was certainly because you noticed the increase in your company's electricity bill, right? At this point, you must be wondering what ways exist to avoid stopping the use of this resource without having to pay so much for it.

Keep an eye on some valuable tips to reduce energy consumption in companies:

Use energy outside of peak tariff hours

Although many people do not know it, there is a peak time for energy consumption that occurs at varying intervals according to each distributor. This is the interval when people use the grid the most, which increases the demand on the system and ends up raising the energy tariff.

An intelligent strategy is to adapt the company's operating hours so that you don't need to consume as much during this period. So, how about ending the workday an hour earlier and reducing energy consumption costs?

Forecast your business's electricity consumption

Another important tactic to reduce the bill (and consumption) is to understand your company's electricity consumption profile. This way, you can project a bill forecast based on the organization's history. This helps establish some strategies to try to mitigate costs, such as implementing structural changes — installing lamps with presence sensors, for example.

In addition to these techniques, by projecting an electricity consumption forecast, the company is in a better position to contract in the Free Energy Market, where companies can contract the service according to their consumption range. And you don't even have to worry, because if there are surpluses, you can opt for flexible contracting models.

Involve people

If the electricity bill remains high even with the measures indicated above, it is worth creating a mechanism to involve people in the company's energy efficiency. How? Here are two ideas:

• Establish cutting goals: separate consumption by sector and reward the teams that hit the target.

• Implement home office: make each sector work from home at least one day of the week.

In this way, people become aware of the importance of using electricity consciously and can even take these new habits to their homes.

Turn off electronics

Instruct teams to turn off their electronics whenever they are not in use. For example:

• Monitors should be automatically deactivated after 15 minutes of inactivity;

• Computers must be turned off when they are going to be unused for at least 1 hour;

• Televisions must be completely turned off (and unplugged) at the end of the workday;

• Air conditioning units must be checked every 6 months.

What is the best option: reducing energy consumption or changing suppliers?

In addition to the tips we listed, there is an alternative that will represent even more savings on your electricity bill: changing suppliers. This portability is not yet possible for all consumers, we will explain below who can or cannot change suppliers, but first let's analyze the advantages:

• cost reduction;

• sustainability;

• budget predictability;

• contractual advantages;

• plans that meet the company's needs.

It is possible to reduce energy consumption to increase the company's energy efficiency. In addition to the tips we listed, there is an alternative that will represent even more savings on your electricity bill: changing suppliers.

First, it is necessary to understand that, in Brazil, the energy sector is divided into two types of service contracting:

• Regulated Contracting Environment (ACR) — centralized energy supply, with tariffs established by the government and payment for the energy distribution and generation service;

• Free Contracting Environment (ACL) — energy negotiation in the Free Energy Market, with competitive prices and flexible tariffs.

The first encompasses the majority of companies, residences, and other consumers. The second is an expanding environment, but which is still subject to various restrictions. For example: your company needs to demand a minimum of 500 kW to access the ACL with special conditions.

In other words, it means that those who do not have a high energy consumption cannot enter this market — and remain at the mercy of the regulated environment.

In this case, the best alternative is to support the bill currently progressing in the Senate for the opening of the Free Energy Market — which will give access to this market to all consumers.

As this is a bureaucratic process, there are already several specialized companies that offer support to make this migration. So, if you believe you can resort to this resource, consider counting on the support of those who understand the subject! 

For example, on Serena's digital platform, you can simulate how much your company will save by migrating to the Free Energy Market.

What is the importance of opting for sustainable energy sources?

Resorting to the renewable energy market is a very attractive option to lower the electricity bill and increase the energy efficiency of your company. These energies are clean and more sustainable. This means that they generate less waste, less pollution, and less aggression to the environment.

The good news is that, in addition to reducing unsustainable electricity consumption, this is still an initiative that contributes to improving organizational image — especially among more conscious consumers who are keeping an eye on environmental issues.

By resorting to the Free Energy Market, you count on several suppliers providing competitive offers of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.

There is still a long way to go, but there are viable alternatives for those who want to solve the problem of high energy consumption. For some, it is still about adopting internal measures that increase the service's efficiency; for others, the way out is to resort to new suppliers.

If you enjoyed learning how to reduce energy consumption, how about understanding more about how clean energy is advantageous for your company and the environment?

Stay on top of the energy market and follow Serena's blog, Serena Talks.

Read also:

• What is electricity bill portability and how it works

• Energy supplier: does your company know how to choose the ideal one?

• Energy trading: what is it and how does it work?