Introduction

In today’s competitive and rapidly changing energy landscape, corporations, industrial facilities, and private equity clients need a robust energy procurement strategy to manage costs, minimize risks, and leverage conservation opportunities. With increasing pressure to transition to cleaner energy sources, businesses require a well-defined plan that balances their financial, operational, and sustainability objectives. In this blog post, we outline the key steps to develop an energy procurement budget and strategy that can help organizations stay ahead of the curve.

Step 1: Assess the Current Energy Landscape

Begin by evaluating your organization’s current energy procurement practices, understanding the cost drivers, and identifying the areas for potential improvement. Analyze your consumption profile, operational requirements, and existing energy contracts to determine the current state of your energy procurement strategy.

Step 2: Establish Clear Objectives

Define your organization’s short-term and long-term energy procurement objectives, considering factors such as cost reduction, risk management, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Align these objectives with your overall corporate strategy, ensuring that they reflect the organization’s financial targets and risk appetite.

Step 3: Conduct Market Research

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the energy market, including regulatory frameworks, emerging trends, and potential risks. Leverage proprietary market intelligence and industry benchmarks to identify opportunities for cost savings and optimization.

Step 4: Identify Conservation Opportunities

Explore various conservation opportunities to reduce energy consumption and optimize operational efficiency. These can include energy-efficient lighting retrofits, HVAC controls, on-site renewable energy generation, and demand-side management techniques such as load shifting or peak shaving.

Step 5: Determine a Budget

Analyzing historical energy expenditure and projecting future costs based on your organization’s objectives and anticipated market trends are critical in determining a budget. Allocate resources to prioritize key initiatives and investments in energy procurement, sustainability, and conservation efforts. Establish a budget that supports your organization’s energy procurement strategy while remaining adaptable to changes in market conditions.

To expand on this process, let’s consider an example of an industrials company with a $5M energy procurement budget.

1. Break down historical energy expenditures: Review the company’s past energy consumption and expenses, categorizing them into different energy types (electricity, natural gas, etc.), facilities, and operational processes. This analysis helps identify patterns, trends, and areas with the highest energy costs.
2. Forecast future energy costs: Based on historical data, market trends, and anticipated organizational growth or changes, project the future energy costs for the company. Consider factors such as regulatory changes, energy price volatility, and technological advancements in your projections.
3. Set objectives and priorities: Align the energy procurement objectives with the overall corporate strategy, focusing on cost reduction, risk management, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Prioritize initiatives based on their potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with the organization’s goals.

For our example industrials company with a $5M budget, the objectives and priorities might include:

• Reduce energy costs by 10%
• Increase renewable energy use by 20%
• Implement energy efficiency projects in the top three highest-consuming facilities

4. Allocate resources: Distribute the $5M budget across the identified priorities and initiatives, ensuring that the allocation is in line with the objectives and considers potential return on investment (ROI).

For instance, the industrials company might allocate the budget as follows:

• $2M for energy procurement, focusing on securing competitive contracts and incorporating renewable energy sources
• $1.5M for energy efficiency projects, targeting the highest-consuming facilities
• $1M for renewable energy generation, such as installing solar panels at key locations
• $500K for demand-side management initiatives, like load shifting or peak shaving

5. Develop a framework for examining the budget: Establish a framework to regularly review and adjust the budget based on the performance of the implemented initiatives, changes in the energy market, and evolving organizational objectives. This framework may include periodic budget reviews, performance tracking, and stakeholder engagement.

In conclusion, determining a budget for energy procurement involves a thorough analysis of historical data, forecasting future costs, setting clear objectives, and allocating resources effectively. Using the example of an industrials company with a $5M budget, we’ve illustrated how to develop a budget that supports the energy procurement strategy while remaining adaptable to market changes and organizational needs.

Step 6: Develop a Procurement Strategy

With a clear understanding of the energy landscape, objectives, and conservation opportunities, develop a tailored procurement strategy that aligns with your organization’s goals. Consider factors such as contract structure, pricing options, and supplier selection criteria to maximize value and minimize risks.

Step 7: Implement the Procurement Strategy

Execute the procurement strategy by engaging with energy suppliers, negotiating contracts, and implementing conservation projects. Ensure that the chosen suppliers meet your organization’s sustainability goals and can provide reliable, cleaner energy supplies.

Step 8: Monitor and Evaluate Performance

Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the performance of your energy procurement strategy. Regularly assess the impact of the implemented measures on energy costs, consumption, and sustainability metrics. Adjust the strategy as needed to adapt to changes in the energy market or evolving organizational objectives.

Step 9: Engage Stakeholders and Communicate Results

Keep relevant stakeholders informed about the progress and results of your energy procurement strategy. Share the successes and challenges with your team, and leverage these insights to drive continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Developing a comprehensive energy procurement budget and strategy requires a thorough understanding of the energy landscape, clear objectives, and proactive engagement with the market. By following these steps and partnering with unbiased energy experts, organizations can optimize their energy procurement practices, manage risks, and pave the way for a sustainable future.