subject: Retool Your Approach To Energy Supply Management Urgently [print this page] Retool Your Approach To Energy Supply Management Urgently
.Utility companies are scrambling to come up with different ways to charge consumers for energy. The current business environment where companies use legacy systems to determine straightforward tariffs and usage data is batched in monthly billing cycles isn't effective anymore. The playing field is different today and companies are looking for ways to reduce their energy costs. The best way to cut energy costs is to analyze operational energy consumption data, determine areas for improvement, and act upon those opportunities. The energy supply market is changing before our eyes and organizations have to deal with newfangled solutions and different tariffs. Energy managers are much more focused on controlling demand historically, and have given little attention to energy supply. As times change so we're seeing a concerted effort to control energy supply management. As smart grid technologies continue to develop, so organizations need to make sure they take advantage of the emerging opportunities. To do so, companies need to restructure their approaches to energy supply management.By truly understanding energy supply management, organizations can select nontraditional utility suppliers. In a deregulated marketplace, alternative suppliers may be able to provide services at a better price. To acquire energy from an alternative supplier, organizations must first understand the requirements. The first step is looking closely at operational energy data and determining baselines. By having a very good idea of your energy portfolio, you will know how individual events affect energy needs. These organizations can project different scenarios and access historical databases to show how consumption changes under certain circumstances. This form of intensive energy and asset management is crucial for organizations that want to take full advantage of the changing supply environment. Budgeting for energy can be difficult. Organizations want their utility budgeting to be predictable and they don't want to draw on reserves when "unforeseeable" events occur. Thankfully, the data gathered for energy supply optimization can also be used for determining budget. The data allows organizations to control demand, remain on top of energy supply, and remain aware of all of the energy options available. By thoroughly managing energy supply now, organizations will prepare themselves for opportunities presented through smart grid development. Additionally, as alternative forms of fuel find their way into the grid, energy managers could choose to receive power generated by renewable sources. If environmental stewardship is important to your organization, this can be a significant added benefit. However, without a means of controlling energy supply management, organizations cannot capitalize on these opportunities.
