Case Study: People's Electric Cooperative
People's Electric Cooperative (PEC), an electric cooperative serving rural areas in south-central Oklahoma, joined forces with Evergy Energy Partners...
Energy Management Solutions Explained
Powering our modern world requires a complex and dynamic energy infrastructure. As the demand for energy continues to rise, the industry faces new opportunities and challenges — the pressure of which is often heavily felt by utilities, municipalities, cooperatives and independent power producers as they work to adapt to increasing demand. Luckily, they don’t have to manage these challenges alone.
Whether an electric utility, municipality, cooperative, or commercial industrial client, power providers of all types often use a partner to manage their energy supply so they can focus on their business — providing excellent customer service and making strides toward environmental sustainability. These partnerships include a variety of services often packaged under the name Energy Management Solutions, which are services designed to optimize energy supply, demand and consumption. These solutions include managing energy from a variety of sources, such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar and other renewables. With a focus on maximizing revenue and minimizing costs by accurately predicting energy load, power needed to meet this demand and an accurate fuel purchase, a range of tools and solutions for optimizing energy usage are available, from basic monitoring and reporting to advanced automation and optimization.
By identifying areas of inefficiency, an energy management partner can help our power partners more accurately predict their energy load and improve asset optimization, which can assist in budget stabilization. Beyond increasing efficiencies, energy management solutions can also help reduce environmental impact by providing consultation on how to add or increase renewable energy sources.
Choosing a Partner for Energy Management Solutions
When choosing an energy management provider, it is important to consider the specific needs and goals of your business or organization. Ideally, your partner should have the experience and capabilities to develop a custom solution for your needs and provide ongoing consultation. By leveraging innovative technology and deep expertise in energy management, the right partner can (and should) help you optimize energy consumption, improve reliability, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Below, we cover four key traits to look for in a partner for energy management solutions:
Expertise & Experience
When choosing an energy management partner, expertise and experience are, arguably, the most crucial factors. Your partner should understand the complexity of energy management, including the energy market and regulatory issues that may impact them. A knowledgeable team can provide valuable advice and insights to help you make informed decisions. They should also be able to simplify the process, breaking it down into manageable components that reduce risk. Additionally, an experienced partner should have both broad knowledge of the energy industry and more specific regional expertise to identify challenges and opportunities in your specified market.
Transparency
Transparency is critical. Partners who are transparent with their clients ensure they receive competitive pricing and can make informed decisions. These partners offer frequent, regular meetings and communication to keep clients up to date with current market conditions, operations and industry trends.
Longevity
Cultivating long-term relationships and partnerships with clients is critical for energy management providers. Rather than being transaction-based, these relationships should be built on trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to achieving energy goals and stable pricing. When working with a partner over the long term, clients can benefit greatly from their partner taking the time to gain a deeper understanding of their energy needs, preferences, and priorities. This understanding can enable the partner to provide more tailored solutions that meet the client's unique requirements.
Moreover, a long-term partnership allows for ongoing support, guidance and feedback, enabling businesses and organizations to continuously improve their energy management practices and achieve greater success.
Proactivity
The energy industry is complex, and it's difficult for businesses to keep up with the latest trends and regulations. Having a partner who is committed to continued education and staying up to date with the industry is crucial for success. This allows them to advise you on the best decisions and strategies for your business based on the most current information available.
Additionally, a partner with deep connections in the industry can leverage the knowledge and experience of other organizations to benefit your business. They can provide insights and solutions that have worked for other companies in similar situations, helping you to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions that positively impact your bottom line.
Learn What’s Possible with Evergy Energy Partners
At Evergy Energy Partners, we’re conductors of possible. As the energy marketing division of investor-owned utility Evergy, we have a long-standing reputation for best-in-class energy management solutions. Evergy has provided reliable, affordable energy to consumers for more than 100 years, and for the past 25 years, our team has used that knowledge to advise municipalities, co-ops and independent power providers on how to manage their load and resource efficiently.
Deep Industry Knowledge
We understand the complexity of energy management and can provide an elevated level of consulting that other non-utility competitors can’t match. Our team’s energy turns a century of experience into your advantage.
Strong, Reliable Credit
Energy trading poses considerable credit and market risks. But a strong balance sheet and investment grade credit ratings helps to mitigate that risk. We’re more than just an agent — our experience and strength enable us to weather market fluctuations, minimizing credit risk for our customers and ensuring you always have access to power, even during highly competitive or volatile periods.
Another key part of transparency in an energy management partner is ensuring that your partner is well capitalized and has the investment grade credit available to meet your needs. At Evergy Energy Partners, we establish trust with our clients and build successful long-term partnerships — another key trait to prioritize in an energy management partner.
Superior Team
Although the technical aspects of our business are important, it’s our people who truly make the difference. We pride ourselves on our team’s tenure and experience, which allows us to build strong, lasting relationships with our clients — ultimately providing a higher level of service and partnership. We bring the power to turn energy obstacles into opportunities.
By providing tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client, we can help you achieve your energy goals. Ready to see what’s possible and provide the best to your stakeholders? Our team is here to help you navigate the market. Get in touch today.
People's Electric Cooperative (PEC), an electric cooperative serving rural areas in south-central Oklahoma, joined forces with Evergy Energy Partners...
The energy landscape of the United States is rapidly changing, driven by a focus on clean energy and the need for a more flexible and resilient grid....