How to structure the energy management of your SME: the complete guide

The figures speak for themselves: between 2020 and 2023, energy expenditure by SMEs jumped by an average of 73%, according to a study by the Council for Economic Analysis.

While the surge in prices has slowed down today, the trend is still rising.

And if you could reduce your electricity and gas bills by 10 to 25%?

This is possible by structuring your energy management. Why and how to succeed? Between expected gains, key steps and efficient tools, Sirenergies guides you in the process.

Why should your SME structure its energy management?

Structuring and diversifying the energy management of your SME reinforces its daily performance, while preparing for the future.

A structured approach protects its competitiveness and sustainability, even in times of uncertainty.

Reduce your operational costs and gain competitiveness

Energy can represent up to 60% of production costs, depending on the sector of activity. By reducing energy consumption — and therefore associated expenses —, structuring your energy management optimizes your operational costs.

By maintaining your margins, energy management allows you to display more competitive prices, of stand out from the competition And of gain market share.

Save time for your business

Between price volatility, the subtleties of energy contracts, the complexity of markets and legal obligations, energy has become a real headache.

In many SMEs, energy management is often entrusted to a “default” collaborator, not an expert, and whose priority mission is not this. This choice includes costly risks for the business, such as decisions taken in an emergency, strategic purchasing mistakes or precious time lost deciphering the meanderings of offers.

By structuring energy management, you gain clarity, time and efficiency, to refocus your efforts on the essentials : the development of your business.

Improving your environmental performance (CSR)

Today, customers, partners and contractors expect companies to make concrete commitments in terms of the environment. It's not just about big structures. SMEs have also been screened by stakeholders.

Structuring your energy management and controlling your consumption does not only make it possible toimprove your carbon footprint. It is also a lever for enhance the brand image of your business. A committed environmental CSR approach strengthens your credibility, attracts customers, reassures investors and seduces job candidates.

Guarantee your regulatory compliance and anticipate changes

Today, SMEs are relatively spared from the regulatory constraints that weigh on large companies. However, Faced with the energy emergency, regulations are changing rapidly. Some SMEs are already affected by the Tertiary decree, which requires reductions in energy consumption The rules of energy audit And of carbon balance harden gradually.

Structuring your energy management now means choosing to anticipate in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. You you comply at your own pace and plan your investments without haste.

Securing your company's energy supply

Without a clear energy strategy, your company is exposed to fluctuations in the electricity and gas markets: unexpected price increases, supply disruptions, lack of long-term visibility...

Anticipate your needs, diversify your sources, buy your energy at the right time, choosing the best supplier and optimizing your electricity and gas contracts protect you against these risks.

You gain fiscal stability and strengthen your position in negotiations with energy suppliers.

The 5 key steps to structure the energy management of your SME

Step 1: carry out an initial energy diagnosis

You only have good control of what you know. The first step in structured energy management is to collect, map and analyze your data and energy consumption, asking yourself fundamental questions :

• What are your energy consumption and their evolution (electricity, gas, heat...)?
• What are the amounts of your energy bills and their evolution?
• What are the most energy-consuming and expensive consumer items (production, heating, lighting, air conditioning, vehicle fleets, etc.)?
• Do you identify seasonal, hourly, or exceptional peaks in consumption?
• Etc.

THEenergy audit is a relevant tool for carrying out this diagnosis. By drawing up a complete picture of your company's energy profile, it identifies potential savings opportunities and proposes a detailed, quantified and prioritized action plan.

Step 2: Define a clear energy strategy and concrete goals

Structuring your energy management is a real business project that requires solid foundations:

• Define personalized and relevant goals : each company has its challenges. Whatever your goals are, you must set them down in a concrete, precise and measurable way (for example, the reduction of your consumption by 15% over two years, the monthly management of your energy bills in a dashboard, or the training of all your employees in eco-gestures within the year, etc..)
• Appoint an energy management manager : creating a service dedicated to energy is not necessarily necessary. On the other hand, clearly designating an energy referent guarantees good management of the mission, the follow-up of actions and the transversality of the approach.
• Involve and mobilize employeess: an energy approach cannot be successful without involving those who use energy on a daily basis. Trained and sensitized employees are your best relay. You can engage them through awareness-raising workshops, messages, educational messages, targeted training and why not collective challenges?

Step 3: implement an effective and personalized action plan

Effective energy management is based on actions adapted to your objectives, constraints and resources. Ideally, the action plan includes three complementary levers: energy efficiency, energy renovation and renewable energies.

It is based on a balance between:

• Simple, inexpensive and quick actions to implement : training teams in eco-friendly practices; adjusting boilers; installing presence detectors; optimizing electricity and gas contracts; automatically turning off lights; reducing compressed air leaks; etc.
• Investments with a quick return on investment : thermal insulation of buildings; replacement of the most energy-consuming equipment; LED lighting; heat recovery system; preventive maintenance; etc.
• Long-term projects : renewable energy production (solar panels, self-consumption); group energy purchases; geothermal energy or heat pumps.

Step 4: monitor and measure energy performance

Without regular follow-up, your momentum may run out of steam.

Set up dedicated KPI indicators (energy performance indicators — IPE) Helps to stay on track.

For example, you can monitor the total annual consumption, the consumption per m² or per unit produced, the energy budget in relation to turnover, the rate of completion of actions, etc.

Measured regularly, these results make it possible toassess your progress, ofadjust your priorities and to perpetuate your approach in a logic of continuous improvement.

Data collection and monitoring can be ensured through dashboards and monitoring tools.

Did you know that?

The Pilott dashboard centralizes all your energy data. With Pilott, track, visualize, compare, and optimize your electricity and gas consumption in a few clicks, in all simplicity and serenity.

Test Pilott

Step 5: integrate innovative energy solutions

Once your energy management is structured and your SME is in action, you can deepen your approach by integrating innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions.

• Subscribe to a green energy offer to accelerate the decarbonization of your business.

Did you know that?

With Sirenergies, Changing energy suppliers is becoming child's play. We decipher the offers on the market for you and offer you the best offer from the best supplier.

Learn more

• Investing in solutions for energy storage to smooth out consumption peaks, reduce your energy dependence, secure your supply and optimize your self-consumption.
• Installing an intelligent building management system (GTB/GTC) for To pilot automatically your equipment (heating, ventilation, lighting), detect anomalies in real time and optimize your energy consumption.

What tools to effectively structure the energy management of your SME?

You are convinced of the benefits of structuring your energy management, but how can you do it in concrete terms?

There are plenty of tools to help you take action.

Energy monitoring software: a gain in time and efficiency

Many SMEs start monitoring their energy consumption with software they know how to use: Excel.

However, they very quickly come up against the limits of this tool: manual and time-consuming data entry, risk of human errors and duplicates, difficulty in comparing trends and differences, lack of alerts and automated reports, etc.

Choosing energy monitoring software increases reliability and clarity. It allows centralize, trace, update and analyze your energy data in an automated way. Thanks to dynamic dashboards and targeted reports, you can monitor your consumption and key indicators in real time, analyze results, detect drifts quickly and manage your strategy.

Worried about getting lost in the maze of a digital gas plant? For SMEs, there are energy management software adapted to the size and budget of your structure.

Did you know that?

Chez Sirenergies, we design concrete, personalized, flexible and visual solutions for simple, transparent and efficient energy management.

With Pilott, adopt a proactive management of your energy and monitor your consumption in real time.

Do you want to know more?

Contact us

The energy consulting firm: expert support

You can manage and monitor your energy management internally. But if you lack time, resources or expertise, you can also ask for the support of a specialized external firm.

Energy audit, global and personalized strategy, structured action plan and follow-up, optimized purchases and contracts...: an energy expert, an energy consulting firm can build and implement your energy management from A to Z.

Financial aid: a lighter investment

Often overlooked by SMEs, grants and subsidies can reduce the cost of your energy transition:

• Energy Saving Certificates (CEE), the main financial support system for the energy transition.
• ADEME grants, with targeted programs based on your project and the size of your structure.
• The Energy Savings Loan (PEE) offered by Bpifrance for VSEs and SMEs over three years old.
• Tax aid, with tax credits, reduced VAT or the self-consumption premium.
• Public subsidies from local authorities.

To conclude

Cost reduction, regulatory compliance, CSR image, fiscal security, energy autonomy: structuring your energy management is a strategic lever for your SME. It lays the foundations for a company that is more efficient, more resilient, more sustainable and better equipped to deal with market changes and the energy transition.

The good news: even without a dedicated service, this approach is accessible to all SMEs. With a progressive action plan, adapted tools and the involvement of your teams, you too can adopt proactive energy management and take back control of your future.