Clear answer, explained.
The audit reduces electricity costs in two ways. The first is consumption reduction: implementing ECMs such as HVAC recommissioning, BAS reprogramming, and LED retrofits lowers the total kWh the facility purchases from the grid each month. The second is demand reduction: measures that reduce peak consumption windows lower the demand charge component of the electricity bill, which for many C&I facilities represents 30–50% of total electricity spend.
The financial impact is specific to each facility. On a completed audit for a distribution facility in Ontario, five conservation measures delivered $107,320 in annual savings from building-side efficiency alone. The same audit identified a rooftop solar opportunity that added $204,503 in annual avoided grid purchases — bringing the total identified savings to $311,823 per year across both efficiency and generation.
The audit identifies what is available. The implementation timeline and sequencing are the client's decision — measures can be implemented in phases based on budget and operational priorities, with each phase delivering its portion of the identified savings.
What this means in practice.
- ECMs reduce consumption by lowering the kWh a facility purchases from the grid each month
- Demand-reducing measures lower the peak demand charge — often 30–50% of a C&I electricity bill
- On a completed audit for a distribution facility, five ECMs delivered $107,320 in annual savings
- The same audit identified combined efficiency and solar savings of $311,823 per year
- Savings are quantified per measure — allowing prioritisation by financial return and budget
- ECMs can be implemented in phases — each phase delivers its portion of identified savings immediately
Best-fit environments.
- Your electricity bill is high but you are not sure which systems are the primary drivers
- You want to understand the financial return available from efficiency measures before committing to any investment
- You are a CFO or operations director looking for quantified, data-backed savings projections
- You are sequencing a multi-year energy improvement program and need to prioritise by ROI
