3 reasons why data should be at the heart of your energy strategy

Over the past few years, the volatility we’ve seen in the energy markets has led many businesses to reassess how they manage their energy consumption. As a result, we’ve seen increasingly innovative ways businesses are taking control of their energy use, including shifting demand to off-peak times and investing in energy efficiency and on-site generation.

However, to ensure real success, using data to develop and underpin an energy management plan and net zero delivery roadmap, is critical.

Here are three reasons why data should be at the heart of your strategy.

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters automatically collect half-hourly data, providing accurate insight that equips you with the knowledge to better manage your energy and reduce carbon.

That said, if you have a large site, or operate across multiple sites, pinpointing how and where you use energy and how best to target efficiencies can be challenging. Sub-metering enables you to monitor and target different areas individually, for example, machinery, refrigeration, lighting and temperature control. Sub-metering technology also provides access to your consumption data in real-time, rather than every half hour.

When it comes to taking any meaningful action, you need to understand how the consumption recorded by your meters is converted into the data you can use to develop your energy management plan. If this useful data is not being analysed then it is meaningless.

Our Intelligent Analytics tool is an easy-to-use energy management platform that lets you visualise, track and analyse your electricity and gas consumption. You can customise features and reporting, set alarms and compare sites to help maximise efficiencies and reduce your costs and carbon emissions.

Using this platform, your data can then be transformed into actionable insights that will help you to improve energy efficiency across your organisation. This also means you can make the case for business investment in measures such as energy efficiency and on-site generation.

To support the UK’s transition to a more responsive, low-carbon energy system, the sector is about to embark on one of the biggest changes in the energy market - the roll out of Market-wide Half-Hourly settlement (MHHS).

This means that all customers should be settled half-hourly, which makes MHHS one of the biggest reforms the UK’s electricity market has seen for decades.

 This change also means an increase in data, so businesses should act now to get ahead of the game.

Choosing the right metering and data visualisation partner for your business

Despite being a mandated service, choosing a metering and data collection partner isn’t something many companies give much thought to. They may just go with their energy supplier if they are accredited to offer metering services, or the provider that’s historically always done it.

Or, if they are new to metering then they may just choose to go with the cheapest provider.

However, historic or cheap doesn’t always translate to accuracy. And, unless you have an all-inclusive contract that includes your metering service, default charges and extras can mount up over the lifetime of your contract.

That is why it pays to work with an expert to ensure your energy and carbon reduction strategy is underpinned by good and robust data – particularly an energy provider that offers metering services – like us.

When it comes to data, we have an industry-leading position, providing 98% accurate half-hourly data* on average. If we manage your energy and both meter operator (MOP) and data collector (DC) services, then data accuracy increases to 99%.

By making your data our priority, businesses can have an informed approach to energy management, prove the value of any investments and ensure meaningful actions are taken.

Find out more Information about nBS’s metering services and data visualisation services by contacting our experts on 0800 917 9083.

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