What Is the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)?
A Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is one of the most consequential regulatory bodies affecting how businesses buy energy. Whether you are a business navigating supplier contracts in a deregulated market or a broker managing compliance across multiple states, understanding PUC oversight is foundational to making informed energy procurement decisions.
Commercial Energy for Property Management & Apartment Buildings
Energy is one of the largest, yet most controllable, costs for property managers and building owners. In today’s market, however, energy costs are increasingly becoming a large expense item for many commercial real estate asset owners and managers. Finding ways to reduce these costs can have a direct impact on your bottom line, net operating income, and cap rates. This article will dive into how energy costs are calculated and effective energy management strategies to be used by property managers and apartment building owners.
Energy Procurement Auctions
Traditional energy procurement strategies include manually gathering multiple price quotes from retail energy suppliers, negotiating contract terms, and executing an energy contract. This process is dated and does not allow for true competitive pricing through the use of technology. Energy procurement auctions are structured as a competitive bidding environment where reserve prices and contract terms are set ahead of time. Energy suppliers then bid in real-time to win customer business, which results in lower prices and actual customer savings. In this article, we will outline the role of reverse auctions in energy procurement, how they work, their advantages, and the various ways customers can access this leading-edge technology.
Fixed Rate vs Variable Rate Electricity Plans
Choosing the right electricity plan based on your organization’s budget goals is one of the most important decisions in your energy procurement process. Fixed rate vs variable rate electricity plans offer an array of options and risk for consumers that should be evaluated in detail prior to purchasing. This article will compare fixed and variable rates, explain how each product structure performs under different market conditions, and introduce the hybrid approach of combining fixed rates with variable rates.
Energy Procurement for Multi-Site Businesses
Managing energy procurement across multiple locations introduces complexity that goes far beyond price. Different utilities, tariffs, contract terms, and regulatory rules can quickly turn energy into an administrative and financial burden. Without a centralized strategy, multi-site businesses often face misaligned contracts, missed market opportunities, and unnecessary exposure to risk. This guide explains how centralized energy procurement helps multi-site organizations streamline contracts, reduce costs, and manage market volatility with a structured, portfolio-level approach.
How Are Commercial Electricity Rates Determined?
Commercial electricity rates are influenced by a complex interplay of generation, transmission, and capacity costs, alongside local market dynamics. Understanding these key factors and how they are calculated is essential for businesses seeking to manage and reduce their electricity expenses.