Commercial Electricity Costs: Energy Management vs. Energy Audit — What Alberta Businesses Actually Need?
For many business owners and senior executives, "Energy Management" sounds like just another consulting firm trying to sell software, while an "Energy Audit" feels like a costly, document-heavy exercise that's hard to implement. Let 8760 guide you through the difference between the two, and show you what actually helps businesses reduce operational expenses.
Energy Management is an ongoing, strategic process that optimizes utility expenses over time using data and market intelligence.
An Energy Audit, on the other hand, is a one-time technical assessment used to identify specific energy-saving physical upgrades. In Alberta's deregulated energy market, utility costs can represent a significant share of operating expenses — meaning proper electricity management can put measurable savings back on your bottom line.
While other commercial electricity companies or consultants may offer separate services — energy management software, energy market consultation, energy audits, or renewable energy equipment — 8760 focuses on comprehensive, turnkey, data-driven solutions that have delivered results for businesses across Alberta for over 20 years.
A Free Commercial Electricity and Natural Gas Bill Check-Up, Not a Costly Energy Audit for Businesses in Alberta
8760 Energy Solutions makes financial and practical sense based on each business's individual needs. We start with a 100% free energy bill check-up to identify potential savings opportunities. There's no energy audit or high-cost consultation upfront — just a transparent review of your entire commercial electricity bill, including overall energy consumption, retailer charges, and delivery charges.
🔵 If you're already in an affordable position, we'll confirm it.
🟢 If savings opportunities exist, we'll recommend the appropriate energy services and customized solutions to help optimize your bottom line. Nothing moves forward without your approval.
We'll help you find the right strategy for your business with our 360° Energy Management Services. 8760 leverages the aggregated procurement power of 30,000+ energy sites to secure competitive rates for your business, optimize the regulated portion of your bill — including energy delivery charges — and improve energy efficiency.
We don't push high-cost audits if you don't need them. At 8760, we focus on delivering results and becoming a trusted electricity management partner for businesses across Alberta. We win when you win!
Your Energy Bill Can Tell You More Than You Think
Utilities are a significant part of business operating expenses, and many businesses in Alberta may be overpaying for electricity and natural gas without knowing it. Here's how to identify where you may be overpaying and build an effective energy management strategy.
1. Retailer Charges & Consumption
Small Commercial (under $5,000/month or under 250,000 kWh / 2,500 GJ annually): If you're on Alberta's default Rate of Last Resort (RoLR), you're paying fixed default rates between 12.01¢ and 12.06¢/kWh.
Through the 8760 Small Business Energy Program, you can switch to competitive market rates starting as low as 7.68¢/kWh for electricity (one-year term) and $3.88/GJ for natural gas — saving hundreds annually! Check small business rates here: 8760.ca/businessenergyrates
Large Commercial (over $5,000/month or over 250,000 kWh / 2,500 GJ annually): Mid-size and large commercial electricity consumers require data-driven strategic commodity management.
8760 provides energy procurement and commodity management strategies for large commercial accounts. By leveraging the purchasing power of 30,000+ energy sites managed in Alberta, we help businesses access competitive electricity services through our dedicated aggregation procurement approach — including fixed prices or floating rates depending on consumption levels, business needs, and other relevant data.
2. Delivery Charges (Transmission & Distribution)
Delivery charges (Distribution and Transmission costs) often account for up to 60% of your total commercial electricity bill. While delivery charges are regulated, your account profile may not be optimized. Misclassified rate classes or unreviewed billing parameters cost businesses thousands each year. On average, 8760 identifies $12,000 in annual savings per client on delivery charge optimizations alone! Click here to learn more.
3. Energy Efficiency
With a focus on strategies that make financial and practical sense for our clients, 8760 can start with an energy assessment to determine whether there are opportunities to optimize energy use before moving to a full energy audit or investing in renewable energy generation.
8760 Energy Efficiency provides turnkey utility bill optimization for small commercial and large commercial energy sites. Our approach is data-driven and focused on optimizing the entire utility bill — not just consumption — so every recommendation makes financial and operational sense for your organization.
What Our Clients Say
From navigating the complexity of the energy market, to improving your commodity strategy and energy efficiency, to optimizing delivery charges — 8760 acts as an independent electricity management department, using data-driven strategies to put your business needs first!
"This group has taken the hassle out of managing energy accounts and dealing with retailers. They are experts in the energy game, and we get the benefit of that expertise by partnering with them. Having worked with 8760 Group for over 6 years, I am confident using their management services and am very happy with their customer service team. Not only are they professional, but they are also personable and treat us like a unique customer, not just another client. I highly recommend the 8760 team." — Veronica H. (Google Review)
The Bottom Line
Whether you're a small business paying default RoLR rates or a large commercial operation managing a complex procurement strategy, the pattern is the same: most of the cost sits in places business owners rarely have time to dig into — retailer charges, delivery charges, and unreviewed billing parameters. You don't need a costly energy audit or energy assessment to find out where you stand; you need a partner who can show you, clearly and honestly, whether you're already in a good position or where the real savings are.
That's the difference between hiring an energy consultant for a one-time report and having an ongoing energy management partner in your corner. 8760 brings both the data and the aggregated buying power of 30,000+ managed energy sites to make sure Alberta businesses — small commercial and large commercial alike — are never leaving savings on the table.
Learn more about our Business Energy Services and start your free energy bill check-up: 8760.ca/businessenergy
Have questions? Contact our energy experts at energy@8760.ca
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