Why is it worth using an energy advisor today?
The energy market has changed more than many property owners realize.
Just a few years ago, purchasing energy for a commercial property was relatively simple. A building manager would receive several offers, compare prices, and sign a contract for one or two years.
Today, this model is too simplistic.
The energy market has undergone a massive transformation in recent years – from extreme price spikes during the energy crisis to entirely new phenomena related to the green energy transition and the development of renewable energy sources.
The effect?
Energy prices are no longer stable, and the decision to purchase energy has become a strategic one.
The energy market has become volatile.
In 2021–2022, electricity prices in Poland reached historic highs.
On the BASE futures market, prices even exceeded PLN 1,700/MWh, while previously, PLN 300–400/MWh was the norm.
Today, the situation is different – prices have returned to levels around PLN 400–450/MWh, but this does not mean stability. Quite the opposite.
The market is much more complex today and dependent on many factors:
- renewable energy production
- gas and CO₂ prices
- weather conditions
- geopolitical situation
- development of energy storage
- European regulations
Therefore, the timing of purchasing energy has great importance on the operating costs of the property.
Renewable energy is changing the market logic
One of the most important factors driving market change is the rapid development of photovoltaics.
During the summer months, PV production in Poland reaches levels exceeding 8–9 GW at midday, creating strong downward pressure on energy prices during those hours.
At the same time, prices often rise sharply in the evenings – when PV production declines.
In practice, this means:
- energy can be very cheap during the day
- energy can be significantly more expensive in the evening
This volatility will only increase with the continued development of renewable energy sources.
For property owners, this means one thing:
A project’s energy consumption profile is starting to have a real impact on costs.
One price for all is no longer viable.
Many commercial properties still operate under a single fixed energy price model for the entire facility.
However, the energy consumption profile in office buildings, logistics centers, and retail parks is completely different. This consumption profile is also crucial when deciding on a PPA or building your own renewable energy source.
Therefore, the energy purchasing strategy should be tailored to the property’s characteristics.
This is where the role of an energy consultant comes into play.
Energy Advisor – More Than Just a Seller
Modern energy consulting isn’t about finding the cheapest offer from a seller.
The consultant’s primary role is to:
| Energy Consumption Profile Analysis – When does a building use the most energy? – What is the seasonality like? – What are the optimization opportunities? | Energy Purchasing Strategy This may include: – purchasing energy in tranches – futures contracts – indexing to the market – combining several purchasing models |
| Taking advantage of new market opportunities The following aspects are increasingly being considered: – Renewable Energy PPA – Self-consumption of energy from PV – Energy storage – Consumption profile management | Energy Market Monitoring The energy market changes daily. A professional advisor analyzes, among other things: – prices on the Polish Power Exchange (TGE) – the futures market – renewable energy production forecasts – the situation on the gas and CO₂ markets |
This means that the decision to purchase energy is not a one-time event, but rather part of an ongoing cost management strategy.
In the future, the energy market will become even more dynamic
The coming years will bring further changes:
- dynamic growth in PV capacity
- development of energy storage
- new PPA contract models
- increasing volatility of hourly prices
- geopolitical turmoil and related fluctuations in commodity prices
Therefore, energy management will increasingly resemble portfolio management rather than simple service purchasing.
And in such conditions, good decisions require data analysis and market experience.
Summary
For commercial property owners and managers, energy is becoming one of the most important areas of cost optimization.
The difference between a good and a bad energy purchasing strategy can mean hundreds of thousands of zlotys annually for a larger project.
Therefore, more and more companies are choosing to work with an energy consultant who:
- analyzes the market
- prepares a purchasing strategy
- monitors prices
- supports energy-related investment decisions
Because in today’s energy market, the most expensive decision is to have no strategy.
