elcomponent.co.uk

The Future of Energy Prices in the UK — And Why Businesses Should Act Now

Energy Pricing

Energy Pricing

The future of energy pricing in the UK is a long game — but the actions businesses take now will determine how well they manage risk, reduce costs, and align with net zero expectations. Despite some recent relief in energy prices, long-term forecasts indicate that volatility, infrastructure costs, and regulatory levies will continue to shape business energy bills for decades to come. For businesses, this means investment in energy monitoring, renewables, and smart infrastructure is not just a sustainability choice — it’s a strategic one.

The Next 5 Years: Volatility and Rising Pressures

In the next five years, energy prices are expected to remain high and unpredictable. Ofgem's price cap may have dropped in mid-2025, but underlying pressures such as network upgrades, wholesale fluctuations, and environmental levies continue to keep costs elevated. According to Cornwall Insight, prices are unlikely to significantly drop until the latter part of the decade, meaning businesses will need robust systems in place to monitor usage and control demand in the short term.

Looking Ahead to 2035: Stability on the Horizon

Looking 10 years ahead, there are signs of stabilisation. As major grid upgrades are completed and renewable capacity increases, wholesale prices are expected to become more predictable. Government initiatives like Great British Energy, launched in 2025, are also expected to bolster supply and reduce dependence on gas. However, the transition itself will be funded through levies and charges passed onto consumers — including businesses. Having a reliable energy monitoring and optimisation system in place will become essential for budgeting and forecasting, especially as more complex tariffs and dynamic pricing models are introduced.

2040 and Beyond: A Decarbonised but Demanding Grid

By 2040, the UK’s energy infrastructure will be largely decarbonised, with renewables like offshore wind and solar providing the majority of supply. However, increased demand from electric transport, industry electrification, and heating will continue to put pressure on the grid. While wholesale costs may reduce due to the dominance of low-cost renewables, businesses will still be paying for grid resilience and capacity upgrades. At this stage, organisations with on-site renewables, smart controls, and battery storage will be far better positioned to manage demand, participate in flexibility markets, and reduce reliance on grid imports.

2055–2060: Realising the Net Zero Vision

In 30 years, the UK expects to have fully met its net zero targets. By this point, green hydrogen, smart self-healing grids, and fully integrated energy systems will be the norm. Businesses that invested early in infrastructure will be reaping the benefits of dramatically lower energy costs, while late adopters may still be grappling with higher regulatory and infrastructure levies. Those with integrated systems will be able to automate demand response, store and trade surplus energy, and maintain operational resilience during grid events.

Why Businesses Must Act Now

To prepare for this future, businesses must take action now. Elcomponent provides advanced energy monitoring and management infrastructure tailored to commercial needs — from smart sub-metering and LoRaWAN systems to full energy dashboards and reporting. These tools give businesses real-time visibility over consumption, enabling better budgeting, proactive optimisation, and fast identification of waste or inefficiency.

Data-Led Decisions for Renewable Investment

Crucially, businesses can also use this data to build the case for investment in renewable energy technologies. By identifying peak loads, wasted energy, or predictable demand patterns, they can determine the viability of solar panels, battery storage, or heat pump systems. Elcomponent’s infrastructure supports this transition by integrating these assets into a single system, helping organisations reduce reliance on volatile grid supply and accelerate their journey to net zero.

The Role of On-Site Renewables in Risk Reduction

Renewables aren’t just a long-term investment — they’re a short-term shield. By generating power on-site, businesses can mitigate risk from sudden price spikes and lower their overall carbon footprint. Coupled with battery storage and smart controls, renewables allow businesses to operate more independently from the grid, capitalise on off-peak charging, and even trade energy back to the grid for additional revenue. With energy prices unlikely to return to pre-2020 levels any time soon, the ability to generate and manage energy in-house is becoming a key differentiator.

Conclusion: A Strategic Path to Cost Control and Resilience

In summary, the UK’s energy landscape is evolving — and while there is promise of stability and lower costs in the long term, the next decade will demand strategic foresight and investment. Businesses and organisations that adopt energy monitoring systems, embrace renewables, and build flexibility into their infrastructure will not only protect themselves from rising costs but also lead the way towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Elcomponent is here to help make that journey possible.

Expert Engineers, Exceptional Outcomes: Why Experience Matters in Energy Management

Energy Usage Survey

Energy Usage Survey

 

In today’s energy landscape, technology alone isn’t enough. For businesses serious about controlling energy usage, cutting costs, and working toward net zero targets, the real advantage lies in how those systems are specified, installed, and maintained. That’s where Elcomponent stands apart — through the depth of expertise delivered by its experienced team of engineers.
With over 40 years of experience in the energy monitoring and metering industry, Elcomponent combines cutting-edge technology with a team of skilled professionals who understand the complexities of commercial and industrial energy use. From initial planning and site surveys through to installation and ongoing support, their engineering team brings a level of practical insight that few can match.

At the heart of Elcomponent’s success is its meticulous approach to project planning. Every business is different — from its infrastructure and operating hours to its energy profile and regulatory obligations. Elcomponent engineers don’t just deliver off-the-shelf solutions; they work closely with clients to understand the specific needs of their site and design a system that provides maximum visibility and control. Their knowledge ensures that solutions are tailored, scalable, and ready to adapt as energy strategies evolve.
This experience is especially evident during the site survey stage. Accurate surveys are the foundation of an effective energy management system — and Elcomponent’s engineers bring decades of hands-on field knowledge to ensure nothing is missed. Whether it’s identifying the best locations for sub-metering, mapping out LoRaWAN coverage, or advising on data integration with BMS platforms, they know what works and how to deliver it without disruption to your operations.

Installation is where Elcomponent’s practical expertise truly shines. In energy-intensive environments like factories, commercial premises, or multi-site estates, installation can be complex. But Elcomponent’s engineers have worked across thousands of sites — meaning they can anticipate challenges, manage risks, and ensure installations are completed safely, efficiently, and with minimal downtime. Their familiarity with real-world conditions means fewer surprises, quicker turnarounds, and greater long-term reliability.
For businesses, this level of engineering experience translates directly into performance. Energy data is only useful if it’s accurate, timely, and actionable — and that’s exactly what Elcomponent systems deliver. With systems built and installed by seasoned professionals, clients gain high-resolution insight into consumption across electricity, gas, water, and more — all via a single, intuitive dashboard.

Moreover, experienced engineers also ensure long-term system integrity. Whether it’s advising on upgrades, troubleshooting post-installation, or helping to integrate renewables or EV infrastructure, Elcomponent provides lasting support that evolves with your business needs.
In an industry where data drives decision-making, working with a team that understands both the technology and the application is invaluable. Elcomponent’s experienced engineers don’t just install systems — they build energy strategies. Their expertise gives businesses the confidence to act on data, meet compliance goals, unlock cost savings, and take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

So, for organisations that want more than just hardware — for those seeking insight, accuracy, and real-world expertise — Elcomponent is the trusted partner to turn energy ambitions into results.

Energy Management Across Multiple Commercial Sites: How Smappee Simplifies the Challenge

Smappee

For businesses operating multiple small commercial sites — from retail chains and hospitality units to service depots and franchise outlets — energy usage can quickly become a blind spot. While each individual site may have modest consumption, collectively they represent a major cost centre and a significant opportunity for savings. Yet without the right tools, tracking and managing energy across a dispersed network is complex, time-consuming, and often reactive.

This is where Smappee steps in.

Smappee offers a smart, scalable energy management solution that gives businesses real-time insights into their electricity, solar, gas, and water usage across multiple sites — all through a single, centralised platform. For organisations managing several smaller locations, this represents a powerful shift from guesswork to data-driven control.

One System, Total Visibility

Smappee works by installing compact, easy-to-deploy monitors at each site. These monitors capture detailed energy data and instantly send it to the Smappee cloud, where it’s accessible via web and mobile dashboards. Whether you’re managing five sites or fifty, you can compare, analyse, and optimise performance across your entire estate — without needing to physically visit each one.

For businesses with limited facility staff or no on-site energy expertise, this makes energy management accessible, actionable, and fully remote. You can spot unusual consumption patterns, identify underperforming sites, and even detect equipment faults before they become costly problems.

How It Works

Smappee systems use a combination of current clamps and smart gateways to capture detailed energy data from your electrical distribution board. Depending on your setup, they can monitor:

  • Total site consumption
  • Solar PV generation
  • Sub-circuits (e.g. HVAC, refrigeration, lighting)
  • Gas and water flows via compatible pulse meters

This granular data is then broken down by appliance or circuit using advanced disaggregation algorithms, giving you a clear picture of what’s using energy — and when.

From here, the Smappee dashboard allows you to:

  • View live and historical energy usage per site
  • Compare usage across multiple locations
  • Set alerts for unusual consumption
  • Track ROI on solar panels or EV chargers
  • Automate energy-saving actions using smart controls
  • Tailored for Multi-Site Operations

Smappee is particularly valuable for businesses that lack the scale to justify a full-time energy manager at each site, but still want to control costs and improve sustainability. It allows central teams — whether in operations, finance, or facilities — to oversee the energy performance of all locations from a single login.

You can benchmark sites to spot outliers, test behavioural changes or equipment upgrades at one location before rolling them out more widely, and report accurately on corporate sustainability targets.

Integration & Automation

Smappee also integrates easily with building management systems (BMS), solar inverters, battery storage, and EV chargers — making it ideal for businesses that want to futureproof their energy strategy. You can add smart plugs or relays to automate devices based on usage patterns, time of day, or tariff changes, helping further reduce costs and flatten peak demand.

Why It Matters

Energy costs are unlikely to return to historic lows, and the pressure to cut carbon is only increasing. For businesses running multiple small sites, Smappee makes it possible to:

  • Reduce energy bills without compromising operations
  • Meet ESG and sustainability goals with real data
  • Spot and address energy waste quickly
  • Futureproof infrastructure for net zero requirements
  • In short, it turns energy from a sunk cost into a strategic asset.

    Elcomponent: Your Smappee Specialist

Elcomponent is a trusted Smappee partner, providing expert advice, installation, and support for businesses looking to deploy multi-site energy monitoring. Our engineers ensure your system is correctly specified and installed, and we offer ongoing help to get the most from your data. Whether you’re just starting your energy journey or looking to scale existing efforts, we make it easy to take control.

Behind the Scenes: How Energy Management Systems Are Installed and Operated – The Elcomponent Process

Price of energy

Price of energy

 

As businesses look to gain greater control over energy usage and costs, energy management systems (EMS) have become an essential investment — but how do they actually work? From the installation of sensors and meters to the delivery of usable insights through software, the process is highly technical and depends on precision and expertise at every stage.

At Elcomponent, we don’t just provide the technology — we deliver a complete service, guiding businesses from installation through to full utilisation of their energy data. Here’s how it works.

1. System Installation: Connecting Devices, Meters, and Sensors

Every energy management journey starts with a detailed site assessment. Elcomponent’s experienced engineers work with you to understand the building layout, infrastructure, and monitoring requirements. This planning stage ensures optimal positioning of all metering equipment.

Next, monitoring hardware is installed — this may include:

  • Sub-meters for electricity, gas, water, and heat
  • Pulse or Modbus meters for specific circuits or equipment
  • LoRaWAN or wired sensors for temperature, flow, or environmental readings
  • Gateways and communication devices to transmit data to the cloud

Elcomponent uses a combination of wireless and hard-wired devices, depending on site needs, ensuring the system is robust, scalable, and low-maintenance. Devices are carefully configured to capture high-resolution interval data across all measured utilities.

2. System Configuration and Commissioning

Once installed, the system is configured to ensure all devices are communicating properly with the central platform. This involves:

  • Assigning logical names and locations to each meter or sensor
  • Setting the correct pulse values or Modbus configurations
  • Testing communication pathways (e.g. LoRaWAN signal strength or TCP/IP connections)
  • Verifying data collection intervals and synchronisation

The commissioning process is critical. Elcomponent engineers test and validate each device to confirm accuracy and ensure data integrity from the outset.

3. Data Capture and Storage

After commissioning, the system begins collecting data continuously — often at intervals as frequent as every 15 minutes. This allows for detailed energy profiling and trend analysis.

The data from all meters and sensors is transmitted securely to a central server, where it is stored and timestamped. Elcomponent uses its MW2 software platform as the heart of the system — capturing, storing, and managing this high-volume dataset.

MW2 provides the flexibility to monitor one site or a multi-site estate, with built-in tools for filtering, comparing, and managing data from hundreds of devices simultaneously.

4. Data Analysis and Visualisation via MW2 Software

MW2 turns raw data into meaningful insight. Through a web-based interface, users can:

  • Visualise live and historical energy use
  • Compare usage across departments, zones, or time periods
  • Identify spikes, trends, and abnormal consumption
  • Benchmark performance against targets or other buildings

For businesses with sustainability goals, cost-reduction targets or ESOS/SECR reporting obligations, this level of visibility is invaluable. MW2 helps convert data into action — supporting better decision-making and investment planning.

5. Additional Support Services from Elcomponent

Energy monitoring is just the start. Elcomponent offers a suite of additional services to help you get full value from your system:

Energy Analysis

Detailed reviews of your energy data, conducted by our experts, to help identify inefficiencies, highlight cost-saving opportunities, and validate energy-saving initiatives.

Tenant Billing

Where buildings are sub-let or shared, we offer accurate energy billing based on sub-meter data — ensuring transparency and fair cost allocation.

Energy Manager Assistance

Our team can support in-house energy or facilities managers with system management, data analysis, and reporting — providing peace of mind and reducing resource pressure.

System Management & Reporting

We can manage your MW2 system on your behalf, including data integrity checks, automated reporting, and tailored dashboards to meet your internal KPIs.

Alert Tracking

MW2 supports configurable alerts — from excessive usage spikes to device communication failures. Elcomponent monitors and resolves issues, often before clients are aware.

Support & Maintenance

Our UK-based technical support team is available for remote troubleshooting, firmware updates, or scheduled maintenance visits — keeping your system performing at its best.

Why Choose Elcomponent?

With four decades of experience in energy monitoring and metering, Elcomponent offers more than just installation. We provide ongoing partnership — combining technical accuracy, user-friendly software, and human expertise to help businesses turn energy data into measurable value.

Whether you're managing a single commercial property or a complex multi-site portfolio, we deliver a complete, dependable solution — from the meter to the dashboard, and beyond.

Ready to get started with energy management?

Talk to Elcomponent today about planning, installing, or upgrading your system — and start unlocking the full potential of your energy data.

From Portable Loggers to Smart Energy Management: The Story of Elcomponent

 

Founded in 1986 by Bill Gysin, Elcomponent began as a specialist provider of portable data loggers for energy usage—an innovative tool at the time for monitoring consumption in industrial and commercial settings. With a clear mission to “make sense of energy,” the company steadily expanded its offerings across the late 20th century.

1990s: Pioneering Sub-Metering & aM&T Systems

In response to growing demand for detailed energy tracking, Elcomponent extended its portfolio to deliver full sub-metering systems, championing automatic metering and targeting (aM&T) packages. These early adopters of TCP/IPaddressable meters—capable of integrating directly into PC networks—positioned Elcomponent as one of the few UK onestopshops offering meters, installation, software, commissioning, training, and support.

2000s–2010s: Becoming the Market-Leading Metering Specialist

Through the 2000s and 2010s, Elcomponent solidified its reputation as the UK’s goto specialist for costeffective metering solutions, portable loggers, and energy management platforms. Its SPC portable datalogger series, offering marketleading memory and versatility, underscores its ongoing innovation and leadership in mobile monitoring

2020s: Cloud, Air Quality & NetZero Support

Today, under Managing Director Tim Hooper, supported by a specialist team of around 15, Elcomponent continues to innovate. Key developments include:

MW2 Cloud EnergyManagement Platform: Migrating data collection and analytics to a centralised cloud platform, enabling real-time insights, automation, and scalable reporting

LoRaWAN Metering: Introducing smart, wireless solutions for sub-metering across multiple sites without complex wiring

The Engineering Heritage

Throughout its evolution, Elcomponent has emphasised deep metering expertise: understanding meter configurations, data integrity, installation best practice—and monitoring lifetime performance. This foundation underpins its reputation for designing precise, reliable energy systems.

Why Elcomponent's History Matters Today

Proven Track Record: Nearly 40 years of continuous innovation means clients work with a partner who understands both legacy and cuttingedge energy technology.

Integrated Expertise: From field surveying and hardware build to cloud deployment and analytics, Elcomponent offers a complete lifecycle service.

Agile & ClientFocused: A midsized, privatelyheld team—based in Bishop’s Stortford—enables flexible, attentive customer support.

Looking Ahead

Elcomponent’s trajectory—from portable loggers to cloud-based platforms, from sub-metering to air-quality integration—demonstrates a business evolving in step with technological and regulatory demands. As UK organisations pursue netzero targets and advanced energy management, Elcomponent’s depth of knowledge, innovation history, and full-spectrum service make it a trusted partner for those ready to make energy a strategic asset.

The Digital Transformation of UK Commercial Energy Use

UK Commercial Energy

UK Commercial Energy

A Changing Landscape 

Over the past few decades, the energy profile of UK businesses has shifted dramatically. While overall energy consumption has trended down in some sectors, the rapid infusion of computerised technology has both stabilised and reshaped demand. 

The Office for National Statistics reports that between 2005 and 2020, industrial and commercial energy use dropped by 28%, outpacing reductions seen in homes (22%). This decline reflects improved efficiency and a structural shift away from heavy industry. However, energy usage has remained buoyant in service-oriented and tech-intensive sectors. 

According to Uswitch, UK business electricity consumption fell by 7.3% between 2014 and 2023 Uswitch—a noticeable improvement, yet still coupled with rising costs. Commercial electricity in Q1 2025 was 21.0 TWh, down 1.4% from a year earlier GOV.UK Assets+1GOV.UK Assets+1. 

The Digital Effect 

The uptake of computers, data centres, and connected devices has introduced a dynamic counterforce to efficiency gains. Around 34% of UK businesses now cite digitalisation and tech adoption as the primary driver of increased energy usage in 2025. 

Globally, the ICT (information and communications technology) sector accounts for 4–6% of total electricity, where devices—laptops, smartphones—consume more energy than networks and data centres combined Research Briefings+1London Datastore+1. While efficiency per unit has improved, overall demand remains flat or rising due to sustained tech adoption. 

A Look at the Numbers 

  • Total generation & consumption: In Q1 2025, UK electricity demand—including commercial—totalled 75.1 TWh, with 21.0 TWh used specifically in commercial/public sectors GOV.UK Assets. 
  • Cost pressure: UK industrial tariffs, nearly 26 p/kWh in 2023, far exceed the IEA average (17.7 p)—and are over 4× higher than in the US (6.5 p/kWh) The Times. 

What It Means for Businesses 

  1. Efficiency gains are real, but don’t outweigh rising appliance and digital loads. 
  1. Energy intensity (energy per unit of economic output) has improved, but growing reliance on tech keeps demand steady The Times. 
  1. High energy prices—especially for electricity—are squeezing businesses and pushing energy-intensive industries to restructure or move abroad . 

Strategies Moving Forward 

  • Smart monitoring: Tracking device-level use helps spot digital loads—servers, point-of-sale systems, and HVAC—to target inefficiency. 
  • Demand response: Managing peak-period use of digital systems can significantly reduce cost exposure. 
  • Renewables & storage: On-site solar or battery systems help offset electricity cost and reduce carbon footprint. 
  • Tech upgrades: Energy-efficient servers, LEDs, smart controls, and IT optimisations cut both energy use and emissions. 

Conclusion 

Over recent decades, UK commercial energy use has benefitted from efficiency improvements and structural economic shifts. Yet, the growing presence of computerised systems means that technology now drives a substantial portion of consumption. While total usage has fallen in some areas, energy resilience, smart monitoring, and digital-first efficiency strategies are becoming essential. For businesses, understanding and managing the interplay between energy and technology is key to reducing costs, staying competitive, and meeting sustainability goals. 

Reducing Waste, Carbon and Cost in UK Business Buildings through Effective Energy Management

Energy Management Firms

 

Energy Management Firms

As one of the UK’s most established energy management firms, Elcomponent specialises in designing and installing centralised energy management systems across single buildings and multi-site estates. With operational costs soaring and net-zero targets looming, businesses must urgently tackle wasted energy and carbon emissions. The right systems of monitoring and strategy make all the difference.

The Scale of Energy Waste in UK Commercial Buildings

• In 2022, UK businesses lost an estimated £33.9 billion to wasted energy—much of it avoidable through better monitoring and control systems
• Up to 30% of energy used in commercial buildings is thought to be wasted through inefficiencies, equipment idling, and poor scheduling
• Small actionable changes—such as optimising schedule timing or preventing standby loads—can reduce energy bills by 2–10% annually
• More comprehensive energy management strategies can yield up to 20% savings on energy costs.

Environmental Benefits: Lower CO₂ Through Better Energy Management

Every percentage cut in energy use helps reduce carbon emissions. By closing the gap on wasted energy and optimising systems, businesses can contribute meaningfully to climate targets—especially as the UK works towards net-zero by 2050.

ISO 50001–compliant approaches help organisations structure continual improvement, with early case studies showing double-digit percent carbon reductions once certified.

Why Businesses Should Embrace Robust Energy Strategy

1. Cost-efficiency meets profitability: For every £1 wasted on energy, a business typically needs to earn £5–£10 in sales to maintain profit. A statistic that is often overlooked when measuring the true inpact of energy wastage. Cutting waste directly strengthens the bottom line

2. Future-proof compliance: A Building Energy Management System (BEMS) helps satisfy sustainability reporting, ESG metrics, and certification standards like BREEAM or ISO 50001

3. Stakeholder expectancy: Demonstrating energy-conscious governance enhances business reputation, appealing to clients, investors, and customers alike.

4. Operational insight: Systems show exactly where energy is consumed—from lights left on to systems running unused—unlocking actionable intelligence to close inefficiencies

In today’s energy-conscious and cost-sensitive climate, complacency is not an option. Businesses must understand where their energy is going—and take control. With Elcomponent’s tailored, technology-enabled energy management systems, organisations can find unnecessary expenditure but also contribute meaningfully to reducing the UK’s carbon output—while enhancing operational resilience and corporate reputation.

What is an Energy Management System (EMS)

EMS

Energy Management Systems

 

As energy costs continue to rise and carbon reduction targets loom, organisations with multiple buildings are under growing pressure to get a handle on their energy use. But achieving meaningful control and cost savings across a sprawling estate requires more than smart meters and good intentions. It demands a centralised, intelligent infrastructure—something that Elcomponent, one of the UK’s most experienced energy management providers, has been delivering for decades.

At the heart of this approach is the Energy Management System, or EMS. It’s a solution that turns energy data into actionable insight—helping businesses understand exactly how, when and where energy is being used, and more importantly, where it’s being wasted.

But what does an EMS actually involve? And how can it be effectively rolled out across multiple sites using the latest low-power, long-range communication technology like LoRaWAN? Here's how it works—and why it matters.

Understanding What an EMS Really Does

At its core, an Energy Management System is a combination of hardware, software and strategy. It’s designed to monitor and record energy consumption in real time, turning that information into insights that help reduce waste, cut carbon, and save money.

With a well-implemented EMS, businesses can visualise energy usage across every circuit, zone or site in their estate. Spikes in consumption can be flagged automatically. Heating and cooling systems can be optimised. Underperforming equipment can be identified and corrected. And all of it can be tracked through a central platform, helping organisations meet reporting obligations and sustainability goals with confidence.

The key to this is reliable, detailed data—and this is where LoRaWAN steps in.

Why LoRaWAN is a Game-Changer

LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. It’s a wireless communication protocol that’s perfectly suited for transmitting small amounts of data—like energy readings—across long distances and through complex environments. Unlike Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, LoRaWAN devices can remain in place for years without needing a battery change or wired connection, making them ideal for energy monitoring.

This low-maintenance, high-coverage setup allows sensors to be installed throughout commercial buildings—whether they’re on a single site or spread across a national portfolio. They transmit data to a small number of strategically placed gateways, which then send it securely to a central platform for analysis.

For businesses operating across multiple premises—retail chains, logistics depots, healthcare estates, education campuses—LoRaWAN offers a scalable, non-intrusive way to connect every location into one unified monitoring system.

The Installation Process: Turning Buildings into Data-Driven Assets

At Elcomponent, the process of rolling out an EMS across a multi-site business begins with consultation. Every site is assessed individually to understand how energy is being used—and where the blind spots are. The team identifies metering points for electricity, gas, water and other utilities, and recommends the most effective layout for sensors and gateways.

Installation follows quickly, often with minimal disruption. Battery-powered sensors are placed at key points to track real-time usage—at the main incomer, individual distribution boards, lighting circuits, plant equipment or production lines. LoRaWAN gateways are installed discreetly to capture the data, usually connecting back to the cloud via broadband or 4G.

Once the network is live, data from every building is streamed into a secure, web-based dashboard. Facilities teams and energy managers can log in from anywhere to see detailed consumption patterns, detect anomalies, generate reports and compare performance between sites.

But the real value comes after installation.

Elcomponent provides training, support and strategic guidance to help organisations interpret and act on their data. It’s not just about having the numbers—it’s about knowing what to do with them.

From Data to Action: The Impact of Centralised Monitoring

The benefits of this type of system are significant. Businesses can expect to:

  • Cut energy bills by up to 20% by identifying waste and inefficiency
  • Reduce carbon emissions by lowering unnecessary consumption
  • Avoid peak tariff charges by reshaping demand profiles
  • Strengthen ESG reporting with accurate, real-time data
  • Identify equipment faults before they become costly breakdowns

In short, a well-deployed EMS transforms energy from a cost centre into a source of operational insight.

The Future is Connected—and Measurable

In an era where sustainability, compliance and cost-efficiency are more important than ever, businesses can’t afford to guess at their energy use. They need data. They need visibility. And they need infrastructure that can grow with them.

By combining decades of expertise with cutting-edge LoRaWAN technology, Elcomponent delivers a solution that not only connects buildings—but empowers the people running them. Whether you’re managing five sites or fifty, it’s time to get serious about energy. Because what gets measured, gets managed—and what gets managed, gets saved.

To find out how Elcomponent can connect your sites and deliver real energy insight, get in touch for a consultation.

What Is an Energy Management Site Survey

Energy Management site survey

Energy Management site survey

 

Before any sensors are installed, data captured, or dashboards launched, there’s a vital first step in the journey to energy efficiency: the site survey.
For businesses looking to reduce energy consumption, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve long-term carbon goals, a properly scoped and professionally executed energy management site survey is essential. At Elcomponent, this process forms the foundation of every energy management system (EMS) we design and install—whether for a single building or a multi-site operation.

Here’s what it involves, and why it matters.

Understanding the Purpose of the Site Survey

The site survey is more than just a walkaround. It’s a structured, data-led assessment that allows Elcomponent’s engineers to fully understand your energy infrastructure, building layout, operational routines, and energy usage patterns.

The goal? To design a system that gives you the most accurate, reliable, and useful data—so you can monitor, manage and optimise energy use with confidence.

What Does an Energy Management Site Survey Involve?

1. Mapping the Electrical Infrastructure
The first step is gaining a clear picture of how energy flows through your site. This means identifying:
• Incoming supply points and utility meters
• Main distribution boards (MDBs) and sub-distribution boards
• Key circuits, zones, or systems with significant energy draw
• Control panels and existing BMS (Building Management System) interfaces, if applicable

Elcomponent’s engineers will trace how your electricity, gas and (where relevant) water are distributed throughout the building(s), identifying the best points for sub-metering and real-time monitoring.

This mapping process is crucial—it ensures sensors are positioned where they will provide meaningful, actionable insights, not just redundant data.

2. Identifying High-Load and Critical Equipment
Next, we identify the systems and equipment that use the most energy—whether it’s a production line, HVAC system, commercial refrigeration unit, or lighting network.

Understanding where your biggest energy costs come from helps prioritise monitoring points. For example, if a large warehouse’s lighting makes up a disproportionate part of its energy bill, we’ll recommend installing sensors that track lighting zones and time-of-use patterns.

We also account for operational timing, noting whether your site runs 24/7, operates on shifts, or has irregular working hours that may affect energy demand.

3. Reviewing Site Layout and Physical Constraints
Unlike office installations, factories and industrial sites come with challenges: steel structures, machinery vibrations, high ceilings, remote areas, or sensitive environments. During the site survey, Elcomponent identifies these physical constraints and uses them to determine:

• The number and location of LoRaWAN gateways required for full coverage
• Where sensors can be mounted safely and accessibly
• Cabling routes or points of power supply (for any hardwired components)
• Wi-Fi, 4G, or ethernet availability for data transmission

In short, we assess how to install the EMS with minimal disruption to operations, while ensuring maximum performance and longevity.

4. Assessing Existing Metering and Systems
If your site already has some level of metering, we won’t duplicate it—we’ll assess how to integrate or upgrade what’s already in place.

That might mean:
• Incorporating existing meters into a new central dashboard
• Replacing outdated or incompatible sensors
• Adding pulse output devices or CT clamps to extract data from analogue meters
• Linking with your existing BMS for a seamless user experience

We also evaluate the best method for data retrieval and platform access—whether that’s cloud-based reporting, direct data push, or API integration into your own systems.

5. Establishing Reporting and Insight Goals
Not all clients want the same thing from an EMS. Some need high-level performance dashboards for board reports. Others want real-time alerts to drive operational changes. During the site survey, Elcomponent’s team works with your energy, estates or facilities teams to understand your:

• Compliance requirements (e.g. SECR, ESOS)
• ESG or CSR goals
• Budget parameters
• Preferences for reporting detail, frequency and delivery

This ensures the system we install isn’t just technically sound—it’s genuinely useful for your business.

What Happens Next?
Once the survey is complete, Elcomponent provides:

• A detailed technical proposal outlining the EMS design
• A sensor and gateway specification
• A roll-out plan and timeline for installation
• Optional services such as commissioning, training, and ongoing support

Because the survey is rooted in practical understanding—tailored to your site, your operations, and your goals—it leads to an EMS that’s accurate, scalable, and cost-effective from day one.

Why Elcomponent?

With over 40 years in the energy management sector, Elcomponent understands how to design infrastructure that performs. Our surveys are carried out by expert engineers—not just sales consultants—ensuring every system we install is technically viable, compliant with industry standards, and aligned with your business objectives.

From factories and logistics centres to offices and education campuses, we’ve helped hundreds of UK organisations gain clarity on energy use, take control of their data, and make measurable progress toward their carbon goals.
Ready to get started? Book a site survey with Elcomponent and take the first step towards smarter energy management.