Year of power: 5 ways to cut down your energy costs in 2026
Here are five questions to ask yourself to begin powering business growth with your energy cost savings.
Most organisations have already set their priorities for the new year – growing your business is likely one of them. However, achieving this ambition is becoming increasingly challenging as overhead costs continue to rise.
Although the market has moved from the heights of the energy crisis, utilities remain the most significant business cost consideration after staff. This makes every cost reduction opportunity worth exploring across all utilities.
Despite wholesale electricity prices having fallen by approximately 15% when compared to the April 2025 annual average, rising electricity costs are resulting from surging non-commodity costs.
In April 2025, the average business customer was paying around £111-112/MWh for their non-commodity costs. Although the final figures are yet to be confirmed, this average could rise to £127-128/MWh this year for a medium usage customer.
The rising costs are also reflected in other utilities: wholesale water prices have risen by 20% on average since 1 April 2025, with some areas and tariffs affected up to as much as 50%. Controlling your usage is the best way to reduce the impact of rising wholesale prices to your portfolio.
When it comes to electricity and gas, comprehensive energy management means carefully considering the solutions available to you. Let’s start with five questions to ask yourself, so you can begin powering growth in other areas of business with your savings.
1. How and when are you buying electricity and gas?
Energy is one of the most volatile commodity markets in the world. This is why every organisation should have a well-defined energy procurement strategy – tailored to your requirements and flexible enough to respond to a continuously changing market.
2. Have you looked at ways to cut your consumption?
Regardless of the market situation, the cheapest energy will always be the energy you won’t use. No matter where you are in optimising your energy consumption, there is always an opportunity to revise how to further bolster your efficiency.
3. Do you have an energy monitoring solution?
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Accurate, accessible and timely data helps to build a picture of your consumption across your portfolio. Once collected, this data needs to be turned into actionable insights to help you track your usage and pinpoint any wastage.
4. Have you heard of a Forensic Energy Cost Audit?
The role of non-commodity costs continues to rise, but their impact depends on your portfolio. Our Forensic Energy Cost Audit service analyses the non-commodity rates applied to your billing at forensic level for your financial health whilst additionally checking your eligibility for exemptions from non-commodity costs such as the Climate Change Levy.
5. Could you generate your own power?
Whether you seek renewable electricity or new revenue streams to boost your sustainability and net zero performance, on-site generation is a viable way to future-proof a business. However, it is vital to understand what generation option will be the most beneficial based on your premises, needs and goals.
How can Inspired help?
Every organisation’s circumstances are unique, and Inspired has the expertise and service offering to help you tackle your energy challenges in 2026 and beyond.
Inspired works with diverse organisations across private and public sectors, offering practical solutions to help our clients control their costs, reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions and remain compliant in the surrounding regulatory landscape.
If you would like to discuss how our experts can support you, please email [email protected]
