Is SECR really an easier way to report on your energy consumption?

The new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme was introduced with the aim of making energy and carbon reporting easier for businesses – but is it really that simple?

Many of the organisations that were required to comply with the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme, which ended in March 2019, found the compliance process complex and confusing. That’s why the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has designed SECR to ensure that achieving compliance doesn’t place “unnecessary administrative burdens on UK business”.

But is it as simple as they say? Let’s take a look…

Potential challenges

Any new piece of energy legislation can present challenges for the organisations it affects, as they will need to get to grips with new rules and may need to put in new processes to achieve compliance.

If your organisation is required to comply with SECR, you will need to report on your energy usage and your carbon emissions – the exact requirements will vary according to your business type, so check our SECR page to find out what data you will need to provide. This year may be the first time you have been asked to report on your energy consumption, and if you’re not already collating your energy data then it can be a time-consuming process to get the data you need.  You will also need to identify an appropriate energy metric, which can be tricky.

Collecting all the necessary data may be more straightforward if you’re already complying with ESOS, which requires much of the same information. But bear in mind that SECR requires annual reporting, while you will only create an ESOS report every 4 years.

As you will need to include your SECR reporting within your annual financial report, it is also important to consider how your customers will perceive the information you provide, as a narrative outlining the measures you have taken to boost your energy efficiency must be included. Customers are increasingly expecting businesses to focus on sustainability, and with increased visibility within your annual report you should be looking seriously at the actions you can take to cut your emissions and improve your efficiency.

Stress-free sustainability

Whether you have been reporting on your energy for years, or through SECR for the first time, the process can be complex and time-consuming – but it doesn’t have to be.

At Inspired, we’re offering a turnkey SECR service that’s designed to take the stress out of SECR. Working with our experts makes it easier for you to…

• Focus on your to-do list

Our compliance experts can handle the entire process, from data collection to creating your final SECR report, so you can focus on your business.

• Frequent updates

We provide you with quarterly progress reviews, which include information on your energy usage, the completeness of your SECR data, and your best and worst performing sites. This gives you regular opportunities to act on the insights we provide.

• Boost your efficiency

We can help you to implement your energy efficiency projects, so you can improve your efficiency within the reporting year and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.

• Promote your sustainability

We’ll provide you with a creative assets pack, with templates that are easy to tailor to your organisation, so you can use your SECR report as a stand-alone document to make promoting the value of SECR success quick and easy.

• Achieve compliance

We have a proven track record as we have achieved 100% compliance in all the CRC and ESOS reports we’ve submitted on behalf of our clients.

If you’re interested in getting our support to take the stress out of SECR, give us a call on 01772 689 250.