Energy prices in Europe are currently rising sharply. This is mainly due to geopolitical tensions, in particular the escalating conflict in Iran. Oil and gas are becoming noticeably more expensive, as are heating oil and fuel at petrol stations - in some cases with significant price jumps within a few days.

In this article you will learn

• how you can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels through electrification and long-term energy controlling
• why energy management is particularly important now
• how you can create transparency about your consumption through precise energy data recording
• and how intelligent energy monitoring enables you to react quickly to deviations

For companies, this means higher operating costs, budgets that are difficult to calculate and increasing pressure on margins. Energy-intensive companies are particularly affected, as price movements not only affect the electricity bill, but also production, logistics and the vehicle fleet. Even if there are currently no acute supply bottlenecks, cost increases and uncertainties are real. Companies need to prepare themselves - for example by recording consumption data precisely, using intelligent energy monitoring and targeted consumption control.

Electrification and long-term energy controlling: securing strategic independence

In addition to short-term savings measures, the long-term orientation of the energy supply is also becoming increasingly important. Companies that systematically analyse and control their energy use create the basis for gradual electrification and the reduction of fossil fuels.

As long as companies rely on fossil fuels such as oil and gas, they remain directly dependent on global markets and geopolitical developments. Price fluctuations and uncertainties - such as those currently exacerbated by international conflicts - have a direct impact on operating costs.

Sustainable energy controlling helps to reduce these dependencies in a targeted manner. By continuously analysing consumption data, companies can identify transformation potential, plan investments better and strategically manage the switch to electrified processes.

This makes energy management not only a tool for reducing costs, but also a central component for greater security of supply, predictability and sustainability.

Why energy management is particularly important now

Energy management software pays off, especially in phases of volatile energy prices. It makes consumption and costs transparent, recognises outliers and helps to avoid unnecessary expenditure. Companies can take active countermeasures to counteract high energy costs.

Benefits of energy management

• Better planning of energy flows, production and heating/cooling times
• Consumption analyses to identify potential savings
• Optimised processes to reduce peak loads and costs

Those who measure and control their energy use precisely can realise savings potential more quickly and cushion price fluctuations. Especially in volatile markets, efficiency has an immediate effect on ongoing operations.

Precise energy data collection: transparency about energy consumption

The first step towards effective energy management is to create transparency about your own energy consumption. Savings potential can only be identified on the basis of good data.

IngSoft InterWatt offers two ways to do this, depending on your initial situation:

1. Automatic data acquisition

• Integration of smart meter data, load profile data and data from building management systems and production
• Automatic import via FTP, ODBC, e-mail or other sources

2. manual recording & mobile app

• Meter reading via automatically generated reading lists for meters without digital interfaces
• Mobile app for on the go: offline recording and OCR meter reading

Regardless of whether you record your consumption automatically or manually, IngSoft InterWatt has functionalities that ensure the quality and completeness of the meter readings you receive.

Functions for optimum data quality

• Reminder function for missing manual readings
• Checking of manually entered meter readings against predicted expected values
• Data input check for automatic data recording to prevent data loss due to connection problems, changed data formats or similar

The complete and reliable recording of all energy data from different sources forms the basis for increasing your own energy efficiency in the next step.

Energy monitoring with AI: Fast response to volatile energy prices

The AI-based pattern recognition in IngSoft InterWatt enables automated monitoring of your consumption. It is able to automatically recognise patterns in your consumption flows and thus detect

• irregularities and/or
• undesirable developments

to identify irregularities and/or undesirable developments.

If anomalies are detected in your energy management, you are notified via an alarm function. This allows you to take prompt measures and take targeted action against unwanted excess consumption and unwanted load peaks.

Conclusion: Efficiency is now becoming a competitive advantage

The current jumps in energy prices clearly show that anyone who records energy consumption and costs precisely today can realise savings in a short space of time. IngSoft InterWatt provides all the necessary tools for this - from automatic and manual data collection, analysis, controlling and dashboards to reporting and alarm functions.

Companies that invest now secure short-term cost reductions, increase planning security and create long-term competitive advantages.