Enterprises make use of energy services to implement measures for reduction of energy costs and efficient utilization of energy. An external service company commits itself to predefined results of the measures and bears the risks of achieving the goals.

Energy services that are outsourced to an external company extend from energy supply to operation of systems to the implementation of energy-saving measures.

In practice we encounter the following energy service elements:

• energy supply
• energy analyses
• planning of systems and of measures to save energy and increase efficiency
• implementation of measures, installation of systems
• management
• maintenance
• repair
• energy controlling & management
• financing
• user information & training

Energy services can consist of multiple elements and extend from the delivery of energy to extensive measures in all energy-related areas, from the installation of a new system to complete management and maintenance over years (with various types of guarantee). A specific combination of these elements in a package is called an energy service model.

Common energy service models

• savings contracting or performance contracting (performance because the energy services have the goal of achieving certain energy-related benchmarks in your enterprise: consumption, costs, temperature levels, services, etc.)
• system contracting and delivery contracting
• management contracting

Advantages of outsourcing energy services

• reduction of energy costs
• improvement of energy efficiency in enterprise (e.g., for building shell)
• outsourcing of energy supply allows concentration on core business
• saving of investment costs via third-party financing
• conservation of personnel and financial resources
• one partner for the complete energy-saving project with quality guarantee for energy supply and delivery
• increase operational security by outsourcing risk
• guaranteed energy prices or energy savings
• reduction of CO₂ and other emissions to fulfill legal requirements
• project image of environmentally friendly, sustainable enterprise

Source: Austrian Chamber of Commerce