The electricity bill is a recurring expense for any homeowners' association. The elevator, stairway lighting, automatic garage doors, or ventilation systems need electricity to function daily. But, is the community paying more than it really needs?
Many buildings maintain the same electricity contract for years without reviewing whether the contracted power, tariff, or consumption habits remain appropriate.
An energy review can identify savings opportunities without the need for major works. With the support of specialists like Eléctrica Baleares, communities can analyze their consumption and study alternatives adapted to the building's characteristics.
Why is it important to review the community's electricity bill?
The energy needs of a building are not always the same. Over the years, a community may have replaced conventional lighting with LED technology, renovated the elevator, or incorporated new equipment.
These changes can modify the consumption profile and make the conditions of the electricity contract no longer the most suitable.
Therefore, periodically reviewing the bill allows for the detection of expenses that could be avoided.
The main elements that should be analyzed are:
The contracted electrical power.
The price of the consumed energy.
The distribution of consumption throughout the day.
The additional services included in the contract.
The conditions of permanence and renewal.
It is not always necessary to change companies to save. In some cases, correctly adjusting the power or modifying certain consumption habits may be enough to reduce part of the expense.
How to optimize the contracted power?
The contracted power determines the electrical capacity that an installation can use at a given time and influences the fixed part of the bill.
In a homeowners' association, this power must allow for the simultaneous operation of the equipment that needs it, especially elevators, water pumps, and other essential installations.
What happens if the power is too high?
When the contracted power exceeds the real needs, the community may be incurring an unnecessary fixed cost.
For example, if a building has renovated installations with more efficient equipment, it may be advisable to check if the contracted power is still adequate.
However, reducing it without a prior study can cause operational problems or costs for power excesses, depending on the tariff and measurement system.
For this reason, it is advisable for a specialist to analyze the consumption data and the technical needs of the building before modifying the contract.
Comparing electricity tariffs: not everything depends on the kWh price
One of the most common decisions when a community wants to save is to look for a cheaper electricity tariff.
However, comparing only the kilowatt-hour price can lead to wrong conclusions.
An apparently attractive offer may incorporate higher fixed costs, additional services, or price review conditions that need to be considered.
To correctly compare two tariffs, it is important to evaluate the estimated annual cost based on the community's actual consumption.
It is also necessary to review whether the contract offers fixed or variable prices, how the time periods are distributed, and what conditions apply to the renewal.
When is it advisable to review the contract?
It is especially advisable to do so when:
The contract renewal date is approaching.
The community detects significant increases in the bill.
Equipment or installations have been renovated.
The use of community spaces has changed.
The contracted conditions have not been analyzed for a long time.
An annual review can help the property manager maintain better control of energy expenses.
Which community installations consume the most electricity?
Consumption depends on the size, age, and equipment of each building.
In a community with an elevator, garage, and common areas, the main consumption points may be lighting, elevator motors, water pumps, and ventilation systems.
Lighting of common areas
Replacing old luminaires with LED technology is one of the actions worth considering.
Presence detectors, timers, and regulation systems can also be incorporated to prevent lights from being on when not needed.
The installation must be designed to maintain the required lighting levels and safety conditions.
Elevators and electromechanical equipment
Elevators can represent a significant part of the consumption, especially in buildings with many floors or intensive use.
Efficient control systems, low-consumption lighting, and equipment renewal can help reduce energy expenses.
Before making any investment, it is necessary to evaluate the current consumption, the cost of the intervention, and the estimated payback period.
Garages and ventilation systems
Community garages can also generate considerable electrical expenses.
Ventilation systems, lighting, and automatic doors must operate according to the building's needs and safety requirements.
A technical review can help identify improvement opportunities without compromising these functions.
Are solar panels profitable in a homeowners' association?
Photovoltaic self-consumption is another alternative that communities interested in reducing dependence on electricity purchased from the grid can consider.
Solar panels installed on a building's roof can produce electricity for common services or participate in a collective self-consumption mode, provided the applicable requirements are met.
However, not all communities have the same possibilities.
To assess the viability of an installation, it is necessary to study the available surface, roof orientation, shadows, building condition, and consumption schedule profile.
It is also necessary to analyze the initial investment, maintenance, surplus compensation conditions, and relevant community agreements.
The profitability should not be calculated based on a generic savings percentage but through a specific study of each building.
The vision of Eléctrica Baleares: analyze before contracting
One of the specialties of Eléctrica Baleares is the personalized study of electricity bills to identify possible savings opportunities.
According to the company on its website, the process begins with the analysis of billing and the client's energy needs, with the aim of proposing conditions adapted to actual consumption.
This approach is particularly interesting for homeowners' associations, where energy expenses are recurring and contractual decisions affect all residents.
The company also offers services related to power optimization, photovoltaic installations, and assistance with certain electrical incidents.
Their proposal focuses on individualized advice and reviewing supply conditions.
What should the property manager consider?
The property manager plays an important role in controlling supply expenses.
Having a billing history, identifying significant changes in consumption, and comparing the conditions of different offers facilitates decision-making.
Before proposing a contract change or energy investment, it is advisable to have a report explaining:
What the current electrical expense is.
What savings opportunities have been identified.
What cost is involved in implementing the proposed measures.
What annual savings are estimated and with what assumptions.
What contractual or technical conditions need to be considered.
This information allows for presenting more transparent and justified proposals to the community.
Eléctrica Baleares and ForConnect: energy advice for communities
Eléctrica Baleares is a brand of Gasiluz Eco Enercia, S.L., specializing in energy commercialization and services oriented towards energy efficiency.
Among its activities are advice on electricity tariffs, power optimization, and photovoltaic self-consumption solutions.
As a collaborating company of ForConnect, it represents a specialized option for communities and managers who want to study their energy expenses and identify possible improvements, subject to service availability in each area.
If your community wants to review the electricity bill or explore alternatives to reduce consumption, at ForConnect you can find specialized professionals and request advice tailored to the building's needs.