Zentility Blog

A Maryland case study in why buildings can't wait for Annapolis to figure out the rate question.

The Evolution of “Fixed Pricing” in Energy Procurement When you sign an energy contract, the word “fixed” implies certainty—a shield against market volatility. Historically, a true “fixed price” energy contract meant that all components—energy, capacity, transmission, and all minor ancillary costs —were locked in for the full term. No surprises, no adjustments. In today’s volatile, …

In today’s volatile energy market, transparency and control are everything. While many have been focused on the recent capacity market changes in PJM, another impactful event involving the Columbia Gas Transmission (TCO) pipeline is a textbook example of how quickly the landscape can shift—and why staying informed is essential to an effective energy strategy. We’ve …

The U.S. hospitality sector – encompassing hotels, resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues – is an energy-intensive industry. From keeping guests comfortable with heating and air conditioning to powering massive kitchens, laundry facilities, and 24/7 lighting, energy consumption is both a necessity and a major operational expense. Rising Energy Prices: A Pressure Point for Profit Margins …

As summer approaches, electricity rates are climbing sharply across Maryland and D.C., with new Energy buyers and facility managers in Maryland and Washington, D.C. should take note: standard utility electricity prices are rising sharply this summer. Recent utility filings show notable increases in the Price to Compare (PTC) rates for several rate classes across PEPCO and Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), signaling …

In today’s real estate environment, every line item on the balance sheet matters – but few are as overlooked or misunderstood as energy spend. Whether you’re managing a single commercial building or a multi-state portfolio, your approach to energy procurement could be quietly eroding – or enhancing – your Net Operating Income (NOI). What is NOI, …

In today’s rapidly evolving energy market, effective energy procurement is more crucial than ever. With rising energy costs, fluctuating demand, and the ongoing shift toward renewable energy sources, businesses are facing new challenges and opportunities. In this blog post, we will discuss the latest trends in energy procurement, best practices to optimize your energy strategy, …

As we move towards a net-zero emissions future, the role of energy storage and distributed energy resources (DERs) is becoming increasingly important. These technologies can help to integrate renewable energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and optimize energy use. In this blog post, we will explore the key aspects of energy storage and DERs …

As we move towards a net-zero emissions future, businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainable energy procurement. This involves sourcing renewable energy to power operations, reducing carbon footprints through carbon offset procurement, and reporting on sustainability efforts to stakeholders. In this blog post, we will explore the key aspects of sustainable energy procurement and …

For our most recent webinar, Zentility interviewed Lori Rader, a Director at FirstEnergy Advisors, who spoke on her years of experience working in the energy industry, as well as the challenges of building a spin-off energy brokerage firm in a volatile market. [00:00:00] Dan George: So Lori, thank you very much for joining us today. …

I wanted to provide some insight into the markets as of recently as well as some short-term outlooks. In summary, the natural gas supply is tightening. This is important due to a large portion of electrical generation is from Natural Gas Power Plants (38% – 40%). So Natural Gas Storage has a large impact on …

Advances in digital technology have not only made consumers’ lives better but have also introduced improvements to industries like financial services, insurance, and real estate. Indeed, real estate has taken significant strides in going digital over the past decades. Two years of dealing with a pandemic taught the industry, especially commercial real estate, an important …

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation, whether energy brokerages are ready to embrace it or not. For instance, sales reps are now engaging and executing deals via digital tools. Customers are spending more time doing business with companies offering top-notch customer experiences. And many corporations are publicly declaring sustainability goals, yet energy brokerages are not …

Digital transformation is sweeping across industries as our ways of working and doing business shift. Companies – along with their investors and stakeholders – are increasingly paying attention to and publicizing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and policies. One of the most significant contributors to a company’s carbon footprint is energy. With this …

Predictive Maintenance Can Help Reduce Operational Costs Low levels of predictive maintenance on existing infrastructure often leads to higher operational business costs and lower customer retention rates. Manually reaching out to multiple suppliers for every single RFP is an antiquated process. Customers that aren’t getting a reliable service are more likely to switch to another …

ECMs (Energy Conservation Measures) usually focus on reducing the demand for energy within the building. One area that is often under-analyzed or completely ignored in an energy audit is the utility (or supply) side. An energy audit should include a detailed utility analysis that not only reviews how much you spend on energy, but also …

There’s always a competitor ready to convince your customers to switch. Companies often neglect new or long-established relationships due to limited resources – even though it’s exponentially more expensive to acquire new customers than retain them. Keeping customers coming back will continually result in a greater ROI, but labor-intensive resources take time to build and …

A message to Business Owners & Energy Procurement Specialists. These are unprecedented times, and there is no question that businesses of all sizes are facing a significant shock to the way they manage internal operations and engage their customers. What’s more, this global health crisis is going to get worse before it gets better.  As …

Switching from for utility company to a new energy supplier does not interrupt your service in any way. Here are 4 common misconceptions.