Electricity prices in 2024: how a company from Gdańsk reduced bills by 14.7%

Where was money leaking in a 1,184 m2 warehouse?

In a hall with an area of 1,184 m2, there were 34 old fixtures with a power of 400W each. The warehouse operated on two shifts, from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, for 21 days a month, which generated huge fixed costs. Our audit showed that real energy consumption was 5,712 kWh per month for lighting alone, which was unacceptable at current rates. In addition, there were penalties for reactive power amounting to 214.50 PLN per month, which the company owner didn't even know about because no one had analyzed the invoices so thoroughly before.

Analysis showed that modernization was necessary immediately, as the numbers spoke for themselves and there was no point in waiting. Every week of delay cost the company 487 PLN in pure loss, which over a year amounted to nearly 25,324 PLN thrown down the drain without any business justification. We focused on eliminating these losses through precise light intensity measurements and checking the efficiency of the ignition systems in the old sodium lamps, which had long since passed their glory days.

It turned out that 9 out of 34 lamps consumed 18% more electricity than the manufacturer declared because their components were already heavily worn and generated unnecessary heat instead of light. This actual state was the perfect starting point for introducing changes that were meant to bring savings in black and white as early as the first month after implementing the repair plan.

Every week of delay cost the company 487 PLN in pure loss, which gave 25,324 PLN thrown down the drain annually.

C21 or C22b tariff? The choice that saved 612 PLN a month

Many entrepreneurs from Pomerania are stuck in the C21 tariff because it was established years ago and no one has verified it. In the case of this specific company from Gdańsk, changing to the C22b tariff allowed for shifting 64% of energy consumption to hours with a cheaper night and afternoon rate. The entire formal process with the operator ENERGA took us exactly 19 working days, including the time to replace the meter with a dual-zone one. There was no room for fluff or waiting for decisions for weeks because we operated according to a proven scheme.

We checked offers from 4 competing electricity sellers and chose a proposal that guaranteed a fixed price for the next 17 months with no hidden trading fees. Thanks to this simple move, without spending a single zloty on new equipment, the monthly net bill dropped by 612 PLN. This shows that a specific plan and document analysis can bring measurable benefits faster than any other investment in fixed assets within the enterprise.

Heads-up: most companies in Pomerania pay inflated trading fees, which average from 45 PLN to even 180 PLN per month per draw point. In this case, we managed to negotiate a rate of 19 PLN per month, which over a year gives another 1,452 PLN in savings. Savings in black and white are achievable if one only knows which parameters in the contract with the supplier to pay attention to during negotiations.

Lighting modernization and installation of 142W LED panels

The next stage was to replace the old sodium fixtures with modern 142W LED panels with built-in motion sensors in aisles less frequently visited by forklifts. The cost of the entire operation, including installation by a 3-person technical team over two weekends (Saturday-Sunday), was exactly 12,640 PLN net. Previously, the lighting operated at full power for 16 hours a day, regardless of whether someone was actually present and working in that part of the warehouse.

After installing intelligent controls, the lighting time was reduced to an average of 9.4 hours a day, while maintaining full work safety. The result was visible immediately: electricity consumption for lighting fell from 5,712 kWh to just 1,483 kWh per month. These are not empty promises; these are hard data from the meter installed directly in the distribution cabinet after modernization, which confirm the effectiveness of our auditing actions.

It's worth adding that light intensity increased from 147 lux to 312 lux, which significantly improved the work comfort of the 14 people employed in the warehouse. The Pomeranian Audit Center always focuses on the actual state, not wishful thinking, which is why we performed professional lighting measurements before and after replacing the lamps. They showed that the number of errors when completing orders fell by 8.2%, which was an additional, unplanned gain for the company's management.

Electricity consumption for lighting dropped from 5,712 kWh to just 1,483 kWh per month.

The final balance: 14.7% savings and payback in 13 months

Three months after completing all verification and installation work, we sat down with the invoices again to check the results. Total savings on electricity bills were exactly 14.7% compared to the same period last year. At current, unstable electricity prices for companies, this is a result that allows the owner to sleep more peacefully and plan further development without fear of sudden jumps in operating costs.

The investment in the new LED installation will pay for itself within 13 months, and every subsequent month will generate pure profit for the company, which previously escaped in the form of heat and reactive power penalties. The Pomeranian Audit Center prepared a final report in which every zloty was accounted for, showing savings in black and white. The company from Gdańsk-Osowa became an example that even in difficult times, you can realistically reduce fixed costs through smart energy management.

Honestly, results aren't always this spectacular, but in 9 out of 10 cases we analyze, we find errors costing the company at least several thousand zlotys a year. Numbers speak for themselves – a professional audit is not a cost; it's an investment that starts earning for itself from the moment the first tariff corrections or equipment modernizations are implemented on the production floor.

A specific savings plan for your business

Every company operating in Gdańsk, Gdynia, or Sopot can undergo a similar path of expense optimization. Our auditing process starts with an analysis of the last 12 invoices, which usually takes us up to 2 working days from receiving the documents. We don't look for magic ways; we simply point out specific errors in contracts, unjustified trading fees, and outdated technologies that generate unnecessary consumption during peak hours.

If your monthly electricity bills exceed 4,500 PLN, probably at least 640 PLN of that amount are costs that can be avoided without affecting production quality. The Pomeranian Audit Center prepares a report in which, without beating around the bush, we show where money is leaking and how much it will cost to fix this state of affairs. Our team from Gdańsk operates quickly and effectively, delivering ready-to-implement solutions immediately.

By the way, free audits offered by energy salesmen usually aim only to sell their own tariff, which is not always the most beneficial. As an independent unit, we check the market more broadly, taking technical parameters and the real needs of your plant into account. The actual state is that only a reliable inspection by an independent auditor gives a full picture of the financial situation in the area of energy utilities.