Commercial energy procurement
Warehousing & Logistics Energy Procurement Guide
Warehouse energy use ranges from relatively light ambient storage to highly automated or refrigerated distribution. Procurement needs to distinguish building type, shift schedule, equipment intensity, and future electrification plans.
Typical energy profile
Lighting, HVAC, conveyors, automation, charging, dock equipment, and material-handling systems drive electricity demand.
Cold storage and refrigerated distribution can have continuous, weather-sensitive loads unlike ambient warehouses.
Fleet or forklift electrification can introduce new charging peaks and materially change future demand.
What changes the buying decision
Procurement considerations
Operating schedule
Single-shift, multi-shift, and 24/7 facilities have different load shapes. Review the actual operating window instead of relying on square footage as a proxy for energy use.
Refrigeration
Cold-storage facilities should treat refrigeration as a major continuous process load. Weather, door activity, throughput, and equipment configuration can affect demand.
Automation and charging
Conveyors, robotics, automated storage, forklifts, and fleet charging can reshape peak demand. Planned automation or electrification should be reflected in forward usage assumptions.
Multi-site procurement
Distribution networks often cross utilities and states. Standardize account data and contract dates before attempting a portfolio procurement strategy.
Peak management
High charging or equipment coincidence can increase utility demand charges. Supplier pricing and demand-management opportunities should be evaluated as separate cost components.
Contract flexibility
Rapid growth, new facilities, customer wins/losses, and network redesigns can make future load uncertain. Contract language should be reviewed for volume and change-of-use implications.
Before requesting pricing
Questions to answer first
- Is the facility ambient, refrigerated, automated, or a combination?
- Are EV, forklift, or fleet charging projects planned during the next term?
- How many locations and utilities are included in the procurement scope?
- Could network redesign, customer changes, or new facilities materially change load?