Utilities can help SMEs cut energy costs by providing services tailored to their needs as they are turning to them to relieve the burden.
That’s according to a new survey by consultancy group Accenture which revealed the majority (85%) of SMEs expect solutions targeted to their business needs but only 27% believe they are receiving a tailored experience.
As many as 96% of respondents said they would be interested in specific services for SMEs and more than a third (35%) said they would be willing to pay a premium for such services. 65% also said they would be interested in products that would allow them to generate their own electricity such as solar panels and wind turbines.
However, less than a third (27%) of SMEs trust their utility to inform them about actions they can take to optimise their energy usage, with 65% saying they would consider a non-traditional energy provider such as a retailer, energy broker or an online site for purchasing energy efficient products if that would help cut energy bills.
Greg Guthridge, Global Managing Director for Accenture Energy Consumer Services said: “In this era of economic uncertainty and fundamental change in the evolving energy marketplace, utilities have an incredible opportunity to engage these often-neglected SMEs, which have long been considered the backbone of economic growth.”
More than two-thirds of businesses said they would also switch providers if that helps them cut bills.