Multisite Property Operators: Avoiding Common Energy Management Pitfalls

Managing energy performance across a multisite property portfolio is a balancing act. Organisations operating multiple sites can struggle with inconsistent energy performance, fragmented data visibility, and cost inefficiencies that quickly compound. However, these organisations can have some of the greatest opportunities to enhance their operations. By focusing on a few key areas, management teams can avoid common pitfalls and strengthen their overall energy strategy.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at some essential considerations for multisite property operators looking to improve performance at scale.

Reviewing energy contracts:

For multisite property operators, choosing the right energy contract is a strategic decision. When each site operates under different tariffs, contract terms and supplier arrangements, small inefficiencies can compound across the whole estate.

Organisations managing multiple sites in particular need to be on the lookout for impending contract end dates; sites that inadvertently slip into out-of-contract rates will typically end up paying far more than those on negotiated tariffs. When there are many properties within a portfolio, the financial impact of missed end dates and late contract renewals can be substantial.

Another aspect of multisite management that can lead to contract misalignment is during periods of change, such as acquiring new sites or moving into new premises. It is critical to plan early and communicate clearly with your supplier in this situation – new or unmanaged meters can default to deemed rates if an appropriate contract is not in place.

Multisite management teams can often take advantage of scale by reviewing energy contracts across all sites and consolidating terms where possible. Additionally, making informed decisions around fixed vs. flexible contracts can pay dividends. The right choice ultimately depends on a number of factors, but broadly speaking, the main factors to consider include:

• For multisite operators with tight budgets or limited in‑house energy expertise, fixed contracts can minimise administrative overhead and prevent unexpected spikes in expenditure. The trade‑off, however, is that operators won’t benefit if market prices fall during the contract period.
• Flexible arrangements provide opportunities to benefit from price dips and tailor procurement strategies to each site's specific requirements. However, they also expose organisations to market volatility, requiring both expertise and the ability to tolerate risk.

For more information about the various contract options available for both gas and electricity with SEFE Energy, check out our product finder tool. 

Keeping on top of your meter readings:

Typically, we recommend providing quarterly manual meter reads, even when Automatic Meter Readers (AMR) or smart meters are installed. It's a good practice to give energy suppliers these quarterly reads, preferably with photos where possible, to ensure everything is recording accurately.

While automated systems offer a more hands-off approach in general, issues can sometimes arise, which means that it is important to be proactive. If your usage data seems inconsistent, and particularly if your bills are unusually low (or less frequently high), it could be a sign that your AMR device isn’t working properly. Especially in multisite properties, where meters can be dispersed and ownership of meter readings can be split between different facilities teams, it is important to sense-check and compare metering across sites. If one site in your portfolio is providing dramatically different readings despite having a similar usage profile, for example, this could be a sign that something has gone wrong with your meter. Encouraging facilities teams to share and review readings regularly can ensure that such issues do not go undetected for long.

For further information about good practice for AMRs, visit our blog: Automatic Meter Readers (AMR): Spot Faults and Keep Them Working for You 

Making your site data work for you:

When you do not have a site level understanding of your energy usage across a portfolio of properties, inefficiencies can creep in. Good visibility of energy usage data can provide opportunities to identify problems early – from spotting poorly performing HVAC equipment in one of your buildings, to amending your heating and lighting schedule based on more accurate occupancy patterns.

By assessing each site's energy use, management teams can pinpoint specific areas for improvement, such as upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment or sealing leaks in the building envelope. As multisite property managers, being able to benchmark and compare performance across properties can provide a valuable opportunity to trial and implement good practices across the whole portfolio.

SEFE Energy customers have access to a customer portal that provides granular insights into energy consumption, as well as simplified online billing and meter read submissions.


If you’d like to find out more about how SEFE Energy can help you as a multisite property operator, get in touch with us for a chat.