For a property manager with several Texas locations, electricity costs can hide in plain sight. One building may have an expired agreement, another may have a meter that was never removed after a tenant moved out, and a third may use far more energy than a similar property. A portfolio review brings those accounts into one clear picture.
1. Build a Complete Meter and Contract Inventory
List each service address, meter or ESI ID, retail provider, account holder, contract end date, and person authorized to act. Match every invoice to a current property. Flag duplicate bills, vacant units still using electricity, closed locations, and accounts with no clear owner. A clean inventory is the foundation for both procurement and operational savings.
Do not assume all properties can be placed under the same agreement. Service territory, account ownership, usage size, tenancy, and contract terms may differ. Texas customer choice applies only in eligible service areas, and municipal or cooperative service may have different rules.
2. Compare Buildings on a Fair Basis
Record 12 months of kWh, total paid, building area, occupancy, and hours of operation. Comparing one large warehouse with a small office by total dollars will tell you little. Compare similar building types and normalize for area and operating conditions. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager can help owners benchmark energy performance across building types.
Tenant-paid meters require care. If you do not control the account, you may not have access to its bill or authority to change its supplier. ENERGY STAR notes that whole-building benchmarking at multi-tenant properties may require aggregate utility data to preserve tenant privacy. Separate owner-controlled common-area accounts from tenant accounts in your analysis.
3. Watch the Common Areas
Common-area lights, parking structures, elevators, ventilation, irrigation controls, and HVAC can keep running when tenant spaces are quiet. Review schedules, sensors, maintenance logs, and unusual overnight loads. ENERGY STAR’s operations guidance recommends checking controls because temporary changes can remain in place long after the original need has passed.
4. Create One Renewal Calendar
A spreadsheet or simple dashboard should show the end date, notice requirement, current product, and decision owner for every account. Start the review well before expiration so you have time to confirm data and compare equivalent supplier offers. See our Texas business electricity renewal guide for a planning timeline. Avoid signing based only on the lowest cents-per-kWh headline; compare the estimated full cost and contract provisions for each location.
5. Group Purchasing Decisions Thoughtfully
A portfolio can be easier to manage when accounts are reviewed together, but one term does not always fit every building. A location with an upcoming sale, lease expiry, major renovation, or expected vacancy may need more flexibility. Ask suppliers to identify which meters can be quoted together and whether adding or removing a location changes the agreement. Keep written approvals and first-bill checks for each property.
A 30-Day Property Electricity Plan
Week 1: Inventory
- List every owner-controlled account, meter, provider, and contract expiration.
- Gather 12 months of bills and identify unmatched invoices.
Week 2: Benchmark
- Group comparable buildings by type, area, occupancy, and hours.
- Identify outliers and note weather or operational changes.
Week 3: Walk the Common Areas
- Check lighting, HVAC, parking, and ventilation schedules.
- Assign maintenance items and document changes.
Week 4: Review Supply
- Prioritize contracts approaching expiration.
- Compare offers using the correct accounts and projected load.
- Set a monthly exception review for unusual bills.
Continue exploring: commercial broker versus buying directly and renewal timing for Texas businesses.
The Bottom Line
Property electricity savings begin with account visibility. Know which meters you control, compare similar buildings fairly, fix waste in common areas, and manage every contract date before it becomes urgent.
Electric & Gas Savings can review your commercial property accounts and compare supplier options where customer choice is available. Request a free, no-obligation quote or call 713-636-2672.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a property manager change a tenant’s electricity provider?
Only when the manager has the appropriate account ownership or authority. Tenant-paid and owner-paid meters should be identified separately before requesting quotes.
Is it better to put every building on one contract?
It depends on eligibility, provider options, renewal dates, expected property changes, and contract terms. Model the total cost and flexibility of grouped and separate offers.
What data should I collect first?
Start with service addresses, ESI IDs or meter identifiers, account holders, 12 months of bills, contract end dates, building type, area, and occupancy.
