Business Energy Rates for Merchants: Nail Salons, Hair Salons, and Auto Shops

RicardoImagen/E+/Getty images

Business energy rates and plans for merchants

Business owners have unique needs regarding their building’s energy usage. Whether you run a salon or auto shop, your main expenses will be heating/cooling your space, ventilation, and lighting. 

Hair and nail salons also require ample equipment, such as beauty appliances, specialty lighting, and more. Meanwhile, auto shops require hydraulic equipment and compressed air systems, which can significantly impact energy usage and costs. 

Regardless of the type of business you own, you’ll need a customized commercial electricity plan to make the most of your budget. SaveOnEnergy’s experts can help match you with a business electricity provider and plan to cover your energy needs. Best of all, our marketplace is independent and free to use. Call the number on your screen or complete our business electricity form to get started.

Importance of energy efficiency for small businesses

Before you shop for commercial energy plans, analyze your company’s energy usage habits. This can help our experts pinpoint the right business electricity for nail salons, hair salons, or auto shops since many providers tie incentives to energy usage. Read the last 12 months of your electricity bills to create averages for spending and energy use. 

Before signing up for a plan, examine ways to improve your business’s energy efficiency. Some electric utilities offer energy audits where an auditor will inspect your building to identify ways to save energy and reduce waste. Depending on your building, this could involve sealing window leaks, upgrading lighting, or switching to energy-efficient appliances.

How to find the best business electricity provider

As you shop for electricity rates for your small business, SaveOnEnergy’s experts simplify the process for you. We can connect you with top energy providers in your area to save you time and money when you shop for business electricity for your hair salon, nail salon, or auto shop. 

When considering energy providers, look for companies offering a variety of plans for different business needs, affordable prices, and customized commercial solutions. With this in mind, enter your information into our business energy form to get started.

Plan types

Commercial electricity providers offer a variety of plan types to meet the needs of your business. Two of the most common plans include: 

• Fixed-rate: You’ll lock in your energy rate for however long your term is. Most providers offer fixed-rate plans from one to three years. This setup allows you to better anticipate your energy bills since you don’t have to worry about rate hikes. The only consideration is once you’re in a contract, you’ll have to pay an early termination fee (ETF) if you want to cancel service before the term ends. 
• Variable-rate: This option works best if you’re looking to lock in low rates for a short period of time. You’ll benefit from cheaper rates during months when energy demand decreases. However, this also rolls the other way — when demand peaks (normally in the summer), your rate can increase. On the plus side, this plan type allows the flexibility to cancel whenever you want.

Energy conservation strategies for merchants

Energy conservation is an important way for business owners to reduce their monthly expenses. To save energy, consider adopting some of the following measures in your business practices.

Energy-saving tips

• Seal drafty doors/windows
• Use LED lighting when possible
• Maintain your equipment to ensure it runs in peak condition
• Reduce water consumption wherever possible
• Use cold water when washing towels or other clothing
• Unplug appliances when they are not in use

Upgrade equipment

Specialized businesses like salons and body shops require a lot of tools to get the job done right. If you have dated equipment, it might require more energy than it would to upgrade. Many energy utilities offer incentives on large projects like updating appliances or lighting. This can save you money on upfront expenses while allowing you to enjoy energy savings well into the future. 

Educate staff and customers

Businesses can encourage customers to be mindful of energy usage by putting signs up to turn out lights when they leave the bathroom. For employees, make it a habit to brush up regularly on energy-saving strategies like unplugging appliances when not in use and setting the thermostat higher (in the summer) when closing up shop. Implementing continued education helps your staff adopt energy-conserving measures to save big on energy bills in the long run.