TMT: Benefits of a Reverse Auction

Video Transcript

What’s the difference in electricity and natural gas supplied to you between one supplier or another?

The answer? None. They’re both commodities. There’s absolutely no qualitative difference if your supplier is Constellation, Direct Energy, or any of the other dozens of retail energy suppliers.

So, what does matter? Making sure that you’re getting the best effort from all qualified suppliers to provide your organization with the best results.

In this week’s Two-Minute Tuesday, we’re going to talk about how a reverse auction for energy procurement can compress supplier margin and drive energy savings for you.

How does a reverse auction work?

In a reverse auction, all qualified energy suppliers are invited to compete against each other in a live event that you can watch through an online portal.

With each bid, suppliers attempt to win your business by under-bidding one another. They can’t see who the lowest supplier is, but they can see the price to beat. This gives each supplier “last look” and dramatically improves the level of competition.

What happens when the auction ends?

At the conclusion of the auction, when no supplier is willing to go any lower, you’re left with the supplier who was willing to put their money where their mouth is. And the lowest possible energy rates achievable.

You’ll also have a report with time and date stamped bids from all suppliers during the auction.

Consider using a reverse auction for your procurement.

For commodity procurement, there is no more efficient and transparent platform than the reverse auction. But it’s important to note that the auction is just one tool in your energy management toolbox. You aren’t guaranteed the best results just by virtue of using one.

Your consultant or broker should also be:

Helping you develop an RFP that defines your energy goals and assists you in making the best decision
Monitoring the market for you to advise on the timing of your purchase, and
Partnering with you directly to meet the reporting needs of your organization.

When you’re considering options for your upcoming commodity agreement, check out a reverse auction. It might provide some valuable competition you might be missing from your process.

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