Ready to Reduce Small Business Energy Costs? See How Much You Could Save with a Free Utility Review

It's no secret that rising energy prices are hitting small businesses hard. But the increase in energy bills isn't just bad for your business's bottom line--it can make future planning more difficult, shrink already tight margins, and distract you from growing your business.

If you're a business owner in Southern Ohio, you don't have to sit back and let utility companies drain your profits. Take back control with the Chamber Energy Program, powered by Community Energy Advisors (CEA) & Viridi and available through the Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance (SOCA).

Why Energy Costs Are Spiking--and What You Can Do About It

Knowledge is power. When you know the cause behind rising energy costs, you can take steps to avoid overpaying.

In this Chamber On! podcast episode, Kevin Lauterjung, Co-Founder of CEA & Viridi, breaks down the challenges currently facing Ohio businesses:

Capacity pricing has increased in Ohio due to new data and technology centers, driving up costs dramatically. In fact, the cost for electricity generators to remain on standby has jumped over 800% this summer.
Rates for capacity are expected to increase by around 20% by June 2026.
Meanwhile, many businesses are overpaying for the supply component of their electric bills--sometimes due to confusing contracts, misleading offers, or simply not knowing what's available.

So, What's Buried in Your Utility Bill?

Community Energy Advisors helps chamber members uncover the hidden costs that often get overlooked in energy bills and identify practical ways to save.

It all starts with a free utility bill review. Analysts from Community Energy Advisors will comb through your past bills to evaluate your specific energy needs and usage patterns. Based on this information, Community Energy Advisors can recommend:

Ways to offset rising capacity costs.
Simple, sustainable tips for reducing energy use in your day-to-day operations.
Suppliers offering the lowest unit price to prevent overpaying.

Real Solutions. Real Savings.

As an independent energy broker, Community Energy Advisors negotiates with multiple suppliers to secure the most competitive rates available.

CEA has negotiated exclusive group buying power for SOCA members, delivering enterprise-level energy rates to businesses of all sizes. By leveraging data and information, the Chamber Energy Program can help small businesses secure significant savings on electricity and natural gas.

The results speak for themselves:

Small businesses are saving 10% to 20% on their energy bills--adding up to thousands of dollars each year.
Supply contracts negotiated through CEA are landing in the 5-7 cents per kilowatt hour range compared to Ohio's standard energy supply rate in the 9-10 cent range. That's often a 30% reduction on the supply portion of a utility bill.
On the sustainability side, Viridi complements these savings by helping businesses use less energy altogether.

Their team specializes in smart, strategic efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects, such as solar, LED lighting, and EV charging stations. They also help businesses navigate the process of obtaining grants and incentives for implementing sustainable energy initiatives. These resources can accelerate the return on investment for sustainability initiatives while future-proofing your business from the uncertainty of rising energy costs.

Request Your Free Energy Audit

Don't wait until the next rate hike to make a change in your business. See how the Chamber Energy Program can help you identify real savings opportunities today!

Request your free utility review here. It's one more way SOCA is standing alongside chamber members to deliver programs that create lasting value.