Retail energy suppliers help businesses lower power bills

Businesses are already feeling the pressure from rising electricity costs.

For growing businesses with expanding operations, such as manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, retail operations, schools, or hospitals, a high electricity bill may mean less room for improvements, expansion, staffing, and other business needs.

Electricity is essential to daily operations, powering computers, machinery, communication systems, air conditioning, elevators, and escalators. Fluctuations in energy pricing make it difficult to plan operations or to keep products, services, and transactions flowing smoothly.  

For years, businesses simply had to accept the cost of their electricity supply. Unpredictable and rising energy costs may translate into high operating expenses and less room for growth.

Thankfully, developments are finally taking place.

Under new rules, the Energy Regulatory Commission lowered the threshold for businesses to choose their own Retail Electricity Supplier to 100 kW in average monthly peak demand, down from 500 kW. ERC Resolution 22 took effect on June 26, 2026.

The lower threshold means more businesses may now choose who supplies their electricity instead of simply defaulting to the supply from their local distribution utility.

The ERC estimates that around an additional 12,000 businesses and establishments nationwide may qualify on top of previously qualified businesses and establishments, including manufacturers, hotels, hospitals, office buildings, retail chains, and many other medium-sized enterprises and institutions.

For thousands of Philippine businesses, the change creates a new opportunity to make a strategic choice about their electricity supply.

Choosing a Retail Electricity Supplier is an important business decision. Before making the switch, businesses need to understand how much electricity they consume, when they use the most power, and how much they currently spend on electricity.

Reviewing consumption patterns may give business owners a clear picture of where their energy costs come from and where opportunities for good management may exist.

Businesses should also consider contract terms, potential savings, available energy solutions, and the requirements of the switching process before making a decision.

Having the right energy partner may help make that process easy to understand and manage.

Launched in 2016, COREnergy is a licensed Retail Electricity Supplier and energy solutions provider. Its mission is to make energy simple with a bold vision to empower businesses to reach their full potential by managing electricity costs and using energy more wisely.

COREnergy is part of Vivant Corporation, a Filipino company with more than a century of experience in the Philippine energy industry. Vivant Energy’s energy portfolio spans generation, distribution, retail electricity; they have a quickly growing pipeline of renewable energy projects, and remain co-owner of Visayan Electric Company (VECO), Philippines’ second largest Distribution Utility.

COREnergy brings this energy experience to businesses through customized energy plans designed around their needs. Its Sales Engineers serve as Energy Advisors who can examine a company’s electricity bill and consumption data to help identify opportunities for savings and good energy management.

They may also help businesses understand their energy use, including periods of peak electricity demand, and explore ways to manage consumption effectively.

According to COREnergy, it has helped customers generate more than P600 million in cumulative savings since 2023, with 88 businesses and 144 accounts switched as of September 2026.

For businesses, savings from electricty costs may create additional room to fund facility upgrades, expansion, new initiatives, employee development, and other investments that would drive long-term growth.

Businesses with several sites that individually fall below the 100kW threshold may also combine their electricity demand through the Retail Aggregation Program and qualify as a group.

Managing energy does not end with choosing a supplier. Businesses also need visibility into how they consume electricity and the tools to turn that information into practical decisions.

COREnergy has developed digital tools and services covering energy monitoring, supplier switching, and other energy solutions.

Through its MyPower Platform, businesses may access their energy consumption data and see patterns in how they use electricity. Rather than relying solely on a monthly bill, businesses may gain a clear view of how and when they consume power, helping them identify potential areas for optimization through energy analytics.

Its Switch Portal also brings switching documents together in one digital hub, helping businesses manage the requirements of changing electricity suppliers through an organized and transparent process. COREnergy also has a dedicated Switch Team that guides customers through the switching process.

For businesses looking for solutions beyond electricity supply, COREnergy offers a range of energy services through its subsidiary COREPLUS – from energy audits and power quality analysis to rooftop solar and energy management systems – there are solutions to address different business needs.

For businesses making the switch for the first time, having a point of contact may be just as important as the energy plan itself.

At COREnergy, Sales Engineers serve as Energy Advisors and remain the primary point of contact for customers. They help businesses identify energy products and services that fit their operations, while providing guidance as their energy needs evolve.

The approach reflects COREnergy’s focus on being diligent, reliable, and easy to deal with. These commitments are reflected not only in its customer-facing teams, but also in its effort to make energy contracts, switching requirements, and energy information easy to understand. Clear and transparent contracts are designed to help businesses understand the terms of their energy supply without hidden fees or complicated tactics.

COREnergy reports customer satisfaction and retention rates of more than 90%, reflecting its focus on building long-term customer relationships.

More businesses now have the opportunity to choose their electricity supplier. Understanding that choice, knowing what to look for, and having an energy partner that may help simplify the process may give businesses control over how they manage one of their most essential operating costs.

For businesses seeking to make energy simple and reach their full potential, The Power of Choice may also become a way to support long-term growth.

To learn more about COREnergy, visit its website.