Energy Procurement for Agriculture and Farming
Farms. Smallholdings. Agricultural Operations.
Farming is not a nine to five business. It runs early mornings, late nights, weekends, and winters.
Often alone. Often under pressure. Often with very little margin for error. Energy is not optional in agriculture. Milk cooling, grain drying, irrigation, refrigeration, lighting, heating, workshops, offices. It runs constantly in the background. When energy costs are wrong, farmers feel it immediately. And too often, there is nowhere else to make the money back.
Energy IQ Group exists to make sure energy is not another thing working against you.
The Reality for Farmers
Farming has been hit from every direction.
Rising input costs
Lower farm gate prices
Post Brexit pressure
Long hours with little certainty
As people like our good ol' friend Caleb Cooper has highlighted publicly, many farmers are producing at or below cost. Milk is a clear example. When the cost of production rises faster than the price paid, the difference has to come from somewhere.
Energy is a BIG part of that gap.
We regularly see farms:
On legacy contracts agreed years ago
Paying high standing charges
Renewing under time pressure
Carrying energy costs that no longer reflect reality
None of this means the farm is badly run. It usually means energy has never been properly reviewed.
How We Work with Farmers
We start with listening. Every farm is different. Usage depends on livestock, crops, season, equipment, and layout. Our role is to understand how your farm actually operates and then sense check whether your energy contract reflects that.
We do this by:
Reviewing your current electricity and gas contracts
Understanding how and when energy is used on site
Identifying unnecessary cost or unsuitable tariffs
Benchmarking against the wider agricultural market
If there is a genuine opportunity to reduce cost or improve stability, we will explain it clearly. If there is not, we will tell you that too.
Typical Farming Scenarios We See
Dairy farms
High electricity usage for milking, cooling, and refrigeration, often on poor legacy tariffs.
Mixed farms
Multiple meters, workshops, offices, and outbuildings with no clear overview of cost.
Poultry and livestock units
Constant heating and lighting loads where even small inefficiencies add up quickly.
Arable farms
Seasonal spikes around drying and storage that are poorly reflected in contract structure.
In most cases, the issue is not how the farm is run.
It is that energy has never been properly sense checked.
Real Farming Scenarios. Real Outcomes.
The examples below reflect the type of outcomes we regularly achieve when reviewing agricultural energy contracts.
Dairy Farm
The situation
A family run dairy farm operating a 24 hour milking schedule with high electricity demand for parlour equipment, cooling, and storage.
The farm had been on the same electricity contract for several years. Renewals were handled quickly due to workload, with little time to review whether the tariff still suited how the farm operated.
Energy costs had crept up steadily and were becoming a significant pressure alongside feed, labour, and fuel costs.
What we did
We reviewed the existing electricity contract and usage profile, focusing on peak demand periods around milking times.
By benchmarking the contract against the wider agricultural market, we identified that the farm was paying significantly more than necessary for its load profile.
We secured a new agreement better aligned to how energy was actually used on site.
The outcome
Cost reduction
Predictability
Disruption
The saving did not change how the farm ran day to day.
It simply removed unnecessary pressure from the business.
Book a Free Energy Audit
Get a straightforward assessment of where you stand, followed by a clear explanation of your options.
Mixed Livestock and Arable Farm
The situation
A mixed farm with livestock housing, grain storage, workshops, and multiple meters across the site.
Energy costs were difficult to track and contracts had been renewed at different times, resulting in inconsistent pricing and limited visibility.
Seasonal spikes around harvesting and storage were not reflected in the contract structure.
What we did
We reviewed all active meters and contracts, consolidating the energy position into a single overview.
Usage patterns were analysed across seasons to understand when and where costs were being incurred.
We then renegotiated contracts to better reflect the farm's actual operating cycle.
The outcome
Cost reduction
Management
Forecasting
The farm gained control and visibility, without adding complexity to an already demanding operation.
Sustainability That Actually Makes Sense for Farming
Farming has always been about stewardship.
Looking after land, animals, and resources for the long term.
Where appropriate, we support farmers with:
Renewable Tariff Options
Access to renewable energy tariffs that align with your sustainability goals.
Clear Data for Sustainability Reporting
Transparent data and reporting tools to track your sustainability progress.
Practical Guidance
Guidance that supports cost reduction while advancing your sustainability goals.
We approach sustainability in agriculture as a commercial and practical decision, not a political one.
Why Farmers Choose Energy IQ
Our approach works best for farms with:
Many farmers come to us because someone they trust recommended us.
They stay because the advice is straightforward and the results are real
If You Run a Farm or Agricultural Business
If your energy contract has not been reviewed recently, it is worth checking.
Not because something is definitely wrong. But because farming margins leave very little room for quiet inefficiency.
We offer a free contract review.
A straightforward assessment of where you stand, followed by a clear explanation of your options.
What This Means in Practice
Lower Running Costs
Contracts that reflect real farm usage, not generic assumptions. We ensure your energy costs align with how your farm actually operates.
More Predictability
Clearer forecasting and fewer nasty surprises. Better budget planning for seasonal operations and peak usage periods.
Less Admin
We deal with suppliers, paperwork, and renewals. You focus on farming, not energy contracts.
No Disruption
Switching supplier does not affect your supply or operations. Seamless transitions with zero downtime.
Reduced Energy Costs
We compare rates across all major UK energy suppliers to find the best-fit contract for your farm. Even small savings per kWh can significantly reduce your annual energy spend.
Book a Free Energy Audit
Get a straightforward assessment of where you stand, followed by a clear explanation of your options.