Summer is already the most energy-intensive time of year for most businesses. HVAC systems run longer hours, energy consumption surges, and utility rates climb with demand. These increases are usually expected—and budgeted for.
But in a year like 2025, where sustained heat is setting records across much of the U.S., these “normal” summer costs are compounding into real financial pressure. And while catastrophic failures often get the most attention, the biggest cost drivers are often smaller, persistent inefficiencies that fly under the radar.
Here are three of the most common oversights we see—and what you can do now to avoid letting them destabilize your summer budget.
Oversight #1: No visibility into load spikes
Brief spikes in energy use—when systems come online all at once—can trigger costly demand charges from your utility provider. Even a single 15-minute spike during a billing cycle can inflate your rate for the entire month.
This often happens when HVAC units, lights, and refrigeration all activate together—commonly at opening time or during peak cooling periods. Businesses with multiple rooftop units or large footprints are especially vulnerable, particularly in retail, warehousing, and auto dealerships.
The problem? Most teams don’t realize when these spikes happen—or what caused them.
What to do: Start by analyzing energy use in real time, especially at site open and during hot afternoons. Staggering equipment start times—even slightly—can flatten peak load. GridPoint customers leverage alerts and algorithms powered by interval data to automatically pinpoint these spikes and adjust operations quickly, reducing exposure to avoidable charges.
Oversight #2: Outdated or static HVAC schedules
Static HVAC schedules—programmed long ago and rarely updated—lead to unnecessary cooling during off-hours or underused zones. We see this often in facilities that cool showrooms overnight or leave systems running during holidays and weekends without oversight.
It may not seem like much day to day, but across dozens or hundreds of locations, this wasted runtime adds up fast.
What to do: Audit HVAC schedules across sites to make sure cooling aligns with actual operational hours. Use performance data from previous seasons to adjust for weather intensity and peak traffic hours. GridPoint’s platform allows teams to automate scheduling updates and apply global policy changes across portfolios—ensuring consistency without relying on manual site interventions.
Oversight #3: Deferred maintenance and blind spots
When HVAC systems aren’t monitored actively, performance issues often go unnoticed until they cause a failure. But inefficiencies—like clogged filters or aging components—can increase energy consumption by 10–30%, even if the unit appears to be functioning.
These costs don’t always show up in maintenance logs—but they hit your energy bill every month.
What to do: Implement system-level monitoring that tracks runtime, temperature control, and cycling behavior. GridPoint provides HVAC health scores and alerts that help operations teams spot declining performance early and prioritize service before problems escalate. This reduces downtime, extends asset life, and controls long-term energy costs.
Avoiding summer surprises starts now
Most summer energy overspend isn’t caused by a single breakdown. It’s the result of repeated small issues—inefficiencies, overrides, poor timing—that compound over time. Without visibility and control, those patterns become expensive.
The good news? These problems are solvable. With the right tools, teams can take back control—reducing risk, flattening demand, and improving performance across the board.
GridPoint helps businesses eliminate energy blind spots with HVAC monitoring, automated scheduling, and intelligent controls that reduce waste and prevent expensive surprises before they happen.
