How it works
C&I groups together commercial electricity users, such as offices, shops and hospitals, and industrial users, such as factories and processing plants. It is a broad customer segment, not one standard tariff or load shape. A daytime office, a continuously operating factory and a data centre can have very different electricity needs.
Procurement starts with interval meter data, the bill and the site's operating constraints. Energy charges, demand charges, connection voltage, working hours and flexibility all affect which supply works. Options may include utility supply, on-site generation, a physical or virtual PPA, and storage, depending on the market.
Why it matters
A renewable proposal should be compared with the cost it actually replaces at each site. Annual consumption alone cannot show whether generation arrives when the business needs it, whether surplus can be used, or whether demand charges remain.
A worked example
Two businesses each use 12,000 MWh a year. One uses most of its power during daylight; the other runs around the clock. A solar supply delivering 6,000 MWh a year covers half of each annual total, but the share used directly on site can differ. Interval matching is needed before either buyer can estimate savings.
Illustrative figures.
Across markets
In India, C&I procurement often involves on-site generation, open access or captive arrangements. In the US, retail choice and utility programmes vary by state and service territory. In the EU, businesses can choose among suppliers, while physical PPA delivery and network charges depend on the national market.