Case Study
tRIPLE C BRewing co.:
Restaurant & Brewery Utility Bill Audit
Overview
Triple C Brewing Co. serves craft beer labored with love to the Charlotte, NC community.
From an easy-drinking golden ale to a robust barrel-aged stout, they are committed to brewing the highest quality beer while giving back to the community. They maintain strict recycling policies, contribute to local river clean ups, and donate spent grain to nearby farmers to help feed livestock. Triple C is also home to Izzy’s, a pizza spot run by Head Chef Austin Crum, well known in the Southeast for his nonconformist viewpoint on toppings.
Like most restaurants and breweries, Triple C faces significant utility costs such as refrigeration, brewing equipment, HVAC systems, and continuous water usage all contribute to high energy consumption. Managing these expenses is a constant challenge in the food service industry, where tight margins make every dollar count.
Chris Harker, the owner and founder of Triple C Brewing, was approached by Utility Management Services (UMS) with a way to add money back to their budget and continue positively impacting the community. UMS explained the benefits of a utility bill audit and how a thorough analysis of their energy usage could uncover billing errors and identify lower-cost rate options. Chris was curious to see if they were overspending, and with a risk-free service requiring no out-of-pocket costs, it was a no-brainer.
After Chris sent a copy of their utility bills, it was hands-off from there. The off-site energy audit uncovered multiple savings opportunities, none of which required any operational changes or reductions in energy consumption. UMS’s certified team of energy analysts identified a one-time refund based on Triple C’s specific operating characteristics, along with substantial ongoing annual savings. UMS handled the full implementation directly with the power provider, reducing energy costs without interrupting a single pour.
All Triple C had to do was sit back and watch the savings roll in: $9,000 in annual savings.
The Facts
- Triple C Brewing Co. is a Charlotte, NC brewery committed to quality craft beer and giving back to the community
- Upon learning UMS's services required no out-of-pocket costs, Owner Chris Harker decided it was a no-brainer
- After receiving a copy of each location's utility bills, UMS analysts performed a full off-site energy audit
- The analysis uncovered over $9,000 in annual savings plus a one-time refund, with no operational changes required
"I regret not signing up with Utility Management Services, Inc. sooner. They found us significant operating savings and have the process down to where there is very little work to do on the customer side. If they don't find any savings, there is no charge making it an easy decision to work with UMS."