The Energy Mistake Every Small Business Owner Is Making Right Now

By Jay Johnson, founder of South West EV Installation Services

(small.news) — As someone who has spent years supporting and building large complex technology systems, I’ve noticed something interesting: the energy industry is following the same trend wireless technology did 40 years ago.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, conversations around wireless technology were very different from what they are today. Most people weren’t asking how mobile devices would transform their personal lives or businesses. They were asking practical questions: Do I have coverage where I need it? Will I incur roaming charges? Which provider offers the lowest cost?

At the time, mobile phones were often viewed as a niche technology for executives, sales professionals, and specialized industries. Few people could have imagined that these devices would eventually become essential tools for communication, commerce, navigation, entertainment, and daily life.

Today, we rarely think about wireless service solely as a utility. Instead, we think about the experience it enables and the value it creates. We expect our devices to help us be more productive, more connected, and more efficient.

I believe many small business owners still view energy much the same way we once viewed cellular service. The focus is often on who supplies electricity, whether rates are increasing, and how to reduce monthly costs. Those are important considerations, but they may not be the most important questions for the future.

Increasingly, the better question is: How can energy create value for my business?

That question leads naturally to discussions about EV charging, solar generation, battery storage, and resilience. Just as wireless technology evolved from a simple communication tool into a platform for innovation, energy is evolving from a utility expense into a strategic business asset.

The Grid We Grew Up with Is Changing

For most of recent history, electricity was simple from the customer’s perspective. Power came from a centralized grid, businesses paid their bill, and few people thought much about it.

That model is evolving.

Today’s grid must balance traditional generation, renewable resources, increasing electrification, population growth, expanding data centers, changing weather patterns, and increasingly sophisticated customer expectations. Every year, the system becomes more interconnected and more dynamic.

None of this means the grid is failing. In fact, utilities are investing heavily in modernization and reliability. However, it does mean that business owners need to think more strategically about their own energy future.

The businesses that plan ahead will likely be in a stronger position than those that simply react to changes as they occur.

Much like the landline phone systems that once defined communications, the traditional centralized grid remains critical infrastructure, but the future increasingly belongs to a more connected, distributed, and flexible energy ecosystem.

Solar Has Become More Than a Sustainability Story

When many people hear the word “solar,” they immediately think about environmental benefits.

Those benefits certainly matter, but I believe small business owners should also view solar through the lens of risk management.

A well-designed energy resiliency system using solar can help reduce exposure to rising energy costs and provide greater predictability for operating expenses. For businesses that occupy facilities, predictability can be extremely valuable.

The key phrase is ‘well-designed.’ Solar should be part of a broader energy plan.

I’ve heard several conversations focus entirely on the size of the system or the number of panels installed. The better approach starts with understanding the business itself. How is electricity used? When is demand highest? What operational risks exist? What growth plans are on the horizon?

Similar to the way wireless communications expanded from beepers to voice, data, and video services, solar is increasingly serving as the gateway to a more resilient and intelligent energy infrastructure.

Batteries Change The Conversation

If solar helps generate power, batteries help make that power more useful.

Battery storage has become one of the most interesting developments in commercial energy planning because it addresses one of the biggest challenges businesses face: resilience.

For many small businesses, even a brief outage can create significant problems. Lost sales, interrupted operations, damaged inventory, and frustrated customers can quickly become expensive.

Battery systems can help maintain critical operations during outages while also managing peak demand and improving overall energy performance.

What excites me most is that batteries allow business owners to become more proactive.

Resilience Is Becoming A Competitive Advantage

We often think about resilience as a defensive strategy. In reality, it can be an offensive advantage.

Imagine two businesses located on the same street. A storm causes a power interruption. One business closes its doors for the day. The other continues to serve customers because it has invested in resilience capabilities.

Which company earns customer loyalty?
Which business owner protects revenue?
Which brand strengthens its reputation?

The answer is obvious.

Energy resilience is increasingly becoming part of operational resilience. Just as businesses invest in cybersecurity, insurance, and continuity planning, energy planning deserves a seat at the table.

Don’t Ignore The EV Opportunity

Another trend I encourage business owners to watch closely is the adoption of electric vehicles.

Whether someone believes the transition will happen quickly or gradually, the reality is that electric vehicles are becoming a larger part of the transportation landscape. That includes employee vehicles, customer vehicles, delivery fleets, and service vehicles.

Many small businesses haven’t yet considered what that means.

I think they should.

Installing EV charging infrastructure is not simply about supporting electric vehicles. It can become a customer amenity, an employee benefit, a revenue-generating asset, or even a strategic advantage for organizations supporting commercial fleets.

A retail center with charging stations may attract customers who spend additional time shopping. Hotels can increase their attractiveness to travelers. Professional offices can offer a convenience that differentiates them from competitors. Companies that use fleet delivery can reduce maintenance and fuel costs.

The businesses that start planning today will likely have more flexibility than those that wait until demand arrives at their front door.

The Mistake I See Most Often

Every successful energy strategy looks different, but nearly all of them start with a funding strategy.

Solar gets evaluated independently. Batteries are considered later. EV charging becomes another discussion entirely. Utility rates are reviewed by someone else.

This fragmented approach often misses the bigger opportunity.

Maybe solar makes sense today. Maybe batteries should be added later. Perhaps EV charging becomes a phase-two investment. The right answer varies from one business to another.

The companies that transformed wireless communications did not start with devices; they started with a business case and funding model that enabled future growth, a lesson that applies equally well to modern energy planning.

Planning Creates Options

At the end of the day, energy planning is really about creating options.

No one can perfectly predict utility costs, technology advancements, regulatory changes, or future growth. What we can do is position ourselves to respond effectively as those changes occur.

Solar generation, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure are not universal solutions. They are tools. When chosen thoughtfully and incorporated into a broader strategy, they can support financial performance, operational resilience, and long-term business objectives.

The organizations I admire most are not the ones chasing every new trend. They are the ones taking the time to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate their options, and build a plan before they need one.

The future of energy will continue to evolve, just as communications technology has evolved over the past four decades. Those who take the time to understand that evolution and prepare for it will likely find themselves with greater flexibility, resilience, and opportunity.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do believe the conversation is worth having. If energy, resilience, EV charging, and long-term planning aren’t already topics in your business discussions, now may be the perfect time to pull up a chair and start talking about them.

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