How one visit and two weeks of engineering revealed a savings potential nobody had seen coming
Pierre Dubois* looked at his electricity bill for last November with a twinge of sadness. Another increase. As the owner of a 150-employee food processing plant in Trois-Rivières, he knew that his energy costs were rising faster than his revenues.
“We’re careful, we turn off the lights, we keep an eye on our equipment… but it never seems to be enough!he confided to us six months ago when we first met him.
Today, Pierre saves over $35,000 a month on his energy bills. And that’s just the beginning of his story.
The hidden reality of 80% of Quebec plants
Pierre’s story isn’t unique. In fact, it represents the reality of most Quebec industrial operators we meet. Behind every plant operating “normally” often lies untapped energy savings potential.
Why? Because our industrial systems were designed when energy cost three times less than today, and technologies have evolved. Because our teams, experts in their trade, never received training to identify energy waste. And because, let’s be honest, when everything runs correctly, we don’t necessarily look to optimize.
The problem is that while we think everything’s fine, our systems are wasting energy. They reject heat we could recover. They consume at full capacity even when production slows down. They operate inefficiently simply because nobody took the time to look, analyze, and optimize the complete picture.
Pierre's Wake-Up Call: "I Couldn't Believe It"
Back to Pierre. When our team of Soteck Clauger specialists arrived at his plant to conduct what we call a “Flash Audit,” he wasn’t expecting much. I was curious, but I figured we’d maybe find 2-3 small things to improve.”
In two weeks, our specialists combed through his facility. Not just reviewing bills or touring equipment. A complete systemic analysis: production flows, heating and cooling systems, air treatment, heat recovery, peak consumption management.
The result? Fifteen improvement opportunities identified. Small projects of $15,000 with an 8-month ROI. Medium projects of $150,000 that pay for themselves in 3 years. In total: $680,000 in potential savings and $450,000 in subsidies that Soteck Clauger secured and managed.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Pierre recalls. “They showed me that my main cold room was rejecting enough heat to warm half my plant and warehouse in winter. That my air compressors ran idle 40% of the time. That I could preheat my production and wash water with heat from my ovens.”
Beyond Savings: A 10-Year Game Plan
What impressed our client most wasn’t just the scope of possible savings. It was the long-term vision we presented.
Because reducing energy costs is good. But preparing for inevitable increases over the coming years is even better. Carbon tax will triple by 2030. Electricity costs follow an ascending curve of 5% annually. And government subsidy programs, while currently generous, won’t last forever.
We therefore developed with Pierre a decarbonization plan spread over seven years.
The first projects, those with the best ROI, finance the next ones. Savings generated each year allow reinvestment in new optimization projects.
“It’s like they gave me a roadmap to energy independence,” Pierre explains. “I know exactly where I’m headed, how much it will cost, how much it will return, and when it will happen.”
The Financing Challenge: How to Avoid Tying Up Capital
One of Pierre’s main concerns was financing. Investing 1.2 million over 5 years in energy projects meant 1.2 million less available for modernizing production equipment or developing new products.
This is where our innovative financing model comes in. Rather than Pierre investing his own capital, we finance certain projects ourselves. He repays us with the savings generated. The result: his cash flow remains positive from the very first month, and he keeps his capital for his core business.
“In the end, I’ve taken little or nothing out of my pockets, and I’ve been saving money since day one,” sums up Pierre. “It’s unheard of.
For larger-scale projects, we also work with SOFIAC, a $200 million fund specifically created to finance industrial decarbonization in Quebec. Their mission: help companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.
- Monthly savings: $35,000 ($420,000 annually)
- GHG emission reduction: 26% (initial target: 30% by 2030)
- Average ROI: 2.1 years
- Productivity improvement: An unexpected bonus through system optimization
Technology Serving Performance
One year after beginning his energy efficiency journey, Pierre has access to something he never would have imagined: real-time visibility of all his energy flows.
Through our MyPortal 3E platform, he can monitor the performance of each of his systems from his office or even from home. He receives alerts when something isn’t performing optimally. He can compare his performance month to month, identify trends, anticipate maintenance needs.
“Before, I discovered problems when I received my electricity bill. Now, I see them in real-time and can correct them immediately.”
This preventive approach has already saved him from two major breakdowns that could have cost him tens of thousands of dollars in production downtime.
The Results Speak for Themselves
Fifteen months after our first meeting, Pierre’s results exceed all expectations. But what makes Pierre proudest is something else:
“My employees are proud to work for a company that takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. And my customers too. I even landed two new contracts because my clients wanted to work with a company committed to reducing its carbon footprint.”
Why Do Most Companies Wait?
If the results are so convincing, why don’t more companies take the leap?
The answer is simple: energy efficiency still suffers from a “nice to have” rather than “must have” image. Many executives still think it’s complicated, expensive, and that ROI isn’t attractive enough.
This perception is understandable but outdated. It dates from when energy actually cost less, when optimization technologies were less advanced, and when financing programs were nonexistent.
Today, the game has completely changed. Energy efficiency has become a major competitive advantage. Companies that delay risk being disadvantaged compared to their more agile competitors.
The Expertise That Makes the Difference
What distinguishes a successful energy efficiency approach from a disappointing one is expertise.
Not just technical expertise, although that’s essential, but also expertise in project management, financing, navigating subsidy programs, and change management support.
At Soteck Clauger, we combine 50 years of Clauger Group expertise with deep Quebec market knowledge spanning over 30 years. We master technical, financial, and regulatory aspects equally. And most importantly, we assume responsibility for results through our performance guarantees.
When we promise 25% savings, we contractually commit to delivering them. If we don’t achieve them, we compensate the difference.
Multi-Site: Multiplying Impact
Pierre’s story takes on new dimension when you know he also owns a plant in Ontario and is considering opening a third in New Brunswick.
Our multi-site approach now allows him to compare energy performance across his different facilities, identify best practices from one site to apply to others, and optimize his investments at group scale.
“It’s like having a consolidated dashboard of all my operations,” Pierre explains. “I can see at a glance which plant performs best, where improvement opportunities lie, and how to allocate my investments to maximize global impact.”
Climate Urgency Meets Economic Opportunity
Pierre is among those visionary entrepreneurs who understood that energy transition isn’t just a regulatory constraint or moral obligation. It’s a major economic opportunity.
While some endure rising energy costs, he transformed them into competitive advantage. While others worry about increasingly strict environmental regulations, he prepared for them in advance.
“In 5 years, when my competitors are forced to do what I did voluntarily today, I’ll have a 5-year head start on them,” Pierre predicts. “And that’s priceless.”
Your Story Could Resemble Pierre's
Every company is unique, with its own challenges and opportunities. But one thing is certain: behind every plant operating “normally” lies untapped energy optimization potential.
The question isn’t whether this potential exists at your facility. The question is when you’ll decide to discover it.
Our Flash Audit is exactly what Pierre experienced: a complete site analysis in two weeks, a detailed multi-year action plan, and a clear roadmap to energy efficiency.
Two weeks that can transform the next 10 years of your business.
The First Step Is Always the Hardest
Pierre still hesitates when he thinks back to his decision to trust us 15 months ago. “I wondered if it was really necessary, if it was worth disrupting our operations for another study.”
Today, when asked what advice he’d give an entrepreneur in his former situation, his answer is unequivocal: “Do it. Do it now. Every month you wait is money going out the window.”
Your energy efficiency story can begin next week. It takes just one call to trigger your Flash Audit and discover your company’s hidden potential.
Little secret between us: Pierre Dubois is a pseudonym. Our real client prefers to remain anonymous – and we understand why!
When you save $35,000 monthly, you don’t necessarily want the whole industry to know.
Protect your business secrets! Discretion guaranteed, results guaranteed!
Ready to write YOUR OWN measurable success story?
Because your next business opportunity might be hiding in your electricity bill.