The gym chain Smart Fit is adopting a prudent approach to transitioning its units to the free energy market, prioritizing detailed analyses amid a volatile price scenario.
Companies advancing towards the free contracting environment require caution and strategic planning. In a landscape marked by high tariffs and regulatory instability, large corporations are intensifying their scrutiny in operational decisions.
This reality is the focus for the management of networks with a strong national presence, such as Smart Fit. The company, which manages around a thousand establishments across Brazil, aims to balance business expansion with the pursuit of efficiency and predictability in its long-term operational costs.
Currently, the brand has approximately two hundred units operating under the free contracting system, benefiting from previous regulations. However, recently opened locations undergo a meticulous viability process before any definitive transition.
According to Mayara Pazin, the network’s energy and water management manager, financial planning demands clear discount targets and conservative assumptions. The executive notes that the company projects unfavorable scenarios, considering operational charges up to 30% higher than historical averages.
What is most important is to know the expected break-even point for the company. We have an internal target discount number that we want to achieve, and within that price, we need to consider regulatory and market uncertainties.
To overcome the rising costs of traditional clean energy and incentivized energy contracts, the company has been diversifying its options. The search for alternative models has become essential to protect the corporate budget against sharp fluctuations.
Among the alternatives being evaluated are distributed generation projects for units connected to medium voltage and the adoption of modern battery storage systems. These technologies help mitigate consumption peaks in regions with more expensive tariffs, optimizing overall expenses.
Another critical point highlighted by management is corporate governance in selecting partners and suppliers. Rigorous credit analysis and the financial solidity of counterparties ensure greater legal security and prevent unwanted surprises in the execution of supply agreements.
The approach adopted by the gym chain reflects a broader trend in the corporate sector, where access to sustainable energy goes hand in hand with financial risk management. As the regulatory framework evolves and new technologies become accessible, strategic planning will continue to be the differentiator for ensuring competitiveness and economic efficiency in the renewable energy sector.