# Energy Audit 2026: Complete Guide The energy audit is a regulatory requirement for many companies in France. Beyond the constraint, it's a unique opportunity to identify 15 to 30% energy savings. Wattnow doesn't conduct audits, but **digitizes and optimizes the entire process** to maximize your gains. **IMPORTANT 2026 DEADLINES** **Companies concerned:** Large companies (>250 employees or revenue > €50M) must conduct an energy audit every 4 years. The next deadline is **December 5, 2026** for companies whose last audit was in 2022. **Penalties:** Non-compliance can result in fines of up to **2% of annual revenue** (4% in case of repeat offense). Energy Audit: Wattnow Doesn't Conduct It, But Revolutionizes It **Wattnow is not a certified engineering firm for conducting energy audits.** However, our platform **digitizes and optimizes the entire audit process**: - **Preparation:** Automatic centralization of all your energy data - **Diagnosis:** Precise identification of savings opportunities - **Monitoring:** Continuous tracking to validate audit hypotheses - **Reporting:** Generation of reports needed for external auditors Result: **Up to 50% reduction in audit cost and time**, and more accurate recommendations thanks to reliable, historical data. ## 1. Energy audit: legal framework and obligations The energy audit is governed by several regulatory texts that define obligations and implementation methods. #### Articles L.233-1 to L.233-4 of the Energy Code These articles establish the obligation for large companies to conduct energy audits and define the general framework. #### Decree of December 27, 2023 This decree specifies the implementation methods for energy audits, required auditor qualifications, and audit report content. ### Large companies All companies with more than **250 employees** or with **revenue > €50M** and balance sheet > €43M. Mandatory audit every 4 years. ### Commercial buildings Commercial buildings larger than **1,000 m²** can use the energy audit as an alternative to the tertiary decree. ### Energy-intensive industry Industrial sector companies consuming more than **10 GWh/year** of final energy. Specific audit with process analysis. ## Prepare your 2026 audit with Wattnow Centralize your energy data, identify savings opportunities, and prepare all documents needed for your external auditor. Audit Process ## 2. The 5 key steps of a successful energy audit A regulatory energy audit follows a structured process defined by the NF EN 16247 standard. Wattnow optimizes each step. 1. **Data collection and analysis** **Regulatory requirement:** Consumption history for at least 3 years, breakdown by usage, invoice analysis. **With Wattnow:** **Complete automation** via meter connections, supplier APIs, file imports. Reliable, historical data. 2. **Installation diagnosis** **Regulatory requirement:** Equipment inspection, process analysis, identification of malfunctions. **With Wattnow:** **Continuous monitoring** with alerts for deviations. Interactive energy mapping to prioritize inspections. 3. **Identification of savings opportunities** **Regulatory requirement:** Savings potential calculation for each action, investment estimates. **With Wattnow:** **AI algorithms** that automatically identify anomalies and propose ROI-prioritized actions. 4. **Action plan development** **Regulatory requirement:** Detailed action program with schedule, responsible parties, budgets and ROI. **With Wattnow:** **Automatic generator** of regulatory-compliant action plans. Simulation of different scenarios. 5. **Audit report drafting** **Regulatory requirement:** Report compliant with NF EN 16247 standard with all regulatory annexes. **With Wattnow:** **Structured data export** ready for integration into the final report by external auditor. ## 3. How Wattnow transforms energy auditing Digitalization radically changes the traditional approach to energy auditing. Discover the concrete benefits. ### Reliable, historical data No more manual extraction and data entry errors. Wattnow automatically collects all your consumption data from meters, invoices, and existing systems. ### Continuous monitoring The audit is no longer a snapshot but a continuous process. Track the impact of your actions in real time and adjust your strategy accordingly. ### AI and predictive analytics Our artificial intelligence automatically detects anomalies, identifies savings opportunities, and proposes optimized actions. ### Automated reporting Automatically generate reports, dashboards, and documents needed for your audit. Formatting compliant with regulatory requirements. ### Simplified collaboration Easily share data with your external auditor. Dedicated interface for effective collaboration throughout the process. ### Cost optimization Significant reduction in total audit cost through automation of repetitive tasks and increased diagnostic accuracy. ## 4. Regulatory content of an energy audit The NF EN 16247 standard and the December 27, 2023 decree precisely define the mandatory content of an energy audit. | Mandatory section | Required content | How Wattnow helps | |---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Energy analysis** | Consumption balance for at least 3 years, breakdown by usage, performance indicators | Automatic generation of balances with complete history and calculated indicators | | **Installation diagnosis** | Equipment inventory, performance analysis, identification of malfunctions | Continuous monitoring with alerts on performance deviations and preventive maintenance | | **Savings potential** | Identification of opportunities, savings estimates, investment calculations | AI algorithms for automatic opportunity identification and ROI simulation | | **Action plan** | Detailed program with schedule, responsible parties, budgets and deadlines | Action plan generator with regulatory templates and integrated tracking | | **Regulatory annexes** | Technical sheets, photos, diagrams, measurement records, certificates | Secure document portal to store and organize all annexes | ## Frequently Asked Questions **Does Wattnow conduct energy audits?** **No, Wattnow is not a certified engineering firm for conducting energy audits.** However, our platform **digitizes and optimizes the entire audit process**: - Data preparation for external auditors - Preliminary identification of savings opportunities - Continuous monitoring to validate hypotheses - Generation of intermediate reports Result: **Up to 50% reduction in audit cost and time**. **When should I conduct my next energy audit?** The periodicity is **maximum 4 years**. If your last audit was conducted: - **In 2022:** Deadline by **December 5, 2026** - **In 2023:** Deadline by December 5, 2027 - **In 2024:** Deadline by December 5, 2028 **Free tool:** Use our [deadline calculator](https://wattnow.io/compliance/) to check your due date. **What are the penalties for non-compliance?** Penalties are significant: - **Administrative fine:** Up to **2% of annual revenue** (excluding taxes) from the previous fiscal year - **In case of repeat offense:** Up to **4% of annual revenue** - **Publication:** The penalty may be made public **What savings can be expected from an energy audit?** Savings vary by sector and energy maturity: - **Industry:** 10 to 25% average savings - **Commercial:** 15 to 30% average savings - **No-investment actions:** 5 to 10% immediate savings - **Investment actions:** Typical ROI of 2 to 4 years **Concrete case:** An industrial site identified €120,000 in annual savings with an investment of €180,000 (ROI: 1.5 years).