What an energy audit is
An energy audit is a measured investigation of how a site actually consumes energy — not a theoretical rating, but real consumption data reviewed against equipment, operating patterns and process, to identify where energy is being wasted and what fixing it is worth. The output is a set of recommendations ranked by payback, not a generic checklist.
When it is mandatory
Under Article 11 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, enterprises whose average total energy consumption over the previous three years — electricity and fuel combined — exceeds 10 TJ (≈2.78 GWh) are obliged to carry out an energy audit. In Malta this is administered by the Energy and Water Agency (EWA). Newly obliged enterprises must complete their first audit under the current cycle by 11 October 2026.
It is the operator's own responsibility to determine whether the threshold is met — there is no separate notification from EWA confirming obligation. Enterprises below the threshold are not required to audit, but frequently choose to, since the payback on the recommendations that follow is usually the real reason to commission one.
Methodology
Audits are carried out to ISO 50002, which defines audit levels from a preliminary walk-through through to a comprehensive engineering analysis. EWA guidance is explicit that a preliminary-level audit alone does not satisfy the mandatory obligation — enterprises subject to it need a more detailed level, matched to the site's consumption profile and complexity.
What is assessed
- Consumption data — historical electricity and fuel use, reviewed for pattern, seasonality and anomalies
- Building fabric and services — where consumption is tied to the building itself rather than process
- Process and equipment — motors, compressors, refrigeration, production plant, and how they're actually operated versus how they're specified
- Operating hours and occupancy patterns — consumption that doesn't track against genuine need is one of the most common findings
- On-site generation — existing photovoltaic or other generation, and its interaction with site demand
The process
- Initial consultation — the boundaries of the site and the scope of the audit are established before anything is quoted.
- Data review — utility billing and any available sub-metering or operational data reviewed against the agreed scope.
- Site survey — equipment, plant and operating patterns recorded on site.
- Analysis and recommendations — findings costed and ranked by payback.
- Report — issued in a form suitable for EWA submission where the audit is mandatory.
Timeline depends on site size, complexity and data availability, and is confirmed at the consultation stage rather than quoted generically.
What you need to provide to start
Every audit begins with a consultation to establish the boundaries of the project — what's in scope, what isn't, and what level of audit the site actually needs. At minimum, bring:
- ARMS utility bills — electricity and water, the longer the history available the better
Further information — equipment inventories, operating hours, process descriptions, any existing sub-metering — is identified during the consultation itself, matched to what the site actually needs rather than requested wholesale up front.
Why the auditor matters
ISO 50002 requires the audit to be carried out independently — no one involved in the audit should be directly engaged in operating the activity being audited. It also requires access to the monitoring tools and technical competence needed to measure what's actually happening on site, not just review the bills.
GENCO is led by Ing. Nathan Gatt, REWS-registered ISO 50001 Energy Auditor, with nine years managing Malta's largest waste treatment facility — an operational background in reading real consumption data against real equipment, not just against a spreadsheet.
Common questions
Is this mandatory for my business?
If your average total energy consumption over the past three years exceeds 10 TJ (≈2.78 GWh) across electricity and fuel combined, yes. Below that, it's not required, though it's often worthwhile regardless.
What's the deadline?
Newly obliged enterprises must complete their first audit under the current cycle by 11 October 2026.
How is this different from an EPC?
An EPC is a standardised rating for domestic dwellings. An energy audit is a measured investigation of actual consumption at a commercial or industrial site. GENCO provides EPCs for domestic properties and energy audits for commercial and industrial sites.
Is there a fixed fee?
No. Every audit is scoped following the initial consultation, since the work depends on the site's size, complexity and the audit level required.