Michaels Energy

What Michaels Energy does

Michaels Energy is a US-based energy efficiency consulting firm headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, founded in 1984 in the aftermath of the 1970s energy crises. The firm delivers professional services across nine solution areas: decarbonization and electrification planning, evaluation-measurement-and-verification (EM&V), energy audits and assessments, market assessments and baseline studies, on-demand program support, program design and delivery, retro-commissioning and optimization, strategic energy management, and thermal energy storage consulting. These offerings are deployed across six industry verticals: utilities, government/public sector, cold chain and 3PL, higher education, healthcare, and hospitality. Named accounts include Alliant Energy, Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power Company, Energy Trust of Oregon, PG&E, the State of Minnesota, UCHealth, and Cedar Rapids Schools.

The company operates a project-based professional services model with quote-based pricing determined by engagement scope; there is no visible self-serve or marketplace distribution and no software product or API surface. The sole proprietary technology element documented is IceRack, a thermal energy storage architecture intended for refrigeration load management, equipment-resilience, and grid-flexibility applications. Go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by direct consultative engagement with facility managers, program administrators, and utility decision-makers, supplemented by a substantial thought-leadership presence including CEO Jeff Ihnen's weekly 'Energy Rant' blog, the monthly 'The Big Why' and 'The Decarbonized Cold Chain' series, the 'The Hopper' newsletter, webinars, and active conference participation (AESP Annual, MARC, Midwest Energy Solutions).

Scale signals are mid-market and directionally positive: 101–250 employees, more than 40 years of continuous operation, a 4.6 out of 5 self-reported client satisfaction score, partnerships reportedly lasting 30+ years, three consecutive years on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list (2023–2025), and consecutive Inc. Best Workplaces recognition (2024 and 2025). No external institutional ownership, funding rounds, M&A activity, or geographic expansion beyond the United States is documented in the available data.

Name

Michaels Energy

Legal name

Michaels Energy

Website

https://michaelsenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Michaels Energy is a US-based energy efficiency consulting firm, founded in 1984, delivering program design, EM&V, audits, retro-commissioning, and thermal energy storage advisory to utilities, government, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and cold chain clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Electric Power Generation (221118), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy Systems & Power Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Asset Management & Owner’s Engineering (Lifecycle Strategy, Budgeting, Technical Due Diligence) (EUAMAGAJ)

Keywords

• Energy efficiency consulting
• Decarbonization planning
• Demand-side management
• Thermal energy storage
• Building commissioning

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Energy Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for energy efficiency program design, delivery, evaluation, and technical advisory. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements with utilities, government agencies, and commercial/industrial clients seeking energy assessments, decarbonization strategies, and program implementation support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Michaels Energy is an energy efficiency consulting firm that delivers professional services including energy audits, retro-commissioning, strategic energy management, EM&V, program design and delivery, market assessments, decarbonization and electrification planning, and thermal energy storage (IceRack) solutions for utilities, government/public sector entities, and commercial/industrial clients across verticals such as cold chain, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and utilities.

Product overview

Michaels Energy is an energy consulting firm offering professional services across multiple solution areas and industry verticals. The company's portfolio consists of nine core service solutions including Decarbonization & Electrification, EM&V, Energy Audits & Assessments, Market Assessments & Baseline Studies, On-Demand Program Support, Program Design & Delivery, Retro-Commissioning, Strategic Energy Management, and Thermal Energy Storage. These services are delivered across six industry verticals: Cold Chain & 3PL, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, Public Sector, and Utilities. The company also provides educational content through its Energy Rant blog (weekly), The Big Why blog (monthly), and The Decarbonized Cold Chain blog series, accessible via newsletter subscriptions. The firm operates as a service-based consulting organization rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Decarbonization & Electrification Consulting service helping utilities, government, and commercial/industrial clients transition to lower-carbon energy systems through electrification strategies and carbon-reduction planning.
• EM&V (Evaluation, Measurement & Verification) Assessment service that measures and verifies energy savings, program performance, and efficiency results for utility and commercial energy programs.
• Energy Audits & Assessments Comprehensive evaluation of facility energy consumption to identify efficiency opportunities and cost-saving measures for commercial, industrial, institutional, and government facilities.
• Market Assessments & Baseline Studies Research and analysis service establishing energy performance baselines and evaluating market conditions to inform energy program planning.
• On-Demand Program Support Flexible consulting resourcing to support client energy programs on an as-needed basis.
• Program Design & Delivery End-to-end development and implementation of energy efficiency and demand-side management programs for utilities and commercial clients.
• Retro-Commissioning (RCx) & Optimization Systematic testing and tuning of existing building systems to optimize performance and energy efficiency for commercial and institutional facilities.
• Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Long-term energy management strategy and continuous improvement programs delivering sustained efficiency gains for organizations.
• Thermal Energy Storage (IceRack) Thermal energy storage consulting including the proprietary IceRack system for refrigeration load management, resilience, and grid support in cold-chain and 3PL operations.
• Cold Chain & 3PL Solutions Industry-tailored energy optimization services for cold storage facilities and third-party logistics providers, including refrigeration efficiency, equipment reliability, and IceRack thermal storage deployment.
• Healthcare Energy Solutions Energy efficiency consulting for hospitals and healthcare facilities, addressing critical care environments, comfort and control requirements, and operational cost management.
• Higher Education Solutions Campus-wide energy management and sustainability services for colleges and universities managing complex building portfolios.
• Hospitality Energy Solutions Energy efficiency services for hotels and hospitality venues, balancing guest comfort with operational savings.
• Public Sector Solutions Energy consulting for government facilities and public buildings aimed at maximizing taxpayer value through smart energy solutions.
• Utilities Solutions Program design, delivery, and evaluation services for utility energy efficiency and demand-side management programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client satisfaction rating of 4.6 out of 5
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CLEAResult: CLEAResult is the largest pure-play U.S. energy efficiency consulting and program implementation firm, designing and delivering utility EE/DSM programs, EM&V, and retro-commissioning services. It is the most direct peer to Michaels Energy in scope, customer base (investor-owned and public utilities), and service mix.
• Resource Innovations: Resource Innovations provides energy efficiency, demand management, and equity-focused program design, evaluation, and implementation services to utilities, states, and communities. It competes head-to-head with Michaels Energy for utility RFPs in program design/delivery and EM&V.
• Franklin Energy: Franklin Energy designs, implements, and evaluates energy efficiency programs for utilities, government, and commercial clients across the U.S. The firm mirrors Michaels Energy's utility-facing program delivery model and vertical diversification strategy.
• Energy Solutions: Energy Solutions is a non-profit energy consulting firm specializing in program design, EM&V, and planning for utilities, state agencies, and regulators. Comparable to Michaels Energy in utility program advisory, evaluation rigor, and policy-facing work.

Broad incumbents

• Willdan Group: Willdan is a publicly traded professional services firm providing energy engineering, program management, and consulting to utilities, municipalities, and commercial clients. Overlapping with Michaels Energy on utility-side EE program work but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• TRC Companies: TRC is a large engineering and consulting firm delivering energy efficiency, environmental, and infrastructure advisory to utilities and governments. Competes with Michaels Energy for utility program work but operates a much broader environmental and engineering portfolio.
• ICF International: ICF is a major global advisory and digital services firm with a sizable energy, climate, and utilities practice offering program design, EM&V, and policy advisory. Larger and broader than Michaels Energy, but a frequent bidder on the same utility and government EE programs.
• DNV: DNV is a global assurance and energy consulting firm offering renewables advisory, energy efficiency, and grid services. Overlaps with Michaels Energy in utility-side energy advisory and decarbonization planning work but operates at global scale across many adjacent verticals.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a global consulting and engineering firm with significant water, environment, and energy practices serving utilities and government. Competes with Michaels Energy in utility-side efficiency and sustainability consulting, though energy is one of many verticals.

Emerging players

• kW Engineering: kW Engineering is a smaller energy efficiency consulting firm specializing in EM&V, program evaluation, and energy codes & standards work for utilities and state agencies. Comparable in technical focus and customer base to Michaels Energy's evaluation-led practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MichaelsEnergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/MichaelsEnergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michaels-energy
• Xx.com/MichaelsEnergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michaels Energy