Despite the automation of processes, having manual control is always nice. The upcoming version will feature an improved energy strategy for the conveyor. You will have full control over the energy columns, enabling you to turn them on or off at will. This will directly impact resource consumption: you may choose to optimize energy usage to save costs. 
And one more thing: did you know that during attacks on the energy system, it's better to have it turned off?..
Source: Steam Community (opens in a new tab)