Conventional troughed belt conveyors often receive material flows that are smaller than their conveying capacity. DIN 22101 indicates that reducing the belt speed, and thereby maximizing belt load, always results in a reduction of the required mechanical and electrical drive power. Predictions of the speed control savings by DIN22101, however, are inaccurate. Therefore power consumption savings can be truly validated only by physical measurements. Several measurements were carried out for validation purposes. With information on speed control savings an evaluation can be made whether the capital expenditures required for speed control conversion are economically feasible. This article provides a methodology to predict these savings with the use of DIN 22101.