Top 10 Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Energy Consultant

еса business energy T 01246 290 490 W ecaBusinessEnergy.com buy better, use less Top 10 questions to ask when choosing your energy consultant There are numerous factors to consider when choosing both a business energy consultant and subsequently an energy supplier. We consider these the top 10 questions to ask when considering outsourcing your energy requirements to a broker or consultant. By ensuring these questions are answered to your satisfaction, will reduce your chances of making the wrong choice for your business energy partner. Independence & Supplier Relationship 1 2 3 Ask the broker/consultant if they are going to the full market or selecting suppliers. The full market offers a range of products and offers that match exactly with your requirements, not just those of the broker/consultant. In terms of relationship and price are they regarded as 'top 10' by suppliers? Do they have dedicated supplier side account managers? Fee Structure Are broker/supplier fee collections transparent? If fees are on a brokerage basis, can they be converted into cost by asking what the pence per kWh is applied? 5 Ask the broker/consultant if there is scope to formalise SLA's/KPI's into an agreement. Added Value 6. Can the broker/consultant provide a dedicated Account Manager to answer any queries and provide support? What benefit reporting is in place to help analyse the broker/consultants' performance? Benchmarking When asking multiple parties to obtain pricing, ensure that a valid letter of authorisation is in place for both parties and that it doesn't reference anyone as the 'sole consultant. Ensure the same 'strike' date is agreed with both parties to make sure they obtain pricing on the same date, otherwise prices will be more market driven. Ensure that contracts are of the same 10 length and have the same terms. Also ensure prices obtained include all elements and confirm what type of contract has been negotiated and that the non-commodity charges have been evaluated along with unit rates. For over 30 years, ECA Business Energy has been working with clients from all sectors, and of all sizes, from single-site start-ups to some of the UK's biggest businesses. ECA's services help a business procure energy, use less energy, and stay compliant with the latest regulations. For further information, please visit: www.ecabusinessenergy.com/who-we-are/ ECA Business Energy eca business energy ECA House 1 Dronfield Court buy better, use less Civic Centre Dronfield S18 1NQ T 01246 290 490 W ecaBusinessEnergy.com 8