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Not sure where to start? A comparison covers everything in one go.
Last updated October 2026.
What energy consultancy is
A broker compares suppliers and arranges a contract. A consultant works on everything around the contract: how much energy the business uses and why, how it should be bought and when, whether the bills are right, what the law requires it to report, and how it gets its consumption and emissions down over time. The comparison is one task inside a wider job.
For most small businesses the wider job is not needed. A single site on a fixed contract has a procurement question every one to three years and very little else. Consultancy earns its keep when the energy spend is large enough that timing and strategy matter, when there are enough sites that billing and data become a management problem, when compliance duties such as ESOS and SECR apply, or when the business has committed to decarbonising and needs a plan.
- Procurement strategy. Fixed, pass-through or flexible; when to buy; how to manage wholesale risk across an estate.
- Data and billing. Consolidated consumption data, invoice validation, budget forecasting and variance.
- Compliance. ESOS, SECR and other reporting duties, built on the same data.
- Efficiency and net zero. Where the energy goes, what to change, on-site generation, and a credible plan with numbers in it.
What a consultant does, in practice
| Area | What it involves | Who tends to need it |
|---|---|---|
| Procurement strategy | Choosing contract structures, setting buying triggers for flexible contracts, aligning end dates across sites, running tenders | Businesses spending more than roughly £100,000 a year on energy, or with many sites |
| Risk management | Hedging policy for flexible purchasing, budget certainty versus market exposure, reporting to the board | Larger consumers on flexible or pass-through contracts |
| Invoice validation | Monthly checking of every bill against contract and meter data; dispute and refund recovery | Any multi-site estate; any business that has never had bills checked |
| Budgeting and reporting | Forecasting energy cost, explaining variances, consolidated reporting across sites and fuels | Finance teams managing energy as a material cost line |
| Compliance | ESOS assessments, SECR disclosures, action plans and progress reporting | Large undertakings and groups |
| Efficiency and net zero | Energy audits, metering strategy, project appraisal for LED, controls, solar and storage, carbon baselines and reduction plans | Businesses with reduction targets, tender requirements or high consumption |
Each of these is covered in its own page in this section: energy management, procurement strategy, what an energy consultant does day to day and how consultants charge.
Not sure whether you need a consultant or a comparison?
Tell us about your sites and your contracts and we will say which, plainly. Most businesses need the comparison; some need more. No obligation either way.
Consultant, broker or comparison: which do you need?
The honest answer for most businesses is the comparison. If you have one or a few sites on fixed contracts and your energy spend is a modest share of costs, the valuable work is making sure you are not on out-of-contract rates, that the bills are right and that the next renewal is priced across our supplier panel. A good broker does that, is paid by the supplier, and the business pays nothing directly.
Consultancy starts to earn its fee when one or more of the following is true: energy is a material cost line and the timing of purchases moves the P&L; there are enough sites that nobody can see the whole picture; a compliance duty applies; or the business has made public commitments on carbon and needs a plan it can defend. In those cases the fee is usually small against the spend it is managing. The consultant vs broker page goes deeper on the distinction.
What it costs
Consultancy is charged in one of three ways: a fixed project fee for a defined piece of work such as an ESOS assessment or a procurement tender; a retainer for ongoing management of an estate; or a share of verified savings. Supplier commission, the broker model, is sometimes used alongside for the contract itself, and should always be disclosed. The fees page sets out typical structures and what to ask before engaging anyone.
The test of whether consultancy is worth it is simple: the fee should be a small fraction of the spend being managed or the saving being delivered, and the consultant should be willing to show the arithmetic. If they are not, that is the answer.
How Clearsight Energy works
We are a broker first: comparing suppliers and arranging contracts is what most of our customers need and it is paid for by the supplier. Around that we provide the consultancy pieces that businesses with more complex needs ask for: invoice validation, multi-site procurement, flexible purchasing support, ESOS and SECR data, and efficiency and solar advice, charged transparently and agreed up front. We tell businesses that only need the comparison that they only need the comparison.
“Clearsight Energy have provided a quick and efficient service to our Parish Council. No pressurised selling was involved, just clear and constructive advice. We will look to using them in the future when our other utility contracts are up for renewal.”
★★★★★ Trustpilot reviews
Childwall Golf Club, Liverpool
An independent review of a member-owned club’s electricity and gas contracts, with ongoing account monitoring between renewals. No rescue job; a plan confirmed and oversight added. Read the case study.
Frequently asked questions
What does an energy consultant do?
Works on everything around the energy contract: procurement strategy and risk, consumption data and invoice validation, compliance reporting such as ESOS and SECR, and efficiency and net zero planning. A broker arranges the contract; a consultant manages the energy.
What is the difference between an energy broker and an energy consultant?
A broker compares suppliers and arranges contracts, usually paid by the supplier. A consultant provides wider advice and management, usually paid by the client. Many firms, including us, do both and should be clear about which is which.
Does a small business need an energy consultant?
Usually not. A single site on a fixed contract needs a good comparison and correct bills. Consultancy earns its fee with scale, complexity, compliance duties or carbon commitments.
How much does energy consultancy cost?
Fixed project fees, retainers or a share of verified savings, depending on the work. The fee should be a small fraction of the spend managed or saving delivered, and the consultant should show the arithmetic.
Can an energy consultant help with ESOS and SECR?
Yes. Consolidating consumption data, supporting the assessment and producing the disclosures are core consultancy tasks, usually alongside a registered lead assessor for ESOS.
Is Clearsight Energy a broker or a consultant?
Both. Brokering is what most customers need and is paid by the supplier; consultancy services are provided where needed and charged transparently.
What is flexible energy purchasing?
Buying energy in portions across a contract period rather than fixing everything at once, to spread wholesale price risk. It suits larger consumers and needs a buying strategy and someone to execute it.
How do I choose an energy consultant?
Ask how they are paid and by whom, what they will deliver and how it will be measured, who the named people are, and for references from similar organisations. Our guide to choosing a broker covers most of the same ground.
Need help? Get in touch
Call us on 020 8036 5715, or email us, and we will take it from there.