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Last updated October 2026.
The four ways consultants are paid
| Model | How it works | Typical for | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed project fee | Agreed price for a defined deliverable: an ESOS assessment, a tender, an audit | Compliance work; one-off reviews | What exactly is included, and what triggers extra charges? |
| Retainer | Monthly or annual fee for ongoing management of an estate | Multi-site businesses with continuous validation, procurement and reporting | What is the scope, who are the named people, and how is performance reported? |
| Shared savings | Percentage of verified savings from validation, refunds or efficiency projects | Invoice validation and refund recovery | How are savings verified, over what period, and against what baseline? |
| Supplier commission | Commission built into the contract rate, paid by the supplier | Brokering the contract itself | How much is it, per kWh and in total, and is it disclosed on the quote? |
Many firms combine models, commonly commission for the contract and a fee for the consultancy around it. There is nothing wrong with that provided each is disclosed and the client can see the total. Ofgem’s rules for the smallest businesses now require commission disclosure, and a consultant who hesitates to disclose for a larger client is telling you something.
What is typical
Fixed fees for an ESOS assessment run from a few thousand pounds for a single site to tens of thousands for a large multi-site estate with transport. Retainers for estate management scale with the number of meters and the services included, and are usually a low single-digit percentage of the energy spend being managed. Shared-savings deals on validation commonly take a third to a half of recovered refunds for the recovery period and nothing where nothing is found. Supplier commission on contracts is typically a fraction of a penny to a penny or two per kWh, which on a large contract is significant and worth knowing.
None of these is right or wrong; they suit different work. The useful test is whether the total paid, in fees and commission together, is a small fraction of the spend managed or the saving delivered, and whether the consultant will show you that arithmetic unprompted.
Talk it through with us
Send us a recent bill or a quick description of your sites and we will tell you plainly what applies to you and what it would involve. No obligation.
Before you engage anyone
Our how we make our money page answers the first question for Clearsight Energy; the choosing a broker guide covers the rest in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
How do energy consultants get paid?
Fixed project fees, retainers, a share of verified savings, supplier commission on contracts, or a combination. Each should be disclosed.
How much does an ESOS assessment cost?
From a few thousand pounds for a single site to tens of thousands for a large multi-site estate with transport, depending mostly on the number of sites visited and the quality of data available.
What is a typical shared-savings percentage?
A third to a half of recovered refunds for the recovery period is common for invoice validation, with nothing charged where nothing is found.
Do energy consultants have to disclose commission?
Ofgem rules require disclosure to microbusinesses. Reputable firms disclose to all clients regardless; ask, and treat hesitation as an answer.
Is supplier commission bad?
No. It is how most brokering is paid for and means the business pays nothing directly. It should be disclosed in full so the client can judge the total cost of advice.
How does Clearsight Energy charge?
Supplier commission for contracts we arrange, disclosed on every quote, and transparent agreed fees for consultancy work beyond that.
Need help? Get in touch
Call us on 020 8036 5715, or email us, and we will take it from there.