If you’re looking for a new business energy contract, you may be wondering whether to use a business energy switching service, or go it alone.
Here we look at various business types, and explore how using a switching service may be of benefit.
Business energy switching services may also be referred to as TPIs or energy brokers. At Tritility, we prefer the term ‘consultancy’, because the service we offer goes way beyond what you might expect from a ‘broker’. We don’t just find the right contract for our clients, we’ll also provide ongoing advice, and will deal with all day to day matters relating to your energy. This includes:
- Full account management
- Energy saving tools and advice
- Troubleshooting any problems with your supplier
- Help with meters, including smart meter installation
If you’re considering using a consultancy, ask them what value they add over and above basic business energy procurement.
Traditionally, the public sector has relied on Frameworks when procuring services. A framework agreement allows public sector organisations to procure private sector services without the need for a full tender process. It allows you to compare products and select the one that most closely fits your needs.
This might work well for you, but you still have the option of using a business energy consultancy instead. We’d advise you to check whether your organisation is bound by any specific procurement guidelines first.
We work with a number of public sector clients, from local authorities to schools. We aim to go further than a framework agreement, offering greater budget and forecasting certainty. We’ll also apply our vast market knowledge to pinpoint which suppliers are most likely to fit your needs.
If you have multiple sites, we’ll also factor in any regional price variations. This ensures that your chosen tariff accurately reflects your in your locations. We’ll also check your historic bills to identify any possible past overpayments.
It doesn’t matter how large or small your business is, you can still use a consultancy when switching your energy. Some consultancies may be more experienced in working with larger or smaller businesses. But here at Tritility, we work with large, multi-site corporates, SMEs and micro businesses alike.
Since the COP26 Climate Change Conference in 2021, businesses are facing more pressure to cut their carbon emissions. This is where a business energy consultancy could add significant value. Not only can they help you to procure renewable energy, they may also be able to advise you on how to cut your energy usage.
Our Energy Management Service is available to clients at no additional cost for clients on half-hourly meters. The service includes a comprehensive energy management portal, which breaks down your usage, expenditure and carbon emissions on a granular level, helping you to identify how and when you’re using the most energy. This is coupled with advice and hardware installation services to help you make smarter decisions around your energy usage, cutting cost and reducing your carbon footprint.
Anyone can benefit from using a business energy switching service, regardless of size, sector or business need. The key is to ask the right questions when approaching a consultancy, to ensure you’re getting the most value from the service. So remember to ask whether:
- You will be allocated an account manager for the duration of your contract
- You will have access to an energy management portal to help you control your usage
- Your consultancy provides day to day support to manage your supply, such as billing services, troubleshooting and smart meter advice
- Your consultancy is experienced in dealing with organisations of your size and within your sector
At Tritility, all of the above are included in our service at no extra cost.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you switch your energy and take control of your utilities, get in touch. You can also find out more in our useful guide to business energy procurement guide. And if you’re ready to start your switch, why not get a quote and find out how much you could save.