Skip the broker and find the lowest electric rate now
At the most basic level, energy brokers are intermediaries between energy suppliers and their clients. Brokers do not own or distribute energy and they are not allowed to sell energy directly to you. Instead, they represent either the energy supplier or you as the consumer, depending on what role they were hired to play. Either way, they act a liaison to the energy market and simply present the rates of a wholesaler, or company, and assist clients by comparing rates from many suppliers.
Operating within the complex energy industry, business energy brokers help clients navigate the often time consuming and challenging process of choosing the right electricity supplier, especially in deregulated markets where there is greater competition and choice available. As energy experts, brokers provide valuable guidance and energy solutions. This is similar to the relationship of a real estate agent and the home or commercial property they help you find.
Commercial energy brokers service businesses, while residential brokers serve the homes and apartments of residential customers.
Pro Tip: Energy brokers that work directly with homeowners are often referred to as energy consultants.
Commercial energy brokers service businesses while residential brokers serve homes. While most energy brokerage firms focus on businesses, some also offer home brokerage services.
Energy broker services are solutions provided to help clients manage energy procurement, including electricity and natural gas, in a rapidly changing deregulated market and deregulated energy markets. Brokers help clients compare energy rates, pricing, and energy rates from multiple suppliers, leveraging their expertise to secure the best pricing and lower rates. They negotiate energy contracts and power supply terms to ensure clients get favorable price agreements. By doing so, brokers help businesses save money on their energy bills.
Brokers serve as the middleman between you and an energy supplier when you're shopping for an energy rate as a business. Energy consultants, on the other hand, typically serve as a guide to managing your energy usage. They help with reducing energy usage, managing demand for businesses using a huge amount of energy, and other similar services.
Many times energy brokers will offer consulting services as a part of their service offering. While managing your energy usage and spend is important for any business owner your average small to medium-size business is too small for most energy consultants to work with.
While anyone can use a broker, generally an energy broker is only necessary if you are a business that has large energy usage ex: $20,000+/mo electric bill. If your energy bill is less than that you can use our online supplier comparison to find the right energy plan for you without the steep fees an energy broker charges.
In terms of licensing requirements, yes. EnergyBot holds broker licenses in almost all deregulated states and is often considered an energy consultant, but our strategy is different than your run of the mill energy broker.
Rather than trying to hard-sell our customers into expensive rates, we hired a team of software engineers to create a simple experience that allows you to compare commercial electricity rates online. We aren't a massive energy brokerage- just an independent energy broker trying to get you the best deal.
You skip the back and forth with a salesperson and more importantly get the lowest energy costs possible for your business. Before switching energy suppliers, we recommend reviewing your energy plan's electricity facts label and the real rate based on your energy usage to identify any potential red flags.
Most deregulated energy states require brokers to apply for a license or certification. License and registration requirements vary by state, but generally, you can expect to fill out a few forms and submit some sort of registration fee. You are not required to have a special degree or certification, but some states do ask you to demonstrate industry knowledge.
You can find more information on becoming an energy broker in your state by visiting your local organization that manages the utilities, usually the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Here is a list of PUC websites for states with deregulated natural gas or electricity:
