The market is crowded with brokers and consultants promising to “take the hassle away”, but not all of them operate in the same way. Some are open and helpful. Others… less so.
So how do you know who to trust? This checklist lays out the questions worth asking before you sign anything, and what “good” really looks like in practice.
Ask how they’re paid and get it in writing before any tender starts. Fixed fee? Per-unit commission (p/kWh)? A mix? Ask them to show the numbers on a per-year and per-unit basis so governors can compare options fairly. The regulator has pushed for stronger transparency and redress for smaller organisations, so clear fee disclosure isn’t a big ask.
If a deal goes wrong, you’ll want a route to independent dispute resolution. Reputable consultants and brokers are members of an ADR scheme. Check the Energy Ombudsman’s Energy Broker Register, since December 2024 small organisations have access to the scheme. If they aren’t listed, think carefully.
You deserve more than a shortlist from a preferred panel. Ask to go to tender checking which suppliers were approached, when, and why any declined. Request a simple tender pack with time-stamped quotes and validity windows. It’s a fair test and it protects you when reporting back to governors.
Energy contracts can be baffling. Fixed vs flexible, pass-through charges, baselining, it’s a lot. A good consultant explains it without jargon. You should come away feeling clearer, not more confused. If you can’t repeat back the options to your governors with confidence, the explanation wasn’t good enough.
Yes, suppliers put expiry dates on quotes. But if you’re being pushed hard to sign on the spot, stop and think. A fair consultant or broker will give you time to consider and won’t scare you into rushing.
The real test comes once the contract is live. Will they:
If the support stops as soon as you sign, that’s not good service.
Some schools qualify for reduced-rate VAT (5%) on fuel and power where there’s charitable non-business use, and for CCL relief on the same basis. Your consultant should know the rules, help you apply them, and support the paperwork (for example, supplier certificates such as PP11 for CCL relief). Otherwise, you could be paying tax you don’t owe.
LOAs shouldn’t be blank cheques. Keep the scope tight (data access, tendering, objections management) and time-limit it, 12 months is common.
Every promise should be backed up in writing. And you should know who you’ll be dealing with. A named contact, not a faceless mailbox, matters more than you might think.
A quick school-friendly checklist
Here’s what “good” looks like at a glance:
Energy decisions affect your school’s budget for years, so it’s worth taking time to get the right help. A consultant or broker who ticks these boxes will give you confidence rather than extra stress.
Troo works in this way: open about fees, supportive beyond the contract, and committed to giving schools clarity. If that’s the kind of partnership you’d value, we’d be glad to talk.