Business energy guide
How do business energy brokers make money?
UK business energy brokers are generally paid through supplier commission, a direct customer fee, or a combination of both. Here is how each model works and what you should check before signing.
The short answer
Most commercial energy brokers are remunerated when a business accepts an electricity or gas contract. Under a supplier-paid commission model, the supplier pays the broker and usually recovers that cost through the contract price. Under a direct-fee model, the business pays the broker separately for procurement or consultancy work.
Supplier commission versus direct fees
Supplier-paid commission
The broker and supplier agree a commission, which may be a fixed amount or an uplift applied to each unit of gas or electricity. The supplier pays the broker, while the cost is normally reflected in the contract price paid by the customer.
Direct customer fee
The broker invoices the business an agreed fixed, hourly or project-based fee. This can make the broker’s remuneration easier to see separately from the energy price, but businesses should still confirm whether any supplier commission also applies.
How Utilix Energy is paid
Our normal brokerage service has no separate fee invoiced directly to the business. When a customer accepts a contract, the chosen supplier pays Utilix Energy a commission that is incorporated into the contract pricing. We can explain our remuneration and provide a written commission breakdown on request before you sign.
We compare options from our supplier panel and aim to explain the relevant rates, standing charges, contract length and terms clearly. Read more about our independence and transparency standards on our About Utilix Energy page.
Five questions to ask an energy broker
- How much commission or direct fee will you receive?
- How is that amount calculated?
- Is the commission included in my unit rate, standing charge or both?
- Does your remuneration differ between suppliers or contract options?
- Can you provide the commission disclosure in writing before I sign?
Frequently asked questions
How do business energy brokers make money?
Business energy brokers are usually paid through commission included by the supplier in the energy contract, an agreed direct fee paid by the customer, or a combination of the two. The broker should explain the method and amount before a business agrees to a contract.
Do business energy brokers charge a fee?
Some brokers charge a separate consultancy or service fee. Others, including Utilix Energy in its normal brokerage model, receive commission from the chosen supplier rather than sending the customer a separate invoice. Supplier-paid does not mean cost-free: the commission is normally recovered through the contract price.
Can I ask how much commission my broker will receive?
Yes. Before signing, ask for the commission amount, how it is calculated and whether it changes between suppliers or contract options. Utilix Energy provides a written commission breakdown on request before a contract is signed.
Does a higher energy bill mean higher broker commission?
It can. Commission may be calculated as a fixed amount, a fee per unit of energy, or another agreed structure. A per-unit amount means the total remuneration depends on forecast or actual consumption and the contract term.
Request a transparent energy review
We will review your business electricity or gas position, explain the available supplier options and answer questions about our remuneration before you make a decision.
For UK business and commercial energy customers only — not domestic switching.