Energy Broker vs. Consultant: What’s the Difference?
When you start to research renewable energy, you might come across a whole new set of vocabulary that you don’t completely understand. Community solar, carbon footprints, solar incentives: these are all phrases that are at least somewhat familiar to most people. But in this post, we are going to look at one that you might not have heard before: energy broker. This term is often paired with a similar one, energy consultant. Both of these roles are important to both energy providers and consumers. At Renewables Worldwide, we are committed to connecting our customers with renewable energy at the best price.
Here’s how energy brokers and consultants fit into the world of renewable energy.
What is an energy consultant?
Energy consultants do pretty much exactly what you’d think they do. They consult with businesses that have very high energy bills. They assess the business’ energy use and advise how they can use less energy, both to conserve energy and save the business money. Energy brokers often offer consulting services, especially because most small or medium-sized businesses do not consume enough energy to warrant hiring a separate energy consultant.
What is an energy broker?
In a nutshell, an energy broker is a go-between for energy suppliers and their customers. Energy brokers present the rates of all the available energy suppliers. They are a bit like real estate agents; they find all the options and present them with their pros and cons. If you’re thinking that a broker just does the job of a price comparison tool, they have a more active role than that.
What does an energy broker do?
We have covered the basics of an energy broker’s job, but their role is more involved than just finding and presenting energy prices. They negotiate terms of contracts between energy suppliers and consumers, including getting the best prices for their clients. Engaging an energy broker can save a business time and money. Energy supplies need to compete for business; brokers help drive the competition and lower prices. Energy brokers also have more expertise in energy options and the energy market. When you are busy running your business, you don’t have the time to research and learn about another industry.
Save Money and the Planet with Community Solar
One of the options an energy broker will show is community. Our team at Renewables Worldwide thinks that you should jump at the chance. Community solar is essentially a shared solar farm that multiple businesses go in on together. Everyone saves money and the result is reliable, renewable, clean energy.
