What energy brokers do

Energy brokers, formally third-party intermediaries (TPIs), arrange gas and electricity contracts for businesses with suppliers. Unlike the finance categories in this directory, energy brokerage is not an FCA-regulated activity: there is currently no statutory authorisation regime for TPIs, although Ofgem has confirmed regulation of the TPI market is coming, with new rules expected to land in 2027. In the meantime, supplier licence conditions place some indirect obligations on brokers, micro-business protections under Ofgem rules require clearer information at the point of sale, and since December 2022 micro-businesses have had access to the Energy Ombudsman for disputes involving brokers signed up to its ADR scheme. The gap between regulated finance and unregulated energy brokerage is exactly why verification matters more here, not less.

Regulation, and how to verify a firm

There is no FCA register equivalent for energy brokers. Practical checks: confirm the company on Companies House, which this directory draws on, for incorporation, filing history and active status; ask whether the broker is a signatory to the Energy Ombudsman's ADR scheme, which is a condition of handling micro-business complaints; and ask which suppliers the broker holds commercial agreements with, because a broker can only price the suppliers it works with. Treat any claim to compare the whole market with caution: request the supplier list in writing. Be careful with letters of authority (LOAs): sign only time-limited, scope-limited LOAs, and never one that authorises a broker to enter contracts on your behalf unless that is genuinely your intention.

Fees and commission

Energy brokers are almost always paid by commission added to the unit rate or standing charge of the contract they arrange: the supplier collects it through your bills and passes it to the broker, often for the full contract term. Historically this uplift was frequently undisclosed, which is the subject of extensive litigation and the £2bn-scale claims activity reported across the sector. Ask for the commission in pence per kWh and in total pounds over the contract term, in writing, before signing. Micro-business customers are entitled to this information under supplier licence conditions.

Questions to ask before instructing a firm

How much commission is built into this contract, in pence per kWh and total pounds over the term? Which suppliers do you have agreements with, and which did you price for my renewal? Are you a signatory to the Energy Ombudsman ADR scheme? What does your letter of authority allow you to do, and when does it expire? Do you receive ongoing payments if I stay with the same supplier at renewal?

How this index is compiled

Every firm in this index is drawn from public records and verified against the Companies House register for incorporation, registered office and active status. Where a sector is FCA-regulated, firms are cross-referenced against the Financial Services Register; where it is not, the listing states what verification is available instead. Each firm has a single dedicated page showing its registered details, and firms can claim their listing to correct or extend the public record. The index is refreshed as Companies House filings change, and firms that dissolve or cease trading are removed. Inclusion is free and automatic from public data: no firm can pay to enter, leave or reorder the editorial index, and paid tiers change presentation on a firm’s own page only. Errors can be reported through the contact page and are corrected against the primary record.

Browse all 4,544 energy brokers A-Z

Full UK Financial Services Directory →