For a business using 5 GWh of electricity, a broker uplift of 0.30p/kWh generates:
£15,000 per year
£45,000 over a three-year contract
The question is not simply whether that fee was disclosed.
The more important question is: does the service provided represent £45,000 of value?
In many cases, the core activity may consist primarily of running a supplier tender, arranging the contract and providing relatively limited support afterwards.
A £45,000 fee may be justified where the adviser delivers ongoing market intelligence, active risk management, detailed cost forecasting, contract governance and measurable commercial value.
But where the service is largely transactional, businesses should ask whether the fee is proportionate to the expertise, effort and support actually received.
The objective should not just be transparency. It should be demonstrable fair value.