Jack Goodson, Senior Business Development Manager at Equity Energies
The UK government’s recent commitment to regulate the Third-Party Intermediary (TPI) market is a welcome and long-overdue move. For too long, a lack of oversight has allowed rogue brokers to operate unchecked, charging hidden, inflated fees that add little or no value to customers. It’s a model that undermines trust across the sector and ultimately holds back progress on some of the most urgent energy challenges facing organisations today.
Done well, energy brokerage plays a vital role in helping organisations make informed decisions about procurement, strategy, and carbon reduction. But for too many, especially smaller firms and those in the public and third sectors, it’s become a minefield. Without transparency, customers are left unclear on what they’re actually paying for, and who their broker is truly working for.
That, thankfully, is going to change.
Raising the standard for everyone
Many of us in the sector have already embraced self-regulation. We’ve committed to transparent pricing, clear communication, and a customer-first mindset. But while some progress has been made through voluntary codes of conduct, the reality is that too many bad actors remain, and they continue to give the entire industry a bad name.
Crucially, this isn’t about adding bureaucracy for the sake of it. But it is about levelling the playing field to make sure every customer, regardless of size or sector, gets fair access to expert support that actually helps them reduce cost, cut carbon and make better decisions.
We’ve seen first-hand how valuable that kind of partnership can be. Trust grows when you remove the complexity, show full transparency, and focus on long-term, strategic relationships. When there’s trust, it becomes easier to help customers take confident steps toward better energy strategy, from simple efficiency gains through to decarbonisation and longer-term Net Zero strategy.
Unlocking Net Zero progress
I would argue that the case for regulation isn’t just about fairness, it’s also about progress. A major blocker for many organisations looking to take positive steps towards Net Zero remains cost. For businesses and local authorities already managing tight margins and budgets, paying over the odds for poor advice is not only frustrating, but potentially extremely damaging. It pulls focus and funding away from where it’s needed most: improving energy efficiency, investing in decarbonisation, and building future resilience.
By regulating the TPI market, the government will help reduce unnecessary and unfair broker fees. That change alone could unlock significant capital for energy users to reinvest in better, cleaner solutions. And in doing so, regulation won’t just protect customers, it will actively support national Net Zero goals.
What should good regulation look like?
The energy market is complex. Customers need expert guidance, but this needs to be combined with the confidence that that guidance is impartial, transparent, and rooted in their best interests. That means regulation must go beyond basic box-ticking, and should establish clear minimum standards for transparency, fair pricing, and accountability. It should require brokers to clearly disclose how they’re remunerated, and ensure customers are aware of any conflicts of interest.
Crucially, it should also create space for good practice to thrive. We want to see a framework that rewards long-term thinking, promotes collaboration, and recognises the role intermediaries can play in helping organisations become more energy-literate, more efficient, and more sustainable.
This is also a chance to build consistency across the market. For years, the quality of service has varied wildly depending on which broker a customer ends up with. That’s not good enough. With clear, enforceable standards in place, customers can make better-informed choices, while trusting that the partners they choose to work with are properly held to account.
What to do right now
While regulation is being developed, all is not lost. The first step is to talk to your current energy broker, to find out as much as you can about their working practices, and to make sure you’re getting the best deal at the right price. Asking these questions is a good starting point.
- Which suppliers do you work with? A wider supplier network means better, more balanced advice, and not recommendations driven by limited partnerships.
- How do you get paid? Hidden fees can cost you thousands, and transparency is the only way to know what you’re really paying for.
- What strategy do you recommend for my organisation? Energy buying isn’t one-size-fits-all, so your consultant should tailor their advice to your needs and risk appetite.
- How do you make sure I get the best deal? The lowest rate doesn’t always mean best value; it’s the full contract terms that make or break your energy costs.
- Can you provide references? The best way to know if they’re any good is to hear it from someone they’ve already worked with.
A moment of opportunity
Regulating TPIs is not a silver bullet, but it’s a significant step forward. It signals a shift away from a ‘wild west’ model of brokerage and towards a market built on trust, transparency, and value. For the organisations we work with, and the wider transition to a low-carbon economy, that shift can’t come soon enough.
We look forward to working with the government and wider industry to help shape a regulatory framework that drives standards up, protects customers, and unlocks the kind of long-term impact this sector should be delivering.
When energy advice is rooted in honesty, expertise, and a genuine commitment to better outcomes, everyone wins, especially the customer.