Consultiv Utilities review

Consultiv Utilities review summary

Consultiv Utilities is a UK business energy broker and utilities consultancy based in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. It helps companies compare and arrange commercial electricity and gas contracts, while also offering support with water, waste, communications, merchant services, bureau support, energy management and sustainability services.

The company says it has relationships with more than 25 business energy suppliers and can support businesses with energy, waste, water and communications. It also says it has more than 5,900 clients and over 22,800 meter points, while its Trustpilot profile describes the company as managing more than 21,800 meter points for over 6,700 customers.

Consultiv Utilities is likely to suit SMEs and medium-sized businesses that want a broker with wider utility support rather than a simple business energy comparison site. Its strongest fit is probably businesses that want help with energy contracts, water, waste, communications and sustainability in one place.

The main caution is commission transparency. Consultiv Utilities’ own terms say its commission is set by Consultiv Utilities and included within the price charged per unit of energy in the contract. Businesses should therefore ask for the broker fee in p/kWh and total pounds before signing.

Quick verdict

Category	Rating	Notes
Business energy procurement	4.3/5	Strong SME-focused broker service with access to more than 25 suppliers
Wider utility support	4.4/5	Covers energy, water, waste and communications
Bureau and energy management	4.2/5	Offers invoice validation, reporting, query management and energy data tools
Sustainability support	4.1/5	Covers audits, net zero planning and energy consulting
Fee transparency	3.9/5	Terms explain commission is included in the unit price, but customers must ask for the exact amount
Customer reviews	4.7/5	Trustpilot shows 4.8/5 from 538 reviews at the time checked
Best for	SMEs and growing businesses	Particularly useful for companies wanting several utilities reviewed together
Overall rating	4.3/5	A credible multi-utility broker, provided commission and contract terms are checked carefully

What is Consultiv Utilities?

Consultiv Utilities Limited is an active private limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 11040368. Companies House lists its registered office as 12 Merchant House Merchant Court, Hebburn, Tyne And Wear, NE31 2EX, and shows that the company was incorporated on 31 October 2017.

The company should be understood as a broker and consultancy rather than an energy supplier. It helps businesses compare and arrange contracts with suppliers, but the actual electricity or gas supply contract will normally be with the selected supplier, not Consultiv Utilities.

Consultiv Utilities’ own website describes the company as an energy broker that works closely with business energy suppliers to secure competitive electricity and gas contracts. It also says its team can support businesses with energy, waste, water and communications.

What does Consultiv Utilities offer?

Consultiv Utilities offers more than business energy switching. Its public service information and Trustpilot profile describe a wider range of buying, management and sustainability services.

Service	What it means	Best suited to
Business electricity	Comparing electricity contracts from commercial suppliers	Shops, offices, warehouses, hospitality and SMEs
Business gas	Comparing commercial gas contracts	Restaurants, care homes, leisure, manufacturing and heated premises
Fixed energy contracts	Locking in commercial energy prices for a defined term	Businesses wanting budget certainty
Flexible energy contracts	More structured procurement for businesses with greater energy exposure	Higher-usage or more complex users
Water	Support with commercial water procurement	Businesses reviewing several utility costs
Waste	Waste service procurement and support	Hospitality, retail, care, offices and manufacturing
Communications	Telecoms and communications support	SMEs reviewing connectivity and phone costs
Merchant services	Payment-related services	Retail, hospitality and service businesses
Bureau	Invoice validation, reporting and query management	Multi-site or higher-bill-volume businesses
Capacity analysis	Reviewing capacity and energy data	Larger electricity users
CCL rebates	Support with Climate Change Levy issues	Eligible businesses and higher energy users
Energy audits	Identifying efficiency and savings opportunities	Businesses with high energy consumption
ESOS and SECR	Energy and carbon reporting support	Larger organisations with compliance duties
Carbon offsetting and renewable energy	Sustainability-related options	Businesses with carbon or ESG targets

Business energy procurement

Consultiv Utilities’ core service is business energy brokerage. The company says it works with more than 25 business energy suppliers and can secure bespoke utility deals for customers. It says its consultants work with businesses and suppliers to identify contracts suited to the customer’s needs.

For a typical SME, this means Consultiv Utilities may help with:

Procurement task	Why it matters
Checking current contract end dates	Helps avoid expensive out-of-contract or deemed rates
Reviewing usage and meter details	Supports more accurate quote comparisons
Comparing supplier quotes	Reduces the need to contact suppliers individually
Explaining contract options	Helps businesses compare fixed, flexible or renewable options
Managing supplier paperwork	Reduces switching admin
Supporting renewals	Helps businesses avoid missed renewal windows

This can be valuable for businesses that do not have the time or expertise to manage business energy procurement internally. However, the business should still ask which suppliers were actually compared, what commission is included, and whether the quoted rate is the lowest total cost available.

Wider utility services

A key advantage of Consultiv Utilities is that it is not only focused on electricity and gas. Its website says it can support customers with energy, waste, water and communications, while its partner programme information lists training and support across energy procurement, energy efficiency and renewable services, waste management, merchant services, telephony and business insurance.

This wider scope can be useful because many businesses review several overheads at once. For example, a restaurant might want to review gas, electricity, water, waste and card processing costs together. A small office might want to review electricity, water, broadband-style communications and waste collection.

Business need	How Consultiv Utilities may help
Reviewing several overheads	Energy, water, waste and communications can be considered together
Reducing admin	One broker relationship may be easier than several supplier searches
Managing renewal dates	Multiple contracts can be tracked more consistently
Improving utility reporting	Data and bureau support may make costs easier to understand
Supporting sustainability	Energy audits, renewable options and carbon planning can be linked to procurement

Bureau and bill management

Consultiv Utilities offers an energy bureau service that combines invoice validation software with human support. Its bureau page says it can validate invoices across multiple countries, suppliers and landlord bills, identify invoice format changes and errors, and make complex billing easier to manage.

The bureau service also includes energy and carbon compliance reporting, energy efficiency consultation, real-time insights, query management and an online platform called Connect Hub for bureau services, energy trading and risk management.

Bureau service	Why it matters
Invoice validation	Checks whether energy bills match contract terms
Query management	Helps track supplier billing issues
Usage reporting	Shows consumption trends and unusual changes
Cost reporting	Helps with budgeting and finance control
Carbon reporting	Supports sustainability and compliance work
Multi-site data	Useful for organisations with several premises
Landlord bill checks	Relevant for tenants and property-managed sites

This makes Consultiv Utilities more useful for businesses with multiple meters, several sites or complicated billing than for a very small business with one simple electricity supply.

Sustainability and energy efficiency

Consultiv Utilities says it can help organisations shape their sustainability strategy through energy audits, net zero planning and energy consulting. It also says it works with trusted partners to deliver net carbon zero management plans.

Its Trustpilot profile also lists sustainability services including energy audits, building services, smart buildings, energy generation and storage, ESOS, SECR, carbon offsetting and 100% renewable energy.

Sustainability service	What it may involve
Energy audits	Identifying where energy is being wasted
Energy efficiency advice	Reducing consumption rather than only switching supplier
Net zero planning	Creating a route towards lower emissions
Renewable energy	Reviewing renewable electricity or lower-carbon options
ESOS support	Helping qualifying large organisations with compliance
SECR support	Supporting carbon and energy reporting
Carbon offsetting	Considering emissions compensation options
Energy generation and storage	Exploring on-site generation or batteries

This is useful for businesses that want to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions together, rather than treating procurement and sustainability as separate issues.

Consultiv Utilities fees and commission

Consultiv Utilities’ terms and conditions are important reading for any business considering using the company.

The terms say Consultiv Utilities’ commission payment varies by supplier, is set by Consultiv Utilities, and is included within the price charged per unit of energy in the customer’s contract. The terms give an example in which a 0.5p per unit commission would be added to the base unit price.

The terms also say commission may be paid by the supplier monthly in arrears, annually based on the previous 12 months’ consumption, or up to 100% in advance of the contract start date, subject to adjustments or reconciliations depending on consumption during the contract.

Fee point	What it means	What the customer should ask
Commission is included in the unit price	The broker fee may be built into the p/kWh rate	What is the exact commission in p/kWh?
Commission varies by supplier	Fees may not be identical across all quotes	Is the recommended supplier also the lowest total-cost option?
Commission is based on consumption	Higher usage can mean a higher total broker fee	What is the total fee over the full contract?
Payment timing varies	Consultiv may be paid upfront, annually or monthly	Does this affect cancellation or change-of-tenancy costs?
Customers can ask for more information	The terms say customers may request more detail	Ask for written disclosure before signing

Example broker-fee calculation

A small p/kWh broker fee can become a meaningful cost over a full contract term.

Annual energy usage	0.5p/kWh broker fee	1p/kWh broker fee	2p/kWh broker fee	3p/kWh broker fee
10,000 kWh	£50 per year	£100 per year	£200 per year	£300 per year
25,000 kWh	£125 per year	£250 per year	£500 per year	£750 per year
50,000 kWh	£250 per year	£500 per year	£1,000 per year	£1,500 per year
100,000 kWh	£500 per year	£1,000 per year	£2,000 per year	£3,000 per year
250,000 kWh	£1,250 per year	£2,500 per year	£5,000 per year	£7,500 per year
500,000 kWh	£2,500 per year	£5,000 per year	£10,000 per year	£15,000 per year

For a business using 100,000 kWh per year, every 1p/kWh of broker commission costs £1,000 per year. Over a three-year contract, that becomes £3,000.

That does not automatically mean the broker is poor value. A broker can still save more than it costs if it secures a better supplier rate, avoids out-of-contract rates, reduces admin or fixes billing errors. However, the fee should be known before signing.

Important contract terms to check

Consultiv Utilities’ terms contain several provisions that businesses should review carefully.

The terms say that if a customer fails to notify Consultiv Utilities properly of a change of tenancy, Consultiv may charge either £750 per meter or the total value of the commission payment it would have received, whichever is higher. They also say that if actual consumption is more than 20% below anticipated consumption over the contract term, the customer may have to pay an amount equal to the balance of commission that Consultiv would have received if consumption had not fallen by more than 20%.

Contract term	Why it matters
Change of tenancy notice	Moving premises or changing occupancy can affect commission and fees
£750 per meter minimum breach-style fee	This could be material for multi-meter businesses
Consumption tolerance	Lower-than-expected consumption may still create liability
Supplier contract relationship	The supply contract is with the supplier, not Consultiv Utilities
Liability limit	Consultiv’s terms limit its liability to the commission payment received
Court cost clause	The terms include provisions about legal costs if court proceedings arise
Commission disclosure	Customers should request commission details before signing

These clauses do not mean businesses should avoid Consultiv Utilities, but they do mean the contract should be read before any agreement is made.

Broker fee transparency rules

Broker fee transparency has improved across the UK non-domestic energy market. Ofgem confirmed that, for contracts signed on and from 1 October 2024, the requirement for a contract’s principal terms to clearly display broker fees was expanded from microbusinesses to all non-domestic customers. Suppliers must also make this information available on request.

For a Consultiv Utilities customer, the practical step is simple: ask for the broker fee in writing before agreeing to the contract. Ideally, this should show:

Fee disclosure	Why it matters
Commission in p/kWh	Makes the broker fee comparable
Total commission in pounds	Shows the full cost across the contract
Contract length	Determines how long the commission applies
Supplier base rate	Helps show the rate before broker margin
Final customer rate	Shows what the business will actually pay
Standing charge	Important for total annual cost
Whether fees are on electricity, gas or both	Prevents misunderstanding across dual-fuel contracts

Customer reviews

Consultiv Utilities has a strong Trustpilot profile. At the time checked, Trustpilot listed Consultiv Utilities with a TrustScore of 4.8 out of 5 from 538 reviews, with 93% of reviews rated 5-star and 4% rated 1-star. Trustpilot also stated that the company had replied to 80% of negative reviews and typically replied within one week.

Trustpilot’s company information also says Consultiv Utilities supports organisations of any scale and industry, manages more than 21,800 meter points and offers buying, energy management and sustainability solutions.

Review signal	What it suggests	What to check
4.8/5 TrustScore	Strong public review rating	Still check the contract, not only reviews
538 reviews	More review evidence than some consultancies	Review volume is smaller than Bionic or Love Energy Savings
93% 5-star reviews	Many customers report positive experiences	Read negative reviews too
4% 1-star reviews	Some customers have had poor experiences	Check sales, renewal and fee concerns
Replies to 80% of negative reviews	Some visible complaint engagement	Public replies are not the same as resolution

Overall, Consultiv Utilities has a positive public review profile, but businesses should still assess the quote, commission, contract length and supplier terms independently.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Access to more than 25 business energy suppliers	Commission is included within the unit price
Covers energy, water, waste and communications	Customers need to request the exact commission amount
Strong Trustpilot score and review volume	Terms include change-of-tenancy and consumption-tolerance provisions
Offers bureau and invoice validation services	Not a whole-market guarantee unless confirmed for your quote
Provides sustainability support, including audits and net zero planning	May be more involved than very small businesses need
Active Energy Ombudsman membership is listed	Complaint escalation usually requires eight weeks or deadlock
Suitable for businesses wanting multiple utilities reviewed together	Broker commission can become expensive for high-usage customers

Is Consultiv Utilities regulated?

Consultiv Utilities is not regulated by Ofgem in the same way as a licensed gas or electricity supplier. This is normal for energy brokers and third-party intermediaries. However, Ofgem rules now require broker fees to be shown in principal terms for relevant non-domestic supply contracts, and the wider broker market is moving towards stronger oversight.

Consultiv Utilities is listed by the Energy Ombudsman as an energy broker whose disputes can be reviewed. The Energy Ombudsman listing shows Consultiv Utilities Ltd with active membership, company number 11040368, membership number C35CONS05 and a start date of 1 December 2022.

Consultiv Utilities’ own website footer also says it subscribes to the Ombudsman Services Alternative Dispute Resolutions scheme and gives the same TPI company name and ADR broker membership number.

Complaints and dispute resolution

Consultiv Utilities publishes a complaints policy. It says complainants should be kept updated on progress, should receive an update every 10 working days after the customer service target has passed, and can expect a quality response within eight weeks of the complaint being raised.

The policy says the final response should explain how the complaint was investigated, whether it was upheld or not upheld, the conclusions reached, any proposed resolution and information about the Ombudsman and Citizens Advice Bureau where appropriate.

The Energy Ombudsman says small UK businesses can receive free dispute resolution support for disputes with energy brokers from 19 December 2024, subject to eligibility. Businesses usually need to follow the broker’s complaints process first, then wait eight weeks or receive a deadlock letter before the Ombudsman may be able to help.

Complaint step	What to do
Raise the issue with Consultiv Utilities	Explain the problem and provide supporting evidence
Keep written records	Save emails, quotes, bills, letters of authority and call notes
Wait for the response process	Consultiv’s policy refers to a quality response within eight weeks
Review the final response	Check whether the complaint is upheld and what remedy is offered
Escalate if eligible	The Energy Ombudsman may help after eight weeks or deadlock
Keep evidence ready	The Ombudsman will usually need the complaint date and supporting documents

Who is Consultiv Utilities best for?

Consultiv Utilities is best suited to businesses that want a broker with broader utility support rather than a simple online energy switch.

Business type	Suitability	Why
Small offices	Medium to high	Energy and communications support may be useful
Shops and salons	High	Standard SME electricity and gas contracts are likely to fit well
Cafés and restaurants	High	Gas, electricity, water, waste and merchant services may all matter
Pubs and hospitality venues	High	Multiple utility categories can be reviewed together
Care homes	Medium to high	Energy, water, waste and compliance can be material
Warehouses	Medium to high	Suitability depends on usage and meter type
Multi-site SMEs	High	Bureau, reporting and account management may add value
Energy-intensive businesses	Medium	Worth comparing, but specialist procurement consultancies may also be needed
Large corporates	Medium	May need deeper risk management or flexible procurement support
Businesses with sustainability goals	Medium to high	Audits, net zero planning and renewable options may help

Who might need an alternative?

Consultiv Utilities may not be the best fit for every business.

Situation	Why another option may help
Need for instant online quotes	Bionic or Love Energy Savings may be quicker
One very small electricity meter	A full broker relationship may be more than needed
Very high annual consumption	Inenco, Inspired PLC or Northern Gas and Power may offer deeper procurement strategy
Need for formal flexible procurement	Specialist corporate energy consultants may be more appropriate
Preference for direct supplier pricing	Some businesses may want no broker commission
Concern about consumption tolerance clauses	Read the terms carefully and compare alternatives
Moving premises soon	Change-of-tenancy clauses should be reviewed before signing

Consultiv Utilities compared with other brokers

Broker	Best for	How Consultiv Utilities compares
Bionic	SME energy and business services comparison	Consultiv Utilities appears more account-managed and multi-utility focused
Love Energy Savings	Fast online business energy comparison	Consultiv Utilities may suit businesses wanting broader utility support
Utility Bidder	SME multi-utility comparison	Both cover wider utilities; compare supplier panel, fees and aftercare
Northern Gas and Power	Managed procurement and energy management	NGP may be stronger for larger or more complex energy users
Inenco	Large energy users, bureau and compliance	Inenco is likely stronger for corporate utility portfolios
Inspired PLC	Corporate energy, ESG and risk	Inspired may suit larger strategic procurement and ESG projects
Advantage Utilities	Bespoke energy and sustainability consultancy	Both offer consultancy-led support; compare contract terms carefully
Auditel	Cost, procurement and carbon reduction	Auditel is broader across procurement categories beyond utilities

What to check before signing with Consultiv Utilities

Before signing a business energy contract arranged through Consultiv Utilities, ask for the following in writing:

Check	Why it matters
Supplier name	Confirms who will actually supply the energy
Unit rate	Shows the p/kWh electricity or gas price
Standing charge	Important for total annual cost
Contract length	Determines how long the business is committed
Broker commission	Consultiv’s terms say commission is included in the unit price
Commission in p/kWh	Makes the broker fee comparable
Total commission in pounds	Shows the full cost over the contract
Supplier base price	Helps identify the broker uplift
Contract end date	Prevents missed renewal deadlines
Change-of-tenancy terms	Important if the business may move premises
Consumption estimate	Important because lower usage may affect commission calculations
Letter of authority	Confirms what Consultiv can do on the business’s behalf
Complaint route	Confirms how disputes can be escalated
Ombudsman membership	Consultiv Utilities is listed as active by the Energy Ombudsman

Final verdict: Consultiv Utilities review

Consultiv Utilities is a credible UK business energy broker and utilities consultancy, especially for SMEs and medium-sized businesses that want help across energy, water, waste, communications and sustainability. Its strengths include supplier relationships, broader utility support, bureau services, energy management, sustainability services and a strong Trustpilot profile.

The main caution is fee and contract clarity. Consultiv Utilities’ own terms say commission is included in the unit price, and the terms include provisions relating to change of tenancy, customer breach and consumption tolerance. Businesses should therefore ask for the exact broker commission in p/kWh and total pounds, check the principal terms, and read the full agreement before signing.

For businesses wanting a multi-utility broker with account-managed support, Consultiv Utilities is worth comparing with Utility Bidder, Bionic, Love Energy Savings and Advantage Utilities. For large, high-usage or complex energy portfolios, it should also be compared with more corporate procurement consultancies such as Inenco, Inspired PLC and Northern Gas and Power.

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