TOTAL Energy Solutions has been named the UK’s Most Trusted Energy Consultancy.

The Stoke Climsland based business went up against the country’s top energy brokers to receive the title. Directors Ali Carnegie and Daniel Rodia were presented with a trophy at The Energy Live Consultancy Awards in London.

Ali said: “This award is recognition of the relationships that we build with all of our clients by giving them honest advice and being completely transparent with them in our activities and commission charges.

“Our clients know they can trust us to get the best deals for their requirements, not the one that pays the best commission to us. They know they can rely on us to make the complexities of energy pricing simple and make the right recommendations for them at all times.”

Total Energy Solutions work with a range of commercial suppliers in the UK, but are completely independent, and their close understanding of how the market works takes the guesswork of what can be a confusing and expensive decision for business customers.

“It’s about keeping clients informed. We like to be their energy managers, taking them through everything from getting the best deal from suppliers, to energy use, billing and new installations,” says Ali.

“We always provide a pricing spreadsheet which shows suppliers like-for-like – it’s so easy for people to be hoodwinked by the different ways suppliers present charges.”

When Ali and his wife Kathryn took on Total Energy Solutions in November 2007 it was with the vision of becoming not necessarily the biggest, but the best at what they did.

“We had both run successful, service-led businesses and so we applied those same principles,” said Ali.

“The industry mostly just sees energy as a product and looks to get the maximum out of the client.

“From day one we said we wanted to set ourselves as the benchmark of how things should be done, and to get this award is affirmation really that we have succeeded.”

Growth

Starting out with 19 clients and a turnover of £20k, the business now has a portfolio of 270 customers across the UK, with South West clients including the Eden Project, Theatre Royal, and Plymouth Science Park. They also provide energy consultancy for a number of hotels, care providers, schools and colleges, manufacturing businesses and professional services.

With no cold selling, all of Total Energy Solution’s growth has been organic. The business is proud to have a retention rate of 96% – and around half of new clients are referrals from existing customers.

The energy crisis continues to have a huge impact on businesses of all sizes, and clients say they have been so glad to have the Total Energy Solutions team on the end of the phone throughout.

“This situation really is unprecedented,” says Ali.

“Some of the unhedged companies have ended up selling gas cheaper than they can buy it.

“We are in for a bumpy ride this winter but it’s hopeful prices may start to fall by spring.”

Contracts

In the meantime, thousands of businesses have been left facing bills three, four or even five times higher than before.

“We had fortunately put some of our customers on long-term contracts in March 2020, but for those that have needed it, we’ve been helping them to find new suppliers.”

Around 50 clients were affected by the collapse of CNG.

“It’s a volatile market where suppliers don’t actually want new business at the moment and we’ve had to work very, very hard to provide them a real choice, but we have done everything we can to give them peace of mind and support.”

A big theme at the moment is the push to net zero, and with energy prices high, it’s through saving energy that businesses will not only reduce their carbon footprint but also save money. Total Energy Solutions will launch its new analytic tool in the new year, helping businesses of all sizes to audit their consumption and make reductions.

Total Energy Solutions is also proud to contribute positively to the community where it is based. The company gives 10% of its profits every year to local charities, and team members are encouraged to spend some of their working time supporting a local good cause, such as Tavistock or Launceston Foodbanks, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Duchy College in Stoke Climsland.

Ali and the team are just about to embark on a new project with Saltash Livewire, where they’ll be encouraging people to walk or run 100km and pledge £100 – the aim is to raise £100,000 with 100,000km for the youth charity.