Contingency vs fixed-fee utility audits
A contingency utility audit charges nothing upfront and takes a percentage of refunds and verified savings; a fixed-fee audit charges a set price regardless of findings; a retainer pays for ongoing review time. Discovery Energy audits on contingency, usually 15% to 50%.
| Contingency | Fixed fee | Retainer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | Set price | Recurring |
| If nothing is found | You owe nothing | Fee still due | Fee still due |
| Auditor's incentive | Find and recover money | Finish the scope | Spend the hours |
| Budget approval needed | Rarely | Yes | Yes |
| Watch for | Baseline definition, fee period | Narrow scope, sampling | Unclear deliverables |
Three terms to read in any agreement
- How the savings baseline is set and adjusted.
- How long recurring savings count toward the fee.
- How refunds, credits, avoided costs and estimates are treated.
Questions buyers ask
Is a contingency audit more expensive?
It can cost more in total if findings are large, but it carries no budget risk and no cost if nothing is found. A fixed fee is predictable but is owed regardless of results.
Find out what your bills should have cost.
Send one recent bill per site, or a list of accounts. We tell you where we expect findings before you sign anything. No upfront audit fee.