How we're paid, and how we stay independent
Buyers rightly ask whether a firm that also buys energy can audit objectively. Here is exactly how our compensation works and what we cannot do without your approval.
Discovery Energy's utility bill audits can be engaged on their own, with no procurement. Audit fees are paid by the client from verified refunds and savings. Procurement compensation, whether a client-paid monthly fee or a supplier-paid commission, is disclosed in advance, and no account, tariff, supplier or payment changes without the client's written approval.
Who pays us, for what
| Service | Who pays | How | Disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility bill audit | Client | Contingency, usually 15% to 50% of verified refunds and savings | In the engagement agreement |
| Energy procurement | Client or supplier, client's choice | Fixed monthly fee, or a commission in the supplier's price | Before any contract is signed |
| Bill pay and TaraBase | Client | Custom, by bill volume and complexity | In the proposal |
Utilities never pay us. Audit findings do not depend on which supplier you use.
What we cannot do without you
- File a refund claim or dispute.
- Change a rate class, rider or tariff.
- Switch or sign with an energy supplier.
- Change payment details or move funds. Bill-pay funds stay in an account you control.
Ways to engage
- Audit only. No procurement in scope.
- Second opinion. An audit behind your current broker or energy manager. How that works.
- Integrated. Audit, procurement, bill pay and reporting on one account inventory, with each fee shown separately.
Questions buyers ask
Can we hire Discovery for an audit only, without procurement?
Yes. A utility bill audit is a stand-alone engagement. Procurement, bill pay, reporting and renewable advisory are optional and can be added later or never.
Does Discovery receive commissions from energy suppliers?
Only on procurement engagements where the client chooses supplier-paid compensation instead of a fixed monthly fee, and the commission is disclosed to the client before any contract is signed. Audit fees are paid by the client from results, never by a utility or supplier.
Could an audit be steered toward a supplier switch?
An audit tests whether the utility billed correctly under its tariff; it does not depend on who supplies your energy. Discovery cannot change a supplier, tariff, account or payment without your written approval.
Can Discovery audit alongside our existing broker or energy manager?
Yes. Many engagements run behind an incumbent. Discovery does not need to replace your broker, and an audit-only scope can exclude procurement entirely.
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.