Question 1

What's wrong with energy baskets?

Accepted Answer

Nothing — if someone's actually thought about your strategy first. The problem is most brokers default to baskets because it's easy to administer, not because it's right for you. A basket pools your volume with other buyers, which can limit your ability to time the market, obscure your actual unit rates, and make it harder to align procurement with how and when you plan to sell or refinance assets. We always start with your exit strategy and work backwards.

Question 2

Fixed vs flexible energy contracts — which is better?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on your risk appetite, cash flow requirements, and business strategy. Fixed gives you certainty — you lock in a price and budget with confidence. Flexible lets you trade around the market and potentially achieve a lower average cost, but you carry more risk. The real question is: who benefits from the recommendation? Some brokers push flexible because the ongoing management fees are higher. We recommend whichever structure genuinely fits your goals, and we'll show you the numbers behind the recommendation.

Question 3

Do bigger energy brokers get better prices because of volume?

Accepted Answer

It's the most common claim in the market — and the least substantiated. Suppliers price risk, not volume loyalty. Your rate is driven by your consumption profile, credit risk, contract length and market timing. A broker's total volume under management doesn't change your half-hourly shape. What's also not widely understood is that supplier management fees can be larger when broker commission is higher — some suppliers match margin with a relative amount, and if they pay the broker upfront they charge more to take on that risk. What matters is whether someone is consistently checking, validating, and challenging the price you're offered. That's what we do.

Question 4

What does 'customer-side advisory' actually mean?

Accepted Answer

It means we work exclusively for you, not the supplier. We don't earn more by recommending one product over another, and we don't have volume targets with any energy supplier. If you decide you'd rather pay us through your supplier rather than on invoice, that's absolutely fine — sometimes it's the better option for your strategy. We've set ourselves up to work either way and don't favour one over the other. When we recommend a strategy, it's because it's the right one for your business — not because it pays us more.

Question 5

When should I start thinking about energy procurement for a new development?

Accepted Answer

As early as possible — ideally at planning stage. Grid capacity, connection timelines, and supply strategy all affect your project programme and budget. We've seen developments delayed by 12+ months because energy infrastructure wasn't considered early enough. Getting us involved at feasibility stage means we can secure capacity, negotiate connections, and build a procurement strategy that aligns with your development timeline.

Question 6

How is Block One different from a traditional energy broker?

Accepted Answer

Traditional brokers sit between you and the supplier and earn commission on the deal — often without disclosing how much. We sit on your side of the table as an independent advisor. We don't broker energy supply; we advise on strategy, run competitive procurement processes, validate pricing, and hold suppliers accountable. Think of us as your energy team — not a middleman.

Question 7

Does strategic procurement mean slower procurement?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Strategic procurement makes sense when your project or single block really matters and you need to know you got the absolute best advice to act on. But you can still move fast if speed is of the essence — it just depends on what your goals are and what's most important to you. We flex around your timeline, whether that's a 48-hour turnaround or a six-month framework build.

Energy

Mark Corne

Core Capabilities

Customer-Side Advisory

Market & Technical Expertise

Strategy-Led Procurement

Education & Simplicity

On average, over £25,000 in year 1 value delivered.

Need ongoing energy management?

Tariff setting & district energy management

Energy Procurement FAQ