Been doing 50% contingency for CenterPoint Energy audits here in Texas but considering switching to hourly. Large commercial clients are balking at the percentage. What are you all charging?
Contingency fee vs hourly - what's working for everyone?
I do 40% contingency for Memphis Light Gas & Water. Anything over $50K in savings I drop to 35%. Keeps the big clients happy.
Hourly is better for complex cases. I charge $185/hour for Dominion Energy audits in Virginia. No arguments about percentages and I get paid even if we find nothing.
Mix of both works for me. Simple audits are contingency, complex regulatory stuff is hourly. Alabama Power clients accept this approach.
Nebraska Public Power District clients prefer hourly. They see contingency as incentive to inflate savings. I do $150/hour plus expenses.
Started at 50% contingency but now do sliding scale: 50% first $25K, 40% next $50K, 30% above $75K. Xcel Energy clients in South Dakota like the fairness.