Cecilia here in Cincinnati. Duke Energy Ohio territory client is looking to hire an energy consultant for a multi-site analysis. Got proposals from 4 different firms ranging from $15K to $85K for basically the same scope. One consultant claims he can identify $200K in savings but wants $50K upfront before starting any work. Another says no payment until savings are verified. What are the biggest red flags you watch for when vetting these consultants?
Red flags when vetting energy consultants?
Reggie from Memphis here. Biggest red flag is any consultant who guarantees specific savings amounts before seeing detailed billing data. Real consultants will say "we typically find X% savings" but won't promise $200K until they've done a thorough analysis. Also be wary of anyone demanding large upfront payments - legitimate consultants usually work on milestone payments or success fees.
Angela in San Antonio with CPS Energy territory. Watch out for consultants who won't provide local references or case studies from similar industries. And definitely avoid anyone pushing their "proprietary software" that costs extra. Good consultants use standard industry tools and should be transparent about their methodology. That $85K proposal sounds excessive unless it's covering 50+ locations.