How do you buy and sell something you don't own, and can't actually see? Energy brokers do this every day, by helping people to buy electricity or natural gas from energy suppliers. A broker is someone who goes between a buyer and seller to make a complicated sales process simpler (for example, a real estate broker helps to connect a house buyer and seller). The world of energy is very complex, as it involves examining different contracts from energy companies and being able to compare local energy prices, which aren't always available to the public. Energy brokers can help, saving clients money by grouping together big clients to get a better deal from energy companies, and analyzing consumers' usage patterns to give them the best prices. For large clients that use a lot of electricity—think about how many lights you see lit in a skyscraper at night—even these small differences in price can add up to big savings.
The Details
An energy broker helps to educate consumers about the differences in prices and contracts between different energy providers, as well as the best ways to conserve energy, helping the consumer to make good decisions while respecting the environment.
The world's first public electricity supply was provided in the British town of Godalming in 1881. By hooking up an alternator to a waterwheel, the city was able to supply power to 34 light bulbs.
