IEC

What IEC does

Independent Energy Consultants, Inc. (IEC) is a privately held, family-owned energy services company headquartered in Aurora, Ohio that designs, implements, and administers electric and natural gas municipal aggregation programs for local governments and provides energy brokerage, auditing, and consulting services to commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in deregulated U.S. states. Founded by Mark Burns around 2000 at the outset of utility deregulation, IEC pioneered municipal aggregation in Ohio and has administered more than 300 aggregation and contract programs over its history. The company reports that government aggregation clients collectively saved $16.1 million in a recent 12-month period through brokered natural gas and electric rates across Ohio communities, and that it has retained 100% of its municipal client base. IEC is licensed/registered as a broker or aggregator in Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Illinois.

IEC's service portfolio rests on three operational pillars. First, municipal aggregation: IEC manages the end-to-end program — solicitation, competitive procurement, supplier contracting, and ongoing administration — for residential and small-business constituents of cities and townships. Second, C&I energy brokerage: IEC sources supply contracts via an online reverse auction platform (operated in partnership with WorldEnergy Solutions) and manages those contracts through ongoing account administration. Third, energy accounting and bill auditing: IEC licenses proprietary energy accounting software and applies it to perform approximately 50 distinct audits per utility invoice (checking rates, taxes, double-billing, enrollment status, etc.), sharing in any refunds and credits recovered so that its compensation is contingent on client outcomes. Adjacent services include facility audits by Certified Energy Managers, Curtailment Service Provider (CSP) services in the PJM demand response market, real-time interval-meter monitoring, and Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) sourcing through the World Green Exchange. The technology stack is principally third-party — WorldEnergy Solutions for procurement and EnergyCAP (via Good Steward Energy) for energy tracking and GHG accounting — rather than a proprietary software platform.

IEC generates revenue almost entirely through transaction-based commissions and contingency fees rather than retainers or software licenses. Commission income is earned on each brokered natural gas or electric supply contract (paid by the winning supplier) and on each audit-driven refund or credit recovered on behalf of a client. Professional-services fees apply to facility audits and certain consulting engagements. IEC's customer base is concentrated in Ohio local governments (named clients include Canton, Aurora, Springfield Township, Boardman Township, Colerain Township, Euclid, Munroe Falls, Stow, and West Chester Township) plus enterprise customers served through a Group Purchasing Organization of 400+ companies. The company operates with a very small team — three Burns family members serve as Chairman/Founder, President, and Operations Manager — and the firmographics record lists 1–10 total employees, with no external institutional investment, private equity, or venture funding disclosed in available source material.

Name

IEC

Legal name

Independent Energy Consultants, Inc.

Website

https://naturalgas-electric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IEC is a privately held, family-owned energy services firm in Aurora, Ohio that designs and administers municipal electric and natural gas aggregation programs and brokers supply contracts for commercial and industrial customers in deregulated U.S. states, earning commissions on sourced contracts and audit-driven refunds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Consulting and Brokerage Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Natural Gas Distribution (221210)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) / Municipal Aggregation Retail Supply (EUAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aggregation Services (Load Aggregation, Community Choice, Buyer Pools) (EUAGAEAC), Regulated Natural Gas Utility (LDC) Customer Acquisition & Switching (EUAAADAA)

Keywords

• Energy brokerage services
• Municipal energy aggregation
• Utility bill auditing
• Demand response programs
• Energy management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Energy Bill Auditing Services: IEC performs approximately 50 different audits on each utility invoice at no cost to clients. The company shares in refunds and credits obtained, tying its success directly to client outcomes. This commission-based model generates revenue when billing errors are identified and corrected.
2. Energy Brokerage and Aggregation Commissions: IEC acts as an independent energy broker and aggregator for municipal aggregation programs and commercial/industrial customers, earning commissions on sourced and managed natural gas and electric contracts in deregulated states.
3. Facility Audits and Energy Efficiency Consulting: Certified Energy Managers conduct facility audits to identify ways to reduce energy consumption. Services include demand response program coordination, energy efficiency program development, and implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IEC designs, implements, and administers electricity and natural gas municipal aggregation programs for local governments, and provides commercial and industrial energy brokerage, bill auditing, facility audits, and demand response program services. The firm uses an online reverse auction platform, proprietary auditing software (~50 audits per invoice), and real-time energy monitoring to source competitive energy supply contracts and recover billing errors for clients in deregulated U.S. states.

Product overview

Independent Energy Consultants (IEC) is an independent energy service company offering a portfolio of consulting and brokerage services focused on energy cost reduction and management. The core offerings include Municipal Aggregation Programs for government entities and Electric & Natural Gas Brokerage Services for commercial/industrial customers. These are supported by specialized services: Energy Accounting & Bill Auditing (which uses proprietary auditing software to perform ~50 audits per invoice), Facility Audits, and Demand Response Programs where IEC acts as a Curtailment Service Provider in the PJM marketplace. Additional services include Distributed Generation Consulting, Real-Time Energy Monitoring (wireless interval meter monitoring), REC Sourcing via the WorldEnergy Exchange, and an online reverse auction platform for competitive sourcing. The company operates primarily as a consultancy and broker rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Municipal Aggregation Programs Design, implementation, and administration of electric and natural gas aggregation programs for local municipalities, enabling residents and small businesses to access competitive collective purchasing power for energy supply. Pioneered by IEC and offered to government clients in Ohio and other deregulated states.
• Electric & Natural Gas Brokerage Services Brokerage of natural gas and electric supply contracts for commercial and industrial customers in deregulated U.S. states, using an online reverse auction platform to source competitive bids and manage ongoing contracts to achieve cost savings.
• Energy Accounting and Bill Auditing Replication of client organizational structures, cost centers, vendors, accounts, and utility bills to enable energy use and spend management, combined with comprehensive utility bill auditing (approximately 50 audits per invoice) to identify and recover billing errors, double-billing, incorrect rates, and tax miscalculations. Services are provided at no cost to clients; IEC shares in refunds and credits obtained.
• Facility Audits On-site audits conducted by Certified Energy Managers to evaluate facilities, identify low- or no-cost energy reduction initiatives, and rank best and worst performing facilities to recommend ways to reduce energy consumption and save money.
• Demand Response Programs Curtailment Service Provider (CSP) services that coordinate voluntary electric load reductions with grid operators (PJM) during peak demand periods, allowing clients to earn revenue by participating in demand response programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $100,000 in refunds and avoided costs recovered in a single ongoing audit for a client with approximately 90 accounts
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WorldEnergy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEC operates as a channel partner of WorldEnergy Solutions, the leader in online exchanges of energy and environmental commodities. World Energy Exchange transacts electricity, natural gas, fuels, and green power, while the World Green Exchange handles renewable energy certificates and greenhouse gas emissions credits. This partnership enables IEC to source renewable energy and RECs for clients across deregulated markets in the US and Canada.
• EnergyCAP / Good Steward EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationIEC utilizes EnergyCAP Software produced by Good Steward Energy, described as best-in-class energy tracking and management software. This tool enables clients to track, manage, and audit energy consumption and spend, with integrated GHG tracking capabilities for compliance and reporting purposes.
• U.S. Energy Star ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Energy Consultants can tap the resources of the federal government through the U.S. Energy Star Program to support energy efficiency initiatives for clients.
• The Ohio Institute (TOI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a channel partner and association on IEC's website. TOI is an Ohio-based business organization that provides networking and referral opportunities for member companies.
• Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a channel partner and association on IEC's website. OOGA represents the oil and natural gas industry in Ohio, providing networking and referral opportunities.
• Columbus Chamber of CommerceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a channel partner and association on IEC's website, providing business networking and referral connections for IEC's municipal and commercial energy services.
• All About AuroraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a channel partner on IEC's website. All About Aurora is a local Aurora, Ohio community organization that may generate referrals for IEC's services in its home market.

Scale indicators6 records

Direct peers

• APPI Energy: APPI Energy is a direct competitor in municipal aggregation and C&I energy procurement, providing independent energy advisory and brokerage services across deregulated states with a similar commission-based model and focus on government and commercial accounts.
• U.S. Energy Services: U.S. Energy Services is a closely comparable energy management firm that provides energy procurement, bill auditing, and facility consulting to municipalities and C&I customers in deregulated markets — directly overlapping IEC's core service portfolio.
• CQI Associates: CQI Associates is an energy consulting firm offering municipal aggregation program design, energy procurement, and bill auditing services to local governments, putting it in direct competition with IEC's municipal aggregation business.
• Provider Power / Palmco Energy: Provider Power and Palmco Energy are retail electricity suppliers and brokers active in municipal aggregation programs and C&I supply contracts in deregulated Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, competing for the same municipal and commercial customers IEC serves.
• GDS Associates: GDS Associates is a multi-disciplinary engineering and energy consulting firm providing utility rate analysis, energy procurement, and regulatory consulting to municipalities and cooperatives — overlapping IEC's municipal and C&I advisory work.

Emerging players

• WorldEnergy Solutions: WorldEnergy Solutions operates the WorldEnergy Exchange and World Green Exchange platforms that IEC uses as a channel partner for reverse-auction energy procurement and REC trading. While IEC is a customer/partner, WorldEnergy also serves similar end markets through competing brokers.

Others

• EnergyCAP: EnergyCAP is the energy tracking and GHG accounting software provider whose platform IEC resells/deploys for client bill auditing and sustainability reporting. As the underlying technology vendor, it is an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a direct broker competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Constellation Energy: Constellation is a large incumbent retail electricity supplier that offers competitive supply, demand response, and energy management services to municipalities and C&I customers — competing with IEC in the same deregulated markets but at vastly greater scale and as a supplier rather than independent broker.
• ENGIE Resources: ENGIE Resources is a large retail energy supplier serving commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in deregulated US markets with natural gas, electricity, and demand response offerings that overlap with IEC's brokerage targets.
• NextEra Energy Services: NextEra Energy Services is the retail supply affiliate of NextEra Energy, offering competitive electricity and natural gas supply to commercial, industrial, and governmental customers across deregulated US markets as an incumbent supplier-broker.

Market position

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Xx.com/natgaselectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IEC