What Competitive Energy Services does

Competitive Energy Services (CES) is a privately held strategic energy management consulting firm founded in 2000 and headquartered at 148 Middle Street in Portland, Maine. The firm serves commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, and government clients across North America — from Atlantic Canada to California — helping them procure electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels, navigate sustainability mandates, and manage energy budgets and risk. CES positions itself as an independent advisor with no affiliate relationships and maintains 100% neutrality across commodities, suppliers, and technology providers.

The firm delivers four core service lines — Procurement, Consulting (including Sustainability), Reporting, and Research & Analysis — supported by proprietary tools such as the CES Budget Model for utility budget decomposition, the CES Variance Tracker for budget-versus-actual analysis, and the CES Self-Help Program for demand response capacity tag management. Additional specialized offerings include net metering credit auditing, VPPA auditing, and onsite project performance reporting for solar, cogeneration, and storage assets. CES also publishes weekly market summaries, the CES Insider newsletter, CES University educational videos, and CES Energy Intel content to maintain thought leadership with clients and prospects.

CES operates a professional services model with custom, quote-based pricing and no publicly disclosed rates or minimums. Revenue is generated through advisory engagements, retainer-style consulting mandates, and project-based auditing work delivered by an Energy Services Advisory team organized into Executive Management, Energy Services Advisory, Pricing, Analytics, Data Services, and Communications & Human Relations functions. The firm has retained close to 100% of clients through periods of market volatility and currently oversees energy and utility expenditures in excess of $2.0 billion across its client base.

Name

Competitive Energy Services

Legal name

Competitive Energy Services, LLC

Website

https://competitive-energy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Competitive Energy Services is a Portland, Maine-based independent energy management consulting firm serving commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, and government clients across North America with energy procurement, sustainability, and reporting advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Energy Advisory and Consulting Services: CES provides strategic energy management services including energy procurement, sustainability consulting, and reporting. As a privately held firm with no affiliate relationships, they are always 100% commodity, supplier, and technology neutral, and put the interest of their clients first.
2. Energy Budgeting and Tracking Services: Comprehensive tracking and reporting systems to help clients understand and navigate every energy initiative they undertake, including utility bill auditing, demand response analysis, and greenhouse gas emission tracking.
3. Renewable Energy Project Services: Auditing and reporting services for renewable energy projects including net metering credit auditing and VPPA auditing. CES reviews utility bill credits, developer invoices, and confirms expected savings for clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CES is a strategic energy management firm that provides energy procurement, sustainability consulting, and reporting services to commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, and governmental clients. Core offerings include electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels procurement; sustainability and greenhouse gas accounting; budget modeling and variance tracking; demand response management; and renewable energy project auditing. The firm is 100% commodity, supplier, and technology neutral with no affiliate relationships, serving as an independent long-term trusted advisor.

Product overview

Competitive Energy Services (CES) offers a portfolio of strategic energy management services organized into four core service lines: Procurement (energy commodity sourcing for electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels), Sustainability Consulting (greenhouse gas accounting, climate action planning, renewable energy procurement), Reporting & Tracking (budgeting, variance analysis, utility bill auditing, and project performance reporting), and Research & Analysis (market intelligence and regulatory monitoring). These core services are supported by specialized tools including the CES Variance Tracker for performance monitoring against budgets, the CES Budget Model for detailed utility budgeting, and the CES Self-Help Program for demand response capacity tag management. Additional offerings include Net Metering Credit Auditing, VPPA Auditing, Onsite Project Performance Reporting, the Market Summary Newsletter, CES University educational content, and CES Energy Intel video series. The company does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers services through direct advisory engagements and reporting tools for energy and sustainability management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Procurement Strategic energy commodity procurement services covering electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels. Includes procurement planning, supplier bid solicitation, contract execution, and ongoing supplier relationship management for commercial, industrial, and institutional clients.
• Sustainability Consulting Sustainability and green energy advisory services helping clients achieve energy and sustainability goals, including greenhouse gas accounting, climate action planning, energy master planning, and renewable energy procurement strategies.
• Reporting & Tracking Energy budget reporting and tracking services including utility bill auditing, demand response analysis, energy use intensity analysis, greenhouse gas emission tracking, and variance analysis. Turns energy data into actionable reporting.
• Research & Analysis Customized research and analysis services providing market intelligence, regulatory monitoring, and strategic consulting for energy decisions, including tracking of NYMEX natural gas, Brent/WTI crude oil, and NEPOOL electricity strips.
• Net Metering Credit Auditing & Reporting Auditing and reporting services for clients contracted with operating renewable net metering projects, reviewing utility bill credits, developer invoices, and confirming expected savings. CES provides these services to clients contracted with over 500 MW of operating renewable net metering projects.
• Offsite Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) Auditing Review and tracking service for Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) comparing hourly wholesale electricity prices against project PPA prices and generation profiles, auditing monthly statements and confirming REC delivery.
• Onsite Project Performance Reporting Tracking of onsite project performance including solar, cogeneration, and energy storage. Calculates bill savings based on avoided energy and demand charges and compares generation against contractual performance guarantees.
• CES Self-Help Program (Demand Response) A voluntary demand response program providing advance notices ahead of potential system peak events, enabling clients to curtail their load to lower their capacity tag and overall electricity costs for the year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients retained close to 100% retention rate despite covid pandemic and extreme market volatility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GridSolarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGridSolar is a smart grid company co-founded by Dr. Richard Silkman that addresses grid reliability through nontransmission alternatives and distributed generation. CES and GridSolar share personnel and strategic alignment on grid modernization issues.
• Maine Renewable EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine Renewable Energy is a retail electric supplier of 100% renewable electricity to the residential and small commercial market in Maine, co-founded by Mark Isaacson.
• Beaver Ridge Wind LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA company that developed, owned, and operated a 4.5 MW wind power project in Freedom, Maine. Andrew Price is a founding member, and Richard Silkman developed the project.
• Kennebec Valley Gas CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA natural gas company co-developed by Mark Isaacson and Richard Silkman to bring natural gas to industrial, institutional, commercial, and residential customers in central Maine.
• Environmental & Energy Technology Council (E2Tech)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerE2Tech is an industry council that hosts events and podcasts featuring CES executives. COO Matt Gamache participated in E2Tech podcast discussing energy landscape under Trump administration.
• Maine State Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted a webinar on 'The Iranian Conflict, Energy Markets, and Maine's Energy Strategy' featuring CES President and CEO Andy Price alongside regional and national experts.
• City of PortlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time CES client. The City collaborated with CES on the Coffee & Climate webinar series as part of the One Climate Future plan to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.
• ISO New EnglandcoreOthersRegional grid operator for New England. CES represents clients in ISO New England's stakeholder forums and monitors capacity markets, DAAS programs, and grid operations for client benefit.
• Maine Public Utilities CommissioncoreOthersState regulatory body overseeing utilities in Maine. CES engages with PUC on rate cases, grid planning, and regulatory proceedings on behalf of clients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ENGIE Insight: Provides energy management, sustainability, and procurement advisory to commercial, public-sector, and higher-education clients across North America. Closely comparable in service scope (procurement, sustainability, reporting) and customer mix to CES.
• Customized Energy Solutions: Independent energy markets advisory firm offering procurement, market intelligence, and ISO/RTO market expertise to C&I and institutional buyers. Highly comparable positioning to CES in ISO-NE and PJM markets.
• GDS Associates: Multi-disciplinary engineering and energy consulting firm serving utilities, municipalities, and large C&I customers across the U.S. Directly comparable to CES in regulatory advocacy, rate-case support, and energy procurement advisory.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services: Global energy management and sustainability services arm of Schneider Electric, offering procurement advisory, ESG reporting, and energy efficiency alongside its broader portfolio. Overlaps CES's procurement and sustainability offerings at much larger scale.
• CLEAResult: Largest pure-play energy efficiency and decarbonization services firm in North America, serving utilities, businesses, and public-sector clients. Competes with CES on sustainability and demand-management engagements, particularly in education and municipal segments.
• ICF International: Global consulting firm with a substantial energy, environment, and infrastructure practice advising utilities, governments, and commercial clients. Competes with CES on energy markets, climate, and regulatory engagements, especially for public-sector buyers.
• DNV (Energy Systems): Independent assurance and energy advisory provider offering energy management, renewable advisory, and standards/verification services. Comparable to CES in independent advisory posture and renewable project verification work.
• Wood Mackenzie: Global energy research and consultancy serving energy producers, utilities, and large buyers with market intelligence and procurement strategy. Competes with CES on the research and analysis service line at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• McKinstry: Design, build, and energy services firm serving the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West with energy efficiency, decarbonization, and on-site generation advisory. Adjacent to CES on energy advisory and reporting, with overlap in public-sector and higher-education buyers.

Emerging players

• NORESCO: Energy efficiency, sustainability, and distributed generation services provider serving commercial, institutional, and government clients. Overlaps with CES on sustainability consulting, reporting, and demand-side energy management for education and municipal buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ces_energy
• Facebookfacebook.com/competitive.energy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1799658

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Competitive Energy Services