Every day, the lights are flicked in GP surgeries across the UK — waiting rooms warm up, reception screens glow, and consulting rooms come to life. But behind this routine lies a costly truth few have questioned: those same kilowatts are costing surgeries far more than they should. Tied into punishing energy contracts signed during the peak of the energy crisis and unknowingly burdened with hidden broker fees, many practices are haemorrhaging money just to keep the doors open and the lights on… At the heart of this issue lies a deeper, more covert problem: broker commissions embedded within the unit rate, yet never transparently disclosed.
Brokers operating outside the tighter regulation of domestic energy sales, often claim their services are “free” to the practice, while their commission is quietly added to the tariff. This is far from harmless. These aren’t niche problems—they reflect a systemic pattern that extends into the public sector. GP surgeries are disproportionately affected by inflated energy tariffs. Unlike households, they are classified as businesses and therefore receive none of the protections offered to domestic consumers — such as price caps or simplified regulatory safeguards. This lack of protection means that every pound lost to overcharging erodes the resources available for vital investments in staff, services, and essential equipment. Yet there is hope.
Practices deserve to reclaim funds unjustly paid under missold contracts. The law allows for secret or hidden commission claims and redress is possible through a complex process of negotiation, ombudsman complaints or litigation. If you’ve signed an energy contract since 2000, you could be due 10–20% back on the price per kWh, potentially equating to thousands of pounds each year. In an era of frozen NHS funding, this represents a vital opportunity to recover crucial budget, restore financial balance and reinvest in patient care.
Surgery Energy Claims specialise in helping GP practices uncover and recover what’s rightfully theirs. Our dedicated advisory service conducts expert audits of historic energy contracts to identify hidden broker commissions and inflated rates. Working exclusively with the healthcare sector, we operate on a no win, no fee basis — meaning there’s no risk to your practice. If your surgery was mis-sold an energy deal, we’ll handle the full claims process on your behalf, aiming to reclaim thousands of pounds that could be reinvested into frontline care.
Let us help you put that money back where it belongs: into your practice, your staff, and your patients. (2025)