Terms & Conditions

Definitions
“Agreement”: the contractual relationship between COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED and the Customer as set out in these terms and conditions and Letter of Authority.

“Breach Fee”: payment due from the Customer to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED in the event of a Customer Breach.
“Commencement Date”: has the meaning given in clause 1.

“Commission Payment”: the payment COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED is entitled to receive from the Supplier as result of the Customer entering into the Contract.

“Confidential Information”: means such information as one party may provide to the other as part of or in relation to this Agreement.
“Customer Breach”: any act or omission of the Customer that represents a breach of the terms of this Agreement by the Customer.

“Contract”: the contract entered into by you (or by us on your behalf) with the Supplier for the supply of energy and as part of the Services and any extensions to this Agreement.

“Customer Obligations”: as set out in clause 2.

“Data Protection Legislation”: all relevant data protection and privacy legislation in force from time to time in England and Wales a non exhaustive list of which includes the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679); the Data Protection Act 2018; the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002/58/EC (as updated by Directive 2009/136/EC) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2426) as amended.

“Letter of Authority”: such letters of authority being as the Customer may sign from time to time.
“Services”: the services that we will provide to you including presenting you with details of a proposed supply contract(s) from one (or a number) of Suppliers from our portfolio of suppliers for you to choose to accept and as set out in the Letter(s) of Authority. 

“Supplier”: the supplier that you chose to enter into a Contract with.

“Working Day”: Monday to Friday other than a public holiday in England.

1. SUPPLY OF SERVICES

The Customer agrees that:
(i) the Letter(s) of Authority constitutes a request by the Customer to purchase Services in accordance with these conditions.  This Agreement shall come into existence (Commencement Date) when the Letter(s) of Authority signed by the Customer is received by COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED;
(ii) the Customer agrees that in return for COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED receiving the Commission COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED shall supply the Services to the Customer as per this Agreement; and
(iii) COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED is not a price comparison service. Although COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED works with many suppliers of energy it does not have access to every such supplier. 

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED does not guarantee that it will arrange what a third party may claim is the cheapest supply available.  COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED considers a number of factors when assessing which suppliers and which supply contracts are best suited to the Customer. 

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED will seek the option(s) that in its opinion is/are best suited to the Customer with price of the supply being just one of the factors to consider.

2. CUSTOMER’S OBLIGATIONS The Customer agrees:

(i) to co-operate with COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED in all matters relating to the Services;

(ii) to comply at all times promptly and completely with both this Agreement and any terms and conditions of the relevant Supplier relating to the Contract; (iii) to provide such information, data or documents as COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED may request from time to time;

(vi) to ensure that all information and documents provided to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED is complete, up to date and accurate at all times;

(v) to provide such assistance as COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED may reasonably require from time to time in relation to the Services(vi) to immediately inform COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED in the event there is any change in the Customer’s circumstances which may affect the provision of the Services;
(vii) to comply with the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010 and any other applicable legislation; and

(viii) not to enter into any other contract (for any reason including due to a change in tenancy or change in occupancy) for the supply of energy (“Other Contract”) for the intended period of the Contract whereby that Other Contract provides energy and/or the Services, whether in whole or in part, to be provided under the Contract.

3. CUSTOMER’S BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT: SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

The Customer’s attention is drawn to this clause: the consequences of the Customer breaching this agreement

Without affecting any other right or remedy available to it COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED may as it sees fit terminate or suspend the Agreement with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Customer if:

(i) the Customer commits a material breach of any term of the Agreement and (if such a breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED satisfaction within fourteen days of the Customer being notified in writing to do so;
(ii) the Customer takes any step or action in connection with its entering administration, provisional liquidation or any composition or arrangement with its creditors (other than in relation to a solvent restructuring), is subject to a winding up process (whether voluntarily or by order of the court, unless for the purpose of a solvent restructuring), has a receiver appointed to any of its assets or ceasing to carry on business; or
(iii) the Customer suspends, or threatens to suspend, or ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its business.  

In the event of such termination or suspension COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED is relieved of all its obligations under the Agreement. 

Further in the event of:

(i) termination (that may conclude suspension); or

(ii) any breach of a Customer Obligation for whatever reason

the Customer will on receipt of demand pay to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED the Breach Fee.  The Breach Fee shall be a payment of whichever is higher either:  

(i) representing the Commission Payment (or such balance of the Commission Payment yet to be paid to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED) which COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED would have received from the Supplier but is not received due to the Customer Breach; or

(ii) a fixed amount of £750.

VAT is due to be paid on a Breach Fee.

The Customer agrees that the Breach Fee is due to be paid within seven days of receiving demand for the same and that it enjoys no right of set off, defence, counter claim or other reason to withhold or delay payment. 

The Customer agrees that the Breach Fee, whether fixed or Commission based, represents the reimbursement of loss suffered by COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED resulting from the Customer Breach.  It does not represent an unfair gain or windfall on the part of COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED that is in the nature of or is capable of falling within the definition of a penalty. 

The Commission Payment for the purposes of this clause is calculated on the basis of the consumption as set out in the Contract or related documents.  

The Breach Fee is due to be paid as per this clause irrespective of any date or dates the Supplier may have been due to make the Commission Payment to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED.

4. CONSEQUENCES OF TERMINATION

Termination or expiry of the Contract shall not affect:

(i) any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities of the parties that have accrued up to the date of termination or expiry; and

(ii) the liability of the Customer to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED in the event of a Customer Breach.

5. COMMISSION PAYMENTS TO BROKER

The Customer’s attention is drawn to this clause: the commission payments that will be made to BROKER

The Customer agrees and acknowledges the Commission Payment will be due to be made to COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED.  The timing and amount of the Commission Payment varies from Supplier to Supplier. The Commission Payment is included within the price charged per unit of energy in the Contract.  By way of example if the Commission Payment for the supply of energy was 0.5 per unit then the amount payable per unit under the Contract by the Customer would be (i) base price of the unit plus (ii) 0.5p per unit.

Therefore a supply of 40,000 units per year over a two year period would result in total commission payment of £400 for that two year supply.

Should at any time the Customer wish to be provided with more information as to the Commission Payment then it should contact COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED. 

6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The Customer’s attention is drawn to this clause: limits to the liability of COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED to the Customer 

The Customer acknowledges and agrees that by entering into the Contract the Customer contracts directly with the Supplier and not COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED for the supply.  The Customer therefore further acknowledges that COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED incurs no liability arising from or in connection with the Customer’s obligations and liabilities arising under the Contract. 

The Agreement does not seek to avoid COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED liability to the Customer where such liability arises from dishonesty on the part of COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED or death or personal injury on the part of the Customer.  

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED total liability (including any principal, interest, costs and charges whatsoever and howsoever arising) to the Customer shall not in any event exceed the amount of the Commission Payment received by COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED.

The Customer acknowledges and agrees that COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED representatives, agents and employees shall incur no liability to the Customer by virtue of the Agreement or in relation to it save where such liability is incapable of being excluded by law. 

Subject to the above COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED incurs no liability to the Customer that arises under or in connection with this Agreement in respect of:

(i)     loss of profits;
(ii)    loss of sales or business;
(iii)   loss of agreements or contracts;
(iv)   loss of anticipated savings;
(v)    loss of or damage to goodwill; or
(vi)   indirect or consequential loss.

Should the Customer assert liability on the part of COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED then it must notify COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED in writing to that effect:

within six calendar months of the first event said to give rise to such liability coming to the attention of the Customer, its agents or representatives; or 

within six calendar months of the first event said to give rise to such liability which ought reasonably to have come to the attention of the Customer. 

The notice must be in writing and must identify the event and the grounds for the claim in reasonable detail and provide copies of all relevant documents and information.

In the absence of such timely notification COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED shall have no liability to the Customer. 

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED makes no express warranties and specifically disclaims any implied warranties with respect to the performance of Services to the extent permissible by law.

This clause survives termination of the Agreement.

7. DATA PROTECTION

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED does not anticipate receiving any personal data (as defined in data protection legislation from time to time) from the Customer other than contact details of the relevant personnel who are responsible for dealing with the Agreement.

The Customer agrees that COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED may share such contact details with the Supplier, its agents and representatives.

Each party shall comply with all the obligations imposed on a controller under the Data Protection Legislation.  

8. CONFIDENTIALITY

Neither party shall disclose to any third party any Confidential Information in respect of the other at any time acquired in connection with this Agreement and no reference is to be made to this Agreement by either party in any advertising publicity or promotional material without prior written consent of the other party. 

9. NOTICES

Any notice given to a party under or in connection with the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or by pre-paid first-class post or other next Working Day delivery service at its registered office (if a company) or its principal place of business (in any other case).

Any notice shall be deemed to have been received:

(i) if delivered by hand, on signature of a delivery receipt or at the time the notice is left at the proper address; and
(ii) if sent by pre-paid first-class post or other next Working Day delivery service, at 9.00 am on the second Working Day after posting or at the time recorded by the delivery service.

10. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The parties will each use their reasonable efforts to negotiate in good faith and settle any major or material dispute that may arise out of or relate to the Agreement. If any such dispute cannot be settled amicably through ordinary negotiations by the respective representatives the dispute shall be referred to the senior representatives nominated by the Parties who will meet (physically or virtually) in good faith in order to try and resolve the dispute.

If the dispute or difference is not resolved as a result of such meetings either party may (at such meeting or within fourteen days of its conclusion) propose to the other in writing that structured negotiations be entered into with the assistance of a neutral adviser or mediator (the Adviser) before resorting to litigation with costs shared equally.

If the parties fail to reach agreement in the structured negotiations within twenty one days of the Adviser being appointed, either party may then refer any dispute to litigation.

11. GENERAL MATTERS 

If any term or provision of the Agreement is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the provisions shall continue in full force and effect as if the Agreement had been agreed with the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions eliminated.

The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any previous agreement or understanding.  The Agreement may not be varied except in writing between the parties.

No failure or delay by either party in exercising any of its rights under the Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of that right, and no waiver by either party of any breach by the other shall be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.

The parties acknowledge and agree that the Agreement shall not establish or constitute any relationship of partnership, joint venture, franchise or agency between the parties and except as otherwise expressly provided or agreed neither party shall have the power to bind the other without the other’s prior written consent. 

The Customer agrees not to assign, mortgage, charge, transfer, subcontract, delegate, declare a trust over or deal otherwise with any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement. 

The Customer grants COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED a fully paid-up, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable licence to copy and modify any materials and information provided by to the Customer to a Supplier in relation to a potential Contract.

COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED will use its reasonable endeavours to deliver the Services in a timely manner but time shall not be of the essence for performance of the Services.

The Customer agrees that COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED does not incur any liability for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations as per this Agreement in the event such delay or failure result from partially or entirely events, circumstances or causes beyond COMMERCE UTILITIES LIMITED reasonable control.

Unless it expressly states otherwise this Agreement does not give rise to any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of the Contract.

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.