Establishing a people-powered energy company from the ground up…

Five years ago, eight industry experts gathered in  a rented workspace in Syracuse, NY, to launch SmartestEnergy US. Despite the absence of printers, tables, and limited ethernet cables, there was a shared vision and ambitious goal. 

Who are the SmartestEnergy Group?

SmartestEnergy US plays a pivotal role in the SmartestEnergy Group's strategic global expansion strategy.  With its strong position as one of the top 10 electricity companies in the UK market, SmartestEnergy Limited possessed the expertise and resources to drive successful expansion efforts. With 19 years of experience and financial backing from Marubeni Corporation, our stakeholders are committed to establishing  SmartestEnergy, as a leading energy provider in the United States. 

One team, one future

With the goals of the company clearly outlined, the eight employees began to organically build SmartestEnergy US from the ground up. Organically growing a company is not easy, nonetheless this was a challenge our eager eight was ready for.

Vice President of Finance Megan Quill recalls “Everyone wore many hats; I was trying to figure out our financials just as much as I was trying to figure out where to order a coffee pot from”. Embracing our core values of one team, one future our founding employees worked together and did whatever it took to get the company up and running. 

Entering our first ISO, New York

Within the first couple of months, the hard work from the team was evident. In August of 2019, we began selling in our first ISO, New York. Shortly after in October of 2019, we signed our first customer. "A pivotal moment that resonates with me was our first signed contract," says Credit Risk Analyst Sara Gebhart. "We had worked incredibly hard since the beginning to get to this point. Seeing our efforts come to fruition was a massive accomplishment and a very prideful moment."

Eleven months after opening, COVID-19 hit, forcing a swift shift to a remote model that ensured employee safety and expanded our global talent pool. One of our first Channel Partner Managers Jessica Lopez remembers, “When COVID hit, it made it difficult to get in front of people like we had been doing, but we just kept working on our systems and stayed on the phones, telling anyone who would listen about who Smartest was.” Despite the challenges, the team adapted, building out relationships with broker partners and expanding Wholesale Certificate and Carbon offerings across the U.S. in 2020, showcasing resilience and adaptability as key strengths.

In 2021, we expanded our Retail operations into PJM and our Wholesale desk into PJM & NE-ISO. In 2022, we launched Origination & Mid-Marketing services, further solidifying our presence in the market. Shortly after, we expanded our trading operations by opening an office in New York City, marking a strategic move to enhance our capabilities and reach in key markets. In 2023 we entered our most recent market, ISO-NE where we serve in Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Most recently, in October 2024, we signed a major PPA deal with Allete Clean Energy’s Armenia Mountain Wind Farm, further demonstrating our commitment to advancing clean energy solutions and strengthening our market presence.

Our commitment to operational excellence

With expeditious growth, our focus has always remained on what truly matters — our partners. As a people-centered energy company, we prioritize our people and partners in every aspect of our operations. 

The strength of the relationships we've cultivated with our channel partners is exemplified by our impressive Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +68, firmly placing SmartestEnergy US in the 'great' category alongside the world’s best companies, not just in the energy sector. 

In 2023 and 2024, our dedication to exceptional service was recognized when we were ranked #1 in Pre-Sale and Post-Sale customer satisfaction among suppliers with under 15 TWh under contract, according to the recent DNV survey. This recognition underscores our dedication to delivering value and outstanding service.

Channel Partner Manager, Michael Wirkus, reflects, “It was impressive being at a TEPA conference and having people seek us out to speak on opportunities and express great positive feedback on our customer service.”

Enabling smarter, sustainable energy decisions

Over five short years, SmartestEnergy US has experienced a remarkable journey of growth and transformation. From humble beginnings, we have evolved into a dynamic player in the energy sector, driven by innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to our partners. 

CEO, Andy Cormie, sums it up perfectly, “As the world moves away from short term fixed price, I’m delighted with what we’ve done to build the products, services and operational excellence that will support our partners, energize our customers and enable smarter, more sustainable energy decisions. Our focus now is consolidating the foundation, completing expansion of our Retail and Origination businesses and of course, our people.”