Cost Control Associates
Procurement partnerAbout
Cost Control Associates is a full-service utility expense management company headquartered in Queensbury, New York, founded in 1991 by Keith Laake. The firm specializes in helping businesses and organizations reduce and better manage utility costs for energy, waste removal, telecom, and cellular across the U.S. and parts of Canada. In 2020, the company merged with SIB Fixed Cost Reduction, expanding its cost-cutting capabilities across more than 90 spend categories.
Details
VenSearch Intelligence
Ideal Customer
- Cost Control Associates is positioned to serve multi-site businesses of all sizes, from SMBs to Fortune 500 enterprises, though its sweet spot appears to be organizations operating across many locations where utility management complexity and administrative burden are highest.
- Named clients include large enterprises such as Walgreens (8,000 locations) and Bank of America (13,000 utility accounts), suggesting strong enterprise value, though the firm also serves small nonprofits, local governments, school districts, and convenience store chains.
Key Differentiators
- Cost Control Associates differentiates on three main dimensions: independence, tenure, and contingency-based pricing.
- The firm operates independently of all utility suppliers and installers, ensuring unbiased advice — a key contrast with vendor-aligned competitors.
Industries Served
- Cost Control Associates serves a broad range of industries including retail, banking, technology, healthcare, convenience stores, not-for-profit organizations, governments and agencies, school districts, and colleges.
- Their VP of Sales has specific experience with grocery, industrial, private equity, and telecommunications clients, in addition to Global 1000 accounts.
Service Coverage
- Cost Control Associates operates across all 50 U.S. states and parts of Canada, making it a nationwide service provider.
- The firm has successfully managed over 100,000 utility accounts and has reviewed more than $3.5 billion in utility spend on behalf of clients.
Partnerships
- No formal technology platform partnerships, software integrations, or reseller/master agent channel relationships have been publicly disclosed by Cost Control Associates.
- The firm uses a custom-built proprietary database to track client utility usage and cost data, with clients accessing their data through a web-based portal.
Company Size & Ownership
- Cost Control Associates was founded in October 1991 by Keith Laake, who previously served as CFO at a retail company and senior manager at Ernst & Young.
- Employee counts vary across sources, ranging from approximately 12 (Tracxn, 2021) to 26 (PitchBook, 2024), with LinkedIn listing the company in the 11–50 employee band.
Compliance & Certifications
- No publicly documented certifications such as SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, FedRAMP, or ISO 27001 have been found for Cost Control Associates.
- The firm does hold a cooperative purchasing contract with the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA), which helps government clients meet competitive bidding requirements, and has been listed under the Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (S.A.V.E.) cooperative for 'Energy Performance Contracting Services.' No security-specific certifications or formal compliance framework attestations are publicly advertised.
Compiled from public sources by VenSearch · Last researched October 14, 2026
Offerings
10 offeringsBudgeting and Forecasting
Cost Control Associates provides utility budgeting and forecasting services to help organizations plan for future energy, waste, and telecom expenses. The service draws on market intelligence and regulatory knowledge to develop accurate annual energy budgets and procurement plans. This helps clients manage risks against established budgets and improve financial planning.
Cost Recovery and Reduction (Utility Bill Audit & Rate Optimization)
Cost Control Associates reviews client utility invoices to identify billing errors, mischarges, and rate optimization opportunities, and negotiates refunds on a contingency basis. Analysts examine energy, water, sewer, waste removal, and telecom bills across all locations to uncover overcharges and secure savings. Clients pay nothing unless savings are found.
Energy Procurement Services
Cost Control Associates helps organizations evaluate and procure energy supply options including electricity, natural gas, propane, and fuel oils at the best terms and price. The service includes developing customized long-term energy procurement plans, assessing risk profiles, and navigating deregulated energy markets. The firm operates independently of utility providers to ensure unbiased advice.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reporting
Cost Control Associates provides greenhouse gas emissions reporting services to help organizations track, measure, and report their carbon footprint from energy consumption. The service supports clients in meeting sustainability and regulatory reporting requirements. It complements the firm's broader utility data management and energy procurement offerings.
Offsite Community Solar
Cost Control Associates offers offsite community solar services as part of its broader utility expense management portfolio. This service helps organizations access solar energy savings without requiring on-site installation. It is designed to help clients reduce energy costs while advancing sustainability goals.
Open and Close Utility Accounts
Cost Control Associates manages the process of opening and closing utility and telecom accounts on behalf of clients, particularly useful for multi-site businesses with frequent location changes. The service ensures accounts are properly set up, transitioned, or terminated without billing errors or service disruptions. This reduces administrative burden on internal staff.
Telecom Cost Management
Cost Control Associates helps clients evaluate, negotiate, and reduce costs for telecom-related services including internet, ground and mobile phones, PBX networks, copiers, cable and satellite TV, credit card services, and security systems. The firm handles all negotiations on behalf of clients and verifies that implemented changes and refunds are properly executed. This service leverages the firm's knowledge of telecom provider pricing structures and industry terminology.
Utility Bill Management (Invoice Processing and Payment)
Cost Control Associates provides centralized processing and payment of utility bills for multi-site businesses, ensuring timely payments and avoiding late fees. The service includes ongoing analysis of utility data and management of utility accounts across all locations. This helps organizations free up staff time while maintaining accurate and compliant billing.
Utility Data Management and Analysis
Cost Control Associates collects, analyzes, and reports on utility data across all client locations to identify trends, anomalies, and savings opportunities. Analytical reporting helps clients understand their utility consumption and cost patterns, supporting better operational decisions. This service can include Energy Star reporting and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting.
Waste Removal Services
Cost Control Associates manages and reduces waste removal costs for organizations across categories including trash, organic waste, recycling, medical, pharmaceutical, hazardous, and more. The service includes vendor negotiation and cost monitoring to address shifting market conditions affecting waste removal pricing. Clients can expect customized solutions to significantly reduce waste expenses.
Considering Cost Control Associates?
Our team will work with you to determine if Cost Control Associates is the right fit for your organization. From research and assessment through procurement negotiation and ongoing vendor management — we handle the entire process at no cost to you.