Ambit Energy Review - Good Energy Biz?

When it comes to making extra money or switching your home energy provider, you’ve probably heard the names of quite a few companies thrown around.

Some of the biggest opportunities out there use multilevel marketing (MLM) to get new customers and consultants. Ambit Energy has been around since the mid-2000s and is a brand you’ll see in lots of energy deregulated states across the USA.

It also lands in a lot of online discussions about MLMs, and, honestly, quite a bit of skepticism. People want to know if Ambit Energy is legit, or if it belongs with the scammy pyramid schemes you’re probably warned to steer clear of.

I’m here to give you the real details, based on my direct experience with the industry and deep research into Ambit Energy’s actual offerings, rules, and payout structure.

If you’re thinking about joining as an Ambit consultant, or you’re just wondering if it’s a solid bet for your own energy bills, you’ll get the info you need. I’ll walk through what Ambit Energy actually does, how their MLM business side works, real pros and cons from both a customer and participant perspective, and how they stack up to other companies like them.

By the end of this review, you’ll know if Ambit Energy is worth your time and money.

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What is Ambit Energy?

Ambit Energy is a US-based retail electricity and natural gas provider operating through a network marketing (MLM) model.

The company was founded in 2006 by Jere Thompson Jr. (who comes from a long line of Texas energy professionals) and Chris Chambless. They aimed to capitalize on changes in the US energy market, specifically energy deregulation, to give consumers more control over who supplies their electricity and gas. Ambit isn’t a utility, but a retail energy provider.

This means they buy energy wholesale and resell it to customers at fixed or variable rates, competing with established utility suppliers on price and customer service.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Ambit focuses on states where you can pick your electricity or natural gas supplier, known as deregulated markets. This includes places like Texas (of course), Illinois, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and a handful of others.

Ambit states that their mission is to be “the finest and most-respected retail energy provider in America,” which is a direct quote from their website (Ambit Energy: About Us).

As of 2025, Ambit has become a pretty big name with hundreds of thousands of active customers and a large network of independent sales reps (“Consultants”).

They’ve won some industry awards for growth and customer count, making them one of the more visible energy MLMs in the country.

Beyond the numbers, Ambit has also committed money and resources to various charitable efforts, like their partnership with the American Red Cross, which adds a bit of positive PR to their brand.

Ambit Energy Products & Services

The primary products Ambit Energy offers are electricity and natural gas plans to homeowners and small businesses.

They aren’t an energy producer. Instead, they buy from big suppliers and act as a middleman, aiming to offer locked-in rates or sometimes promotional pricing in deregulated markets.

It’s pretty straightforward, but there are details to consider if you’re thinking about signing up, either as a customer or as a consultant looking to offer Ambit’s services.

Ambit offers two big categories of energy plans:

Electricity plans are available in states such as Texas, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York (among others), where you can choose your energy supplier. You still get the same electricity delivered through your local utility; it’s just that your bill and pricing options come from Ambit. They offer both fixed-rate (the price stays the same per kWh for the contract term) and variable-rate (rate can fluctuate each month) options.
Natural gas plans: Offered in areas like Illinois, New York, and Maryland. Plans work similarly. You pick a provider, and you can often opt for a short or longer contract with either a fixed or variable price per therm.

Signing up as a customer usually happens either online or directly through an Ambit Energy Consultant, as the company uses an MLM-driven “network marketing” approach.

You’ll enter details like your current utility account and get a new customer agreement with Ambit. Service itself doesn’t really change, since your local utility handles delivery and repair.

One big pitch Ambit Consultants use is the “Free Energy” offer: If you refer enough friends or family and they switch, you might get your energy bill covered. Ambit sometimes has sign-up bonuses or gift cards for new accounts.

The actual electricity rates and gas rates Ambit offers will vary a lot depending on your state, where you live, and the specific plan or promotion. It’s smart to compare Ambit’s rates side by side with other retail providers and your default utility to see if there’s genuine savings or not.

Related: LiveGood Review, and Prosperity of Life Review

How the Ambit Energy MLM Business Model Works

Ambit Energy grows its business through a time-tested multilevel marketing approach. Instead of relying on TV ads or billboards, they use “Consultants” — independent reps who recruit customers and other Consultants, building up their own networks to earn commissions and bonuses.

Here’s a practical breakdown of how it works:

Consultant Role: When you sign up as an Ambit Energy consultant, you’re basically getting licensed to enroll customers and recruit new consultants to the business. You’re not an employee — you’re an independent contractor. You make money on direct customer sales, but even more comes from building your network.
Customer Acquisition: Consultants reach out to potential customers (family, friends, neighbors, local businesses) and help them switch to Ambit for their electricity/gas supply. The more people you sign up, the greater your chance for bonuses and ongoing (residual) income.
Recruitment: MLMs reward you for building a downline. Whenever you bring on new Consultants and train them to recruit as well, you earn a portion of their sales as well. The more your team grows, the more you could earn, though it gets tough at scale.

There are a few costs involved:

SignUp Cost: As of 2025, it costs $75 to $100 for the initial Ambit Energy Consultant kit. There might be a small ongoing annual renewal charge if you want to maintain your consultant status.
No Monthly Product Purchases: Unlike some MLMs that demand you buy inventory or meet sales minimums for physical products, Ambit’s “inventory” is just energy plans, so your focus is more on recruiting and serving your customers than buying product every month.

Consultants are provided with digital tools, back-office software, marketing materials, and training. But the truth is, most success stories come down to the consultant’s personal networking skills and enthusiasm.

Ambit makes it clear: no hourly wages, no guaranteed paycheck – just commission-based earnings.

Ambit Energy Compensation Plan (Simple Breakdown)

The Ambit Energy compensation plan has three principal ways Consultants can make money:

Customer Acquisition Bonuses (CABs): These are one-time bonuses when you bring in a new customer. The bonus size depends on how many new customers you sign up and the types of plans they choose. The first five customers matter most, as they help you get promoted to higher ranks (“Regional Consultant” and above).
Residual Income: Monthly commissions come in as long as your customers stay with Ambit. This is a percentage of their energy bills. You also get a share of the earnings from Consultants in your downline, as long as you keep meeting milestones and maintain your status.
Leadership/Rank Bonuses: Hitting certain milestones or helping your team bring in enough new customers and consultants unlocks higher ranks, increased commission rates, and additional bonuses.

Ambit’s compensation plan includes a rank progression:

Consultant (entry level)
Regional Consultant
Senior Consultant
Executive Consultant
National Consultant

Each level comes with its own bonus structure, but simply put: get and keep as many customers as possible, help your team do the same, and see your commission rate increase. If you stop recruiting or lose customers, your income drops quickly.

For example, sign up your first five customers (sometimes called the “Jumpstart Bonus”), and you might get a few hundred dollars along with a small monthly residual as long as those customers stay active.

If you build a downline (recruiting others who sign up customers), you can get paid from those sales too, though the percentages diminish as your downline gets deeper.

According to FTC MLM Guidance and recent data from Ambit’s 2023 income disclosure, most active Consultants make less than $1,000 a year in commissions, with many making much less or nothing at all. The real profits generally go to the top 1 to 3 percent, those with massive downlines.

Quick Tip: Always check the most recent Ambit Energy income disclosure for the latest stats before you sign up.

Is Ambit Energy Legit or a Scam?

Ambit Energy is a legally registered energy provider.

They partner with major utilities and follow all regulations of the states in which they operate. You’ll often see Ambit listed alongside other retail providers on energy comparison websites for houses and apartments. In this regard, Ambit is a legitimate, licensed company, and many people have used their services for years with no big complaints.

The MLM side is where things get a bit tricky. Ambit rewards consultants for recruiting new people, not just for selling energy plans.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned all MLM companies that when the majority of income comes from recruitment rather than product sales, they can cross into pyramid scheme territory (FTC: MLM guidance).

There are no proven mass scams associated with Ambit Energy, but you should know:

Ambit’s main “product” (energy plans) is real. You don’t get stuck with unsellable inventory, as happens in a lot of product-based MLMs.
There have been some state-level regulatory complaints about aggressive recruiting and misleading sales pitches, but Ambit has not been declared a scam or pyramid scheme by the FTC.
If you plan to make significant income as a consultant, know that success is tough and average earnings are low for almost everyone except the top recruiters and salespeople.

For regular customers: Your energy supply works the same as with the default utility provider, but always read the small print. Some people report higher rates after “promo” periods expire or experience difficulties when switching back. Do your homework and check energy deregulation in your state before signing any new contract, Ambit or otherwise.

Ambit Energy Pros and Cons

Here’s a no-nonsense list of what’s good and what’s not about Ambit Energy, based on my own findings and what people inside and outside the business say:

Pros

Around since 2006: Ambit Energy isn’t just a scheme that’s going to disappear overnight. With hundreds of thousands of customers and well over a decade in business, their staying power counts for a lot.
Solid energy plans: If you live in a deregulated state, Ambit is just one more legitimate choice for your home electricity and gas. Some people save money on select plans or earn “free energy” months via referrals.
No pressure to resell products: Unlike product-based MLMs, Ambit consultants don’t have to purchase and resell things like health supplements, cosmetics, or kitchen gadgets. You just help people with their energy plans.
Potential for recurring income: If you manage to build a loyal base of customers, you can make small but regular amounts month after month as long as they stick with Ambit.

Cons

MLM recruitment grind: The company expects you to recruit and train new consultants and sign up new customers. If you’re not into pitching people or managing a team, this business model can feel exhausting.
Lower earnings power for most: Ambit’s own statistics confirm that most consultants make under $1,000 annually — and that’s before accounting for startup and operational costs.
State limitations: Ambit only works in deregulated energy states. If the laws change or the company decides to exit a market, both customers and consultants may need to start over somewhere else.
Mixed customer experiences: Some people have no issues, but others complain about post-promo price hikes, aggressive tactics, or bill confusion. This is somewhat common among all retail energy providers, not just Ambit.
Regulatory headaches: With potential changes in FTC or state guidance, the legal status for energy MLMs can change faster than for traditional businesses. It’s smart to stay informed if you’re thinking about recruiting others.

Who is Ambit Energy For?

Ambit Energy could be a good fit if:

You live in a deregulated energy state and like to keep an eye on supplier options for a better deal every so often.
You’ve got some sales experience, local contacts, or a willingness to work your network and promote a serious side hustle.
You’d rather not buy or store physical items. This is about switching utility providers — you only need to sign people up for energy supply or become a consultant.
You’re eager to build a small team, start from zero, and work patiently for every new referral. Persistence counts for a lot in this business.

Ambit probably isn’t for you if:

You’re in a fully regulated state where you have no choice of supplier. The Ambit opportunity just won’t apply.
You want easy, fast profits or a set-and-forget side gig.
You’re not comfortable with networking or asking friends to switch up their utilities.
You dislike the idea of earning little (at first or ever) while others higher in the network get a bigger piece of every signup you bring in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Verdict – Should You Join Ambit Energy?

After checking out the company’s history, business model, compensation plan, and customer experiences, I’d say Ambit Energy is a legit energy supplier for people living in deregulated markets, but the business opportunity isn’t likely to be a quick — or highly profitable — path for most newcomers.

Ambit isn’t an illegal pyramid, but it mirrors much of the MLM world’s struggles: heavy recruiting pressure, a high risk of earning little, and rewards mainly for networkers who build big downlines.

As a customer, you might stumble upon a decent deal, but be sure to pay attention to promo details, expiration dates, and comparison shop across multiple providers before signing a contract.

If you’re aiming to make passive online income with less hassle and better earnings potential, I’d recommend looking into affiliate business training programs like Master Affiliate Profits or Wealthy Affiliate. You get comprehensive education, helpful tools, and a supportive community, all without the headaches associated with MLM recruiting and compliance worries.

If you’re searching for a reliable online business platform without MLM pitfalls or repeated recruitment, check out my top recommendation: Start with Wealthy Affiliate (free to start).

Feel free to leave your thoughts below — I’d love to hear your own experiences, questions, or stories about Ambit Energy or any MLMs you’ve tested. Your feedback helps others make a smart choice!

Ambit Energy Review – Legit Business Or Another MLM Scam?