BUSINESS ENERGY UK

You can compare deals in under 60 seconds using Business Energy UK, so you can select a new business energy supplier quickly. This is just the start of the process, but the majority of work is taken care of by the energy companies behind the scenes. It typically takes between four and six weeks to complete the switch. To avoid any unnecessary delays, ensure you’ve provided all the information your new supplier needs early on.

Standing charges involve a daily payment that remains the same, no matter how much energy is used, and most business energy contracts include them. Although standard charges are very common, some suppliers offer tariffs with no standing charges, which can be useful if you run a seasonal business or do not open every day.

Gas and electricity are not packaged together in business energy tariffs, so there’s no equivalent to the dual fuel offerings that you are able to choose with your domestic energy deals. Business energy suppliers will instead offer separate energy quotes and draw up separate contracts for business gas and electricity. It’s a good idea to choose the same contract length for both, making these easy to manage.

Charities and nonprofits are eligible for a 5% discount on their energy bills, reduced from the full rate of 20%. You may get a discount for paying via direct debit.

The Climate Change Levy is a green tax imposed on all businesses that consume energy in the UK. This tax promotes improved energy efficiency. Any business in the UK has the opportunity to participate in the Climate Change Agreement Scheme, which allows them to benefit from lower rates.

Climate Change Levy (CCL) Rates:

Transitioning to a different business gas or electricity provider is an uncomplicated procedure, and there will be no interruption in your gas and electricity services. When you change your energy provider, you're merely altering the company that oversees your supply. The infrastructure, including all cables and pipes, will stay unchanged.

Utilising a multi-site meter allows you to consolidate your business energy expenses into a single invoice. This enables you to manage the gas and electricity bills for multiple buildings under one energy contract.

Multi-site meters are an excellent tool for business owners, aiding in time and cost savings by eliminating the need to juggle numerous energy contracts.

There are several distinctions between domestic and business energy contracts. Primarily, business energy contracts are more rigid, and the penalties for early termination are significantly higher.

A business energy provider procures the precise quantity of gas and electricity anticipated for each business energy contract. Given that businesses consume more energy, the provider would incur losses if businesses prematurely terminated their contracts without settling the necessary payments.

On the other hand, switching domestic energy is relatively simpler due to lower consumption levels, and contracts typically become flexible after the conclusion of a fixed-rate agreement.

Dual fuel tariffs are exclusively for residential customers. Businesses are required to transition their gas and electricity services independently.

While businesses can choose the same provider for both types of fuel, each must be switched individually. If you opt to contract both gas and electricity from the same supplier, you might have the opportunity to negotiate a more favourable energy deal.

To get an accurate quote when switching business energy providers, it's crucial to have the correct information at your disposal. There are also other factors to consider. To ensure a smooth transition, even if you're just checking the latest energy rates, follow these steps:

Terminate your current contract

Comparing business energy prices online has never been more straightforward. Once you've identified the right tariff, you'll need to end your existing contract. Keep in mind that gas and electricity must be switched separately - a useful tip is to conduct your commercial energy comparison all at once. Synchronizing your contracts for the same duration will save you time in the future.

If you fail to terminate your contract, many commercial energy providers will default you to costly out-of-contract rates. Providers are not always diligent about sending renewal notices (unless you're categorized as a micro-business).

Find your meter registration numbers

When comparing business energy quotes, having your Meter Point Reference Number and Meter Point Administration Number (MPRN & MPAN) available will ensure you receive accurate rates based on your actual usage.

These numbers should be visible on a recent energy bill. If you don't have these readily available, our smart comparison engine can often retrieve this information for you.

Your company information

You'll need some basic company details so our business energy specialists can find you an excellent deal. The switching process can be entirely online at your convenience, or our team is just a phone call away if you need any help.

We'll typically require the following information:

• Business address and postcode
• The desired start date for your new energy deal
• Energy meter numbers
• Your annual energy consumption

Most of the information you need will be on your recent bill.

Switch with confidence

There's no obligation to switch business energy providers with us. We aim to help you find the deal that's right for you. If you choose to switch with us, you can relax while we manage the process for you.

Daily rate changes

The energy market can be highly unpredictable, and numerous factors can influence the price you pay for your energy usage. Here are some reasons your commercial energy contract could cost more or less:

• The size of your business - businesses with larger consumption pay more annually for their energy usage but receive discounted unit rates. Businesses with lower consumption will pay higher unit rates.
• Your energy tariff - there's a broad range of tariffs with different pricing models - for example, Economy 7/10 (cheaper rates at night), no standing charge tariffs, and green energy tariffs all have different rates. Each has its advantages depending on your company's gas and electricity usage.
• Energy suppliers - while generally guided by wholesale market prices, different suppliers have different pricing models, making some more expensive than others.
• Wholesale market prices - the wholesale market is always fluctuating, and suppliers use this as a guideline for their pricing models. Significant global events, weather, and other factors can impact the wholesale market, and prices will be adjusted accordingly.

Most of the information you need will be on your recent bill.

In 2023, business energy costs have seen a slow decline, yet they remain significantly above the norm. The ongoing Ukraine conflict continues to influence these prices.

Here's an explanation of how this remote conflict escalates business energy costs:

Dependence on Russian gas - Over the past two decades, Europe has grown heavily dependent on the inexpensive natural gas provided by Russia. As the world's leading gas producer, Russia exports most of its gas to Europe via pipelines.

Economic sanctions - The Ukraine conflict has led to economic sanctions between the West and Russia. These sanctions have imposed severe limitations on gas supply to Europe. To compensate for this, Europe now depends on costly imports of Liquid Natural Gas from the Middle East and America, which in turn escalates the wholesale gas price.

Gas usage for electricity production - The British National Grid depends on imported natural gas from Europe, which is then converted into electricity using gas-fired power stations. The rise in gas prices directly increases the cost of electricity.

In the first half of 2023, business energy costs have seen a slow decline due to a relatively mild winter and as European companies have adapted to use gas more efficiently and increased their renewable electricity production.

The Energy Supply Ombudsman, more formally known as the Ombudsman Services: Energy, is an independent body in the UK that settles disputes between consumers and companies in the energy sector. It offers a free and impartial service to customers who have been unable to resolve a complaint with their energy supplier or network operator.

The types of complaints that the Energy Supply Ombudsman can deal with include billing issues, problems with energy meters, switching problems, and customer service complaints, among others.

If a consumer has a complaint about their energy service, they should first try to resolve it with the energy company directly. If the issue is not resolved to the consumer's satisfaction after eight weeks, or if a deadlock letter has been received, they can then escalate their complaint to the Energy Supply Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman will investigate the complaint and make a decision based on the evidence provided by both parties. If the consumer accepts the Ombudsman's decision, it becomes binding on the company involved, which means they must take the actions recommended by the Ombudsman, which could include an apology, remedial action, or a financial award.

The Energy Supply Ombudsman is authorised by the UK regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), and its services are free for consumers.