Business energy FAQs — every question, answered

Tell us your postcode and a few details about your business. We check live rates from our panel of UK suppliers, present the best-value tariffs for your usage profile, and — if you're happy — handle the switch for you end to end. There's no paperwork and no interruption to your supply.

Yes. Our comparison service is completely free for UK businesses. We're paid a commission by the supplier you choose to switch to, which is factored into the unit rate — it never adds extra cost on top of your quote.

No. Requesting a comparison is completely non-binding and doesn't change anything with your current supplier. You'll only switch when you formally accept a new contract with a new supplier.

Most switches complete within 4-6 weeks. Ofgem's rules guarantee a smooth transfer with no loss of supply, and your new supplier handles the meter reads and communication with your old one.

No — you can compare at any time. Most business energy contracts have a renewal window (typically 1-6 months before the end date) when you can lock in new rates. We'll flag if you're in-window so you don't miss it.

Ideally have a recent energy bill handy — we'll ask for your postcode, business name, current supplier, contract end date if known, and your annual usage (kWh) or spend. Don't worry if you don't have everything; we can usually work from a postcode alone for an initial indication.

No — your supply is identical because the energy still comes through the same network. Only the company billing you changes. There's no engineer visit and no downtime.

This varies by contract, but Ofgem's rules mean most micro-businesses can give notice up to 60 days before contract end. Larger businesses often have specific renewal windows written into the contract — we'll check yours.

You generally can't switch mid-contract without paying termination fees, but you can agree a new contract now to start when your current one ends. This is called 'future dating' and is the best way to lock in low rates before your current deal runs out.

Your old supplier will issue a final bill within around six weeks of the switch date, based on the final meter reads submitted at changeover. Any credit is refunded and any outstanding balance is billed as normal.

Business electricity unit rates typically sit in the range of 22p-32p per kWh in 2026, with a daily standing charge of roughly 40p-70p. Rates vary significantly by region, business size, meter type and contract length — the only reliable rate is a live quote for your specific meter.

As a working guide: small businesses use under 25,000 kWh a year (small offices, shops), medium users 25,000-100,000 kWh (busy hospitality, small industry), and large users above 100,000 kWh often on half-hourly metering (manufacturing, cold storage, large multi-site retail).

The standing charge is a fixed daily fee that covers your connection to the electricity network — meter reading, maintenance and grid access. It applies even if you use zero units in a day. Some no-standing-charge tariffs exist but usually build the cost into a higher unit rate.

Yes, a few suppliers offer no-standing-charge business electricity tariffs, mostly for very low-usage sites like unmanned units. For most businesses the unit rate is higher, so a standard tariff usually works out cheaper overall — we'll model both for you.

Your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is a 21-digit reference — often shown in a grid marked 'Supply Number' or 'S' on your bill — that uniquely identifies your electricity meter. You'll need it when switching, and we can look it up for you if it's missing.

Generally unit rates for business electricity can be lower than domestic rates because businesses buy in larger volumes and on longer contracts. However business bills attract 20% VAT by default (vs 5% for domestic) so the total bill differs.

Business electricity is charged 20% VAT as standard. You may qualify for the reduced 5% rate if you're a charity, non-profit, or your site uses under 33 kWh per day / 1,000 kWh per month. You'll need to complete a VAT declaration with your supplier.

Half-hourly (HH) meters record consumption every 30 minutes and are mandatory for sites with peak demand above 100 kW, and increasingly for many medium businesses. They enable more accurate — and often cheaper — pricing, but tariffs are quoted differently, with separate day/night/peak rates.

Business gas unit rates in 2026 typically fall between 6p-11p per kWh, with a daily standing charge of around 30p-50p. Prices depend heavily on wholesale market conditions, your annual consumption band and contract length.

Your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) is a 6-10 digit unique identifier for your gas meter, shown on your bill — sometimes labelled 'Gas Supply Number'. It's needed to get an accurate quote and to switch supplier.

Wholesale gas (bought on the NBP market) makes up 40-60% of the unit rate you pay. Suppliers buy in bulk, hedge for future periods and pass movements on to fixed and variable tariffs. That's why fixing a rate when wholesale prices are low can lock in significant savings.

Yes — fixed-rate business gas tariffs typically run for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years and lock in both the unit rate and standing charge for the full term. They give complete billing certainty; the trade-off is you don't benefit if wholesale prices fall.

If you let a contract expire without renewing, you'll be rolled onto 'deemed' or out-of-contract rates, which are typically 40-80% more expensive than a negotiated tariff. Set a reminder for your contract end date, or let us track it for you.

You can pay 5% VAT instead of 20% on business gas if you're a charity, non-profit, use less than 5 therms per day (145 kWh), or if 60%+ of the gas is used for domestic/qualifying purposes. Submit a VAT declaration to your supplier to claim the reduced rate.

Your bill is built from three main components: the wholesale cost of the energy itself (typically 40-60% of the total), non-commodity costs (network use, policy levies, capacity charges — 30-40%), and the supplier's operating margin. Your unit rate blends all of these into a pence-per-kWh figure and adds a daily standing charge.

As a rule, review your contract at every renewal window (usually 1-6 months before your end date) and whenever wholesale markets move significantly. Setting a calendar reminder for the day your renewal window opens is the single easiest way to avoid rolling onto expensive out-of-contract rates.

You can normally still switch as long as any debt is under 28 days old, or you have a payment plan in place. Older or disputed debt can trigger an 'objection' from your current supplier, which we can help you resolve before quoting.

No. Smart meters make bills more accurate and unlock some time-of-use tariffs, but comparison and switching work perfectly with traditional meters. If you have a smart meter, we can quote against your real consumption rather than an estimate.

Yes. Landlords who pay the bill for a commercial unit (or between tenancies) can switch supplier at any time. Once a tenant takes over the account, the tenant becomes the customer of record and manages their own contract.

Yes — if your business is named on the energy bill and you pay the supplier directly, you're free to switch. If your rent is inclusive of energy or the landlord bills you, the landlord holds the contract.

Charities benefit in two important ways: they usually qualify for the reduced 5% VAT rate on business energy, and they're exempt from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) with a valid VAT certificate. Both together can cut a charity's total bill by 20% or more.

Yes. State schools, academies, MATs and independent schools all buy energy on business tariffs, and a good comparison across the panel (or via a public-sector framework) typically finds meaningful savings — especially for multi-site trusts.

Suppliers hedge months or years ahead on the wholesale market. When wholesale prices fall, fixed tariffs offered today drop soon after; when prices spike, they rise. Timing your renewal against wholesale trends can materially change the rate you lock in.

Yes, and it's usually the most efficient way. We can quote both fuels against your usage in parallel, align their end dates for future renewals, and — if you prefer — put both with the same supplier for simpler billing.

REGO-backed (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) tariffs are matched, MWh for MWh, with certified UK renewable generation. Higher-tier 'green plus' tariffs additionally invest in new renewable capacity. If green credentials matter for your reporting, ask about REGO evidence.

The CCL is a UK government tax charged per kWh of business gas and electricity, added to your bill by your supplier. Domestic-use qualifying businesses (charities, low-usage, or 60%+ domestic use) are exempt with a VAT declaration.

Switching gives the quickest headline saving. Beyond that: LED lighting (typically 15-20% saving), better voltage optimisation, timer-based HVAC control, and — for larger sites — on-site solar and battery storage. We can talk you through paybacks for each.

The unit rate is the price in pence you pay for each kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy you consume. Combined with a fixed daily standing charge, it makes up the majority of your bill.

A kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the standard unit of energy: running a 1kW appliance for one hour uses 1 kWh. Your annual usage is on your last bill or annual statement; if not, we can estimate from your business size, sector and premises.

Yes — significantly. The UK is split into 14 electricity distribution regions and multiple gas transportation regions, each with different network charges. Two identical businesses in different cities will see different unit rates on the same tariff.

Sites with maximum demand above 100 kW must be settled on half-hourly (HH) data. HH gives more accurate — often cheaper — pricing, but tariffs are quoted differently (often with capacity charges and time-of-use bands).

Yes. We can quote from your postcode alone using an industry lookup — you'll get a slightly indicative rate. For a firm rate we just need your MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas), current supplier, and rough annual usage.

You'll usually be placed on 'deemed' (out-of-contract) rates at the new site until you agree a fresh contract. Compare before, or immediately after, moving in — deemed rates are typically the most expensive tariff on the market.

Some suppliers offer 4- and 5-year fixed contracts to eligible businesses, especially larger consumers. Locking in for that long only makes sense when wholesale prices are low and your business is stable — we'll model the risk with you.

A fixed tariff locks your unit rate and standing charge for the length of the contract — great for budgeting certainty. A variable tariff moves with wholesale prices, so bills go up or down each month. Most UK SMEs pick fixed for predictability.

Business energy contracts are usually available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 year fixed terms. Longer contracts give more price certainty and often marginally lower rates, but reduce your flexibility if prices fall or your business changes.

Not necessarily. Many green tariffs — backed by REGO certificates — are priced within 1-3% of standard tariffs, and some are even cheaper. They're a strong option if you want to reduce Scope 2 emissions without adding significant cost.

Deemed rates apply when you move into a premises and haven't yet agreed a contract; out-of-contract rates apply when your existing deal expires and you haven't renewed. Both are significantly more expensive than a negotiated tariff and should be exited as soon as possible.

Business energy doesn't have true dual-fuel discounts like domestic energy — gas and electricity are contracted separately. However you can hold both with the same supplier for simpler billing, and we can quote both at the same time.

Flexible or basket-purchase tariffs let very large users (typically 400,000+ kWh a year) buy energy in tranches against the wholesale market rather than at one fixed rate. They can lower costs but require active energy management and appetite for market risk.