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.

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.

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.

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.