Compare Business Electricity Prices

Switching to a better business energy deal isn’t quite as straightforward as arranging a new household energy tariff. 

This is because commercial energy contracts are set up differently from domestic ones. For instance, rates and contract lengths will be different, there is no dual fuel option, and you won't be given a cooling-off period with a business energy contract. But you can lock in rates for longer and deals are tailored to meet your exact needs. It's all about working out what best suits your business. 

There are also different rules in place for businesses of different sizes. 

Suppose you run a larger company or your business has a high energy demand. In that case, you might have a half-hour meter installed or have multiple meters installed for more accurate readings. If you run a micro business, you can cancel your agreement and switch to a new one without having to wait for your current deal to end.

That's why it's important to get some expert help before you sign your next energy contract.

To help you make the most of our business electricity price comparison service, and ensure you get the best available tariff, we’ve put together this guide covering everything you need to know about comparing and switching to a better deal.

Business energy tariffs are designed to fit the needs and budget of each individual business. When you compare rates, suppliers only offer bespoke quotes based on an assessment of your business and its energy consumption.

This is because no two businesses have identical energy needs, regardless of how similar they are. And so no two business electricity contracts are exactly the same.

While a bespoke energy deal will benefit your business, it can present some problems when it comes to switching. With no 'out-of-the-box' tariffs available, the only way to make sure you’re on the best deal is to get a quote from each and every supplier. This can be both time-consuming and confusing, particularly if you want to compare a range of energy suppliers and have little or no guidance on what a good deal looks like.

That's why it makes sense to let the team at Uswitch for Business look after your energy comparison and handle the switch. One quick call is all it takes for our experts to run quotes on your behalf and offer advice on the best rates for your business.

Once you've chosen the deal you like best, we'll take care of the switch for you so you can get back to running your business.   

But it never does any harm to do a little background research before you get in touch. To help you understand how your business energy tariff stacks up against other deals out there, here are the most common contracts offered to small and medium-sized businesses:

• Fixed tariff - A fixed business electricity tariff allows you to pre-agree unit rates with your supplier and pay these rates throughout the duration of the contract. These rates are usually competitive, but you should always run a business electricity comparison before agreeing to any deal. This is the only way to make sure you can’t get better rates elsewhere.
• Out-of-contract rates - If you let a fixed deal expire without arranging a new one, your supplier will place you on its out-of-contract rates. These are often more expensive than the rates you're offered on a fixed tariff, but you can switch at any time by giving just 28-days’ notice.
• Deemed rate tariff - Deemed rates are similar to out-of-contract rates, but are used by suppliers when a business moves into new premises without signing a new contract. These are more expensive than fixed rates, but you can switch by giving 28-days’ notice.
• Rolling Contract - A rolling contract ties you into a new, year-long contract at higher rates. You can sometimes negotiate a new contract on blend and extend terms, which allows you to agree to lower rates by signing up for a new long-term contract with your current supplier. These new rates are usually not as competitive as others you could find elsewhere on the market. Rolling contracts aren’t as common as they used to be, but you should always check the terms of any contract you sign and keep an eye on its end date.  

There’s always a chance you can save money by switching suppliers, regardless of the type of tariff you're on. But instead of burdening yourself with the hassle of ringing around for dozens of quotes, let us find your next business electricity deal and take care of the switch for you. Call us today on 0800 188 4930 to speak with one of our team.

There are all sorts of costs that go into making up your business energy bill, but when shopping around for a new commercial electricity tariff, there are two costs you should pay particular attention to:

• Unit cost - The price you pay for each unit of electricity (measured in kWh) your business uses.
• Standing charge - A daily charge that covers the maintenance of the national grid, and the cost of transporting electricity directly to your business premises.

These are the two main charges that will make up your business’s electricity bill, and make the biggest difference to the price you pay each month.

Other charges that could be included on your bill are the Contracts for Difference charge, the Climate Change Levy, and VAT. This is charged at a standard rate of 20%, but a discounted rate of 5% is available in certain circumstances. For more information, check out our guide to VAT on business energy bills. 

When comparing business electricity prices, it's a good idea to try and find out how much energy businesses similar to yours are using and how much they're paying for it.

The trouble is that businesses are charged different rates depending on their size, location, and a number of other factors. This makes it difficult to do an accurate comparison. And then there's the current market instability which is making cheap energy rates hard to find.

But to give you an idea of how much energy your business should be using and how much it should be paying for it, here are the latest average use and price figures for businesses of all sizes. These figures don't take into account the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.

Business size	Annual usage	Unit price per kWh	Daily standing charge	Cost per year
Micro Business	5,000 to 15,000 kWh	25.4p	57.1p	£2,748 (based on annual usage of 10,000kWh)
Small Business	15,000 to 25,000 kWh	24.9p	75.8p	£5,879 (based on annual usage of 22,500kWh)
Medium Business	25,000 to 55,000 kWh	25.4p	88.2p	£12,386 (based on annual usage of 47,500kWh)
Large Business	More than 55,000 kWh	23.0p	78.4p	£12,936 (based on annual usage of 55,000kWh)

^{Note: Prices are correct as of May 2024. Rates and bill size may vary according to your meter type and business location. The prices you’re quoted may be different from the averages shown. The figures shown are the average unit rates and standing charges quoted by Bionic per business size from May 1 to May 7, 2024.} 

If your business uses a lot of electricity, you might need to have a half hourly electricity meter installed. These meters automatically send readings to your supplier every half an hour and ensure you're billed accurately.

These meters are fitted at businesses that have a maximum demand of 100kW or greater in any half-hour period during the day. If your business uses this much energy, you must have one installed by law. Half hourly meters are optional for businesses that have a maximum demand of 70kW or more.

For more information, check out our guide to half hourly electricity meters.

The terms of commercial electricity contracts mean businesses are only allowed to sign a new deal once these contracts are within their ‘renewal window’, which is usually within six months of the current contract's end date.

Once your energy deal enters this renewal window, your current supplier should send you a renewal offer. These terms are rarely the most competitive, so it makes sense to run a comparison to see if there are better rates on offer.

To switch to a new deal, you need to do the following:

• Step 1 – Get in touch with the supplier you want to provide your electricity.
• Step 2 – Let them know more about your business and its energy usage.
• Step 3 – See what prices they offer you.
• Step 4 – Let your old and new suppliers know you’re switching.
• Step 5 – Wait for your new business electricity supply to take effect.

If your switch gets rejected, it could be for any number of reasons, but the most common explanation is that you owe money to your current supplier. If you get turned down, contact your supplier as soon as possible to resolve the issue.

All being well though, once all parties have been informed of the switch, the rest is handled by the suppliers themselves, so you shouldn’t experience any break in your supply.

So far, so good. But the only way to make absolutely sure you’re on the best deal is to repeat this process with every supplier – that simple five-step process doesn’t seem quite so simple when you have to repeat it ten or more times over!

And that’s why busy business owners are better off employing the services of the experts at Uswitch for Business. One quick call is all it takes to run a range of quotes on your behalf. Here's how we can help you switch electricity in just three simple steps. 

• Step 1 – Give us your postcode and we'll use smart data to find out about your current contract and energy usage.
• Step 2 – Our experts compare deals from a panel of trusted UK suppliers and talk you through the results on a quick call.
• Step 3 – You choose the deal that best suits your needs and budget, and we'll take care of the rest of the switch for you.

Our expert knowledge of the commercial energy market means we can advise you on which tariff best suits the needs of your business, and even assist in the switching process by providing all of the information and documents you need.

There'll be no digging or drilling at your premises and no disruption to your supply unless you need a new electricity meter installed.

To find out more about how we can help make the switching process even easier for your business, call us today on 0800 188 4930.

It’s easy to assume that the cheapest electricity tariff is the best deal for your business. Although getting a cheaper deal will no doubt be your top priority – it’s all about the bottom line in business, after all - the truth is that suppliers can have much more to offer.

Opting for the cheapest tariff should mean you’ll be paying less for your electricity, but if the supplier you choose isn’t the best fit for your business, you could run into problems further down the line, which could lead to a disruption in your supply, or even see you paying more than you budgeted for.

To make sure you’re on the best deal with the best supplier for you, check out our business energy suppliers’ page to see the benefits that you can expect from each supplier to help you make a more informed switching decision.

Then get the ball rolling on your business electricity switch and start saving, by calling us today on 0800 188 4930.