Business Gas Bills

Your business gas bills are made up of several different charges, but there are two main elements that make the biggest difference to the price you pay. These are the most important things to look at when you compare business gas bills.

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

While domestic consumers can compare generic gas plans, businesses must approach suppliers individually for bespoke quotes. This can make it hard to know just how much you should be paying in unit costs and standing charges. To give you a hand, we’ve compiled a list of average consumption figures to help you compare business gas bills.

What are the average gas rates?

Business size	Unit cost	Standing charge
Micro business	5p - 5.1p per kWh	19p - 25p per day
Small business	4.5p - 5p per kWh	19p - 25p per day
Medium business	4.3p - 4.5p per kWh	24p - 25p per day

Please note: The figures above are based on industry averages and are only intended as a guide. There are many factors that can impact the amount you pay for your business gas, including consumption habits and the location of your premises

Switching to a more competitive tariff is the best way to save on business gas bills.

It’s important to bear in mind that the terms of commercial gas contracts stipulate that businesses can only compare and switch tariffs once their contract comes within its ‘renewal window’. This is usually six months before the current deal is due to expire. When your renewal window comes up, your present supplier should send you a renewal offer. While you may have been happy enough with your business gas bills up until this point, renewal rates are rarely the most competitive on the market. We recommend comparing business gas bills to see what’s on offer.

Contacting different suppliers can be time consuming, and due to all the different variables involved, comparing quotes can be confusing. Uswitch for Business can help you to get a better deal on your business gas bills in just a few simple steps:

1. Give our energy experts a call on #CAMPAIGNBUSINESSSERVICENUMBER#, or leave your details here and we’ll give you a call back.
2. After a quick chat, we’ll compare deals from a range of suppliers to find the ones that best suit your business’s requirements and budget.
3. You choose the deal you prefer and we’ll let your old supplier know you’re making the switch so you can start enjoying cheaper electricity when your new deal starts.

In the meantime, here are some simple ways that you can be more efficient with the gas your company uses and start to save on business gas bills:

Conduct a business energy audit

Conducting an audit of your business’s gas usage is a good place to start. This can help you see where the majority of your gas is being used and pinpoint possible wastage. A device called an energy saving power meter can help smaller businesses to do this.

Set the right temperature

Turning down the thermostat by just one degree can help you to save on business gas bills – just make sure you keep temperatures to between 16 - 19 degrees Celsius so everyone’s comfortable. Using a timed thermostat is another way to reduce heat wastage when the building is empty.

Block any draughts

Do a walk around your building and check doors and windows for draughts. Plug any gaps with simple draught excluders to stop heat escaping.

Don’t block heat sources

It’s also important to make sure that radiators and heaters aren’t blocked by desks or other equipment. This can stop heat from making its way around rooms, causing you to use more gas than you really need to. Keep doors closed to regulate heat in commonly used areas.

Make sure boilers are serviced regularly

Boilers need regular servicing to ensure they’re running as efficiently and safely as possible. Schedule a service for once a year to make sure everything is working as it should.

These measures should help you reduce the amount of gas your business uses and save you money. But they’re no match for the savings you can make by switching to a more competitive business gas deal.

Give Uswitch for Business a call on #CAMPAIGNBUSINESSSERVICENUMBER# to hear how we can help you pay less for your business gas.