Choosing a new energy supplier

If you’re looking at choosing electricity and gas providers then you’re in the right place. At uSwitch we’ve got years of experience working with a wide range of suppliers and it’s earned us the position of the UK’s leading energy comparison service. It means that you can be confident your commercial energy needs are in safe hands – here are just some of the energy providers we deal with:

• Scottish Power
• SSE
• British Gas
• EDF Energy
• E.ON
• Opus Energy
• CNG
• Gazprom

When you come to compare business energy suppliers, you’ll notice it’s not quite the same as running a search for domestic gas and electricity – that’s because commercial energy is tailored to the specific needs of your business. While this is good news because it means you get a bespoke plan, it does mean you need to contact each and every provider to get a quote in the first place. As an energy broker, we’re here to make sure that your business gets full view of all the gas and electricity deals that are available by letting you compare energy suppliers in one go. With us doing all the hard work like searching and comparing tariffs, you can rest assured that we’ll help you choose a new energy supplier that gives you great value for your hard-earned money.

How to choose the right energy supplier for your business

The right energy supplier for your business won’t necessarily be the one that charges the least amount of money. It’s worth remembering that commercial contracts can run for up to five years so it’s important to choose a gas and electricity provider that you’re happy with overall.

With that in mind, customer service is a big deal and it’s wise to take the time to find out what a provider’s track record is really like. Reading reviews and finding out call waiting and response times are all good ways to choose an energy supplier. Word of mouth is also a valuable source of information so if you know of fellow entrepreneurs with similar businesses, then ask for their advice.

As well as customer satisfaction, you should also think about:

• Budget – consider how much flexibility you have to meet rising energy prices, if there’s minimal room for manoeuvre then fixed contracts (for example) might be better than variable options.
• Your business – some plans will suit you better than others depending on the type of business you run. For example, if you’re busiest at night and weekends, you’ll have different energy needs from businesses that run during traditional opening hours.
• Your usage – if you operate a machinery or production plant then you’re likely to consume far more energy than a shop, which might mean you need a specific meter or supply.
• Green tariffs – if your business has a strong environmental ethos then you may want to consider suppliers that use renewables or invest in eco-friendly projects.

What do you need to consider when choosing a new energy supplier?

Choosing the right energy supplier isn’t an overnight decision so before you sign on the dotted line, consider the following:

• Unit rate and standing charge – the unit rate is the price you pay for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy you use. Suppliers all add a daily standing charge which is a fee to supply you with energy. Your agreed unit cost can be either fixed or variable (which means it can go up or down according to the market) but your overall bill will reflect the amount of energy you’ve used.
• Out of contract rates – it’s essential to ensure you’ve officially cancelled your contract when it ends, if you don’t, then your supplier can put you on an out of contract tariff which is likely to be very expensive. Always check what your provider’s policy is and what their out of contract tariffs are so you don’t get caught out.
• Know your renewal window – this is when you can start looking at new deals and providers and is typically one to six months before the end of your contract.
• Regional prices – if you work in an office or other premises then this is something you won’t be able to control but it’s handy to know that where you’re located can affect the price of your energy.
• Business energy meters – if you use a lot of energy or have premises spread across a number of sites, then think about installing a half-hourly (HH) or multi-site meter.
• Installation – if you’re moving to a new site that isn’t connected to gas or electricity yet, you’ll need to factor in time and money to install a connection. Double check any terms and conditions as well, to ensure you don’t end up locked into a lengthy contract based on the work a provider has done.

To compare business electricity suppliers and gas providers, speak to one of our expert advisors who can help you find the best deal for your business. Not only will we run an energy plan comparison, we’ll also sort out the details when it comes to switching – so call us on #CAMPAIGNBUSINESSSERVICENUMBER# today.

• Average business gas and electricity consumption
• Understand your business energy bill
• Business energy suppliers