Compare Business Energy Quotes
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Business Energy Comparison In 3 Steps
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About our business energy comparison service
Quote Goat has partnered with a number of leading business energy brokers and consultants to help businesses of all sizes in the UK save money on their business energy. When you submit our quote form, our systems will match you with a suitable business energy expert who will then contact you to assist further. Given the complexity of the business energy market, we find that this approach ensures that our customers receive the best possible service when it comes to arranging their business energy contracts.
Why compare business energy suppliers?
Comparing business energy suppliers and policies as your contract comes up for renewal is a great way to save your business money. The fact is that the average business energy bill has skyrocketed, with SMEs around the country struggling to just keep the lights on. It has never been a more important time to compare business energy prices and make sure you don’t pay more than you need to on your next business energy contract.
Comparing quotes on business energy comparison websites allows you to see just how much you’ll be paying for commercial gas and electricity, plus the two standing charges for each. You’ll be able to compare business energy quotes from the Big Six, as well as independent suppliers. These are important aspects of business energy contracts, as they can last years.
Quote Goat makes finding a bespoke quote really easy. We know that calling around, checking multiple business energy quotes online, and trying to find a good deal is the last thing you need as a busy business owner. And that’s where we come in. We’ll do all the hard work for you, showing you competitive quotes for business energy deals to power your business.
How to find cheap business energy quotes
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) estimates that between February ‘21 and August ‘22, business energy bills have risen by 349% for electricity, and 424% for business gas. So cheap business energy just doesn’t exist right now – we’re sorry! But that’s why comparing quotes is so important. You can speak to business energy experts and find the cheapest energy tariffs suited to your budget.
The majority of businesses in Great Britain are eligible for help from the Government to support small and larger businesses through the energy crisis. The Government has said it will provide ongoing support to vulnerable industries. Businesses can reach out and review the available support the Government has to offer. For more information, visit the GOV.UK website.
The scheme in its current form will run until 31st March 2023. We don’t yet know what will come after it, but the Government has said it will provide ongoing support to vulnerable industries. For more information on the EBRS, visit the GOV.UK website.
How does business energy work?
Just as with household energy, you pick an energy supplier to provide your gas and electricity for a set period.
There are two energy costs to a business energy contract:
- Unit cost: measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). This is the rate you pay for the gas and electricity your business uses. This cost is often fixed, so you pay that price per kWh of gas or electricity your business uses.
- Standing charge: you also pay a fixed daily charge, which goes towards the cost of maintaining the national grid, energy transportation and running costs. The price you pay for business energy is also affected by additional charges and taxes, including transportation and distribution costs levied by suppliers, as well as VAT and the Climate Change Levy, which is issued by the Government.
Business energy costs are also affected by additional charges and taxes, including transportation and distribution costs levied by business energy suppliers, as well as VAT and the Climate Change Levy, which is issued by the Government.
Streamline how you compare business energy quotes with Quote Goat. Our accurate business energy comparison site helps simplify your choices.
What kind of business energy contract can you get?
When it comes to comparing quotes and choosing a business energy supplier, there are several types of commercial energy plans business energy customers can choose from:
Fixed rate
The energy unit rates are fixed at a certain price for the duration of your contract. This protects you against hikes in business energy prices and helps to forecast the amount your business spends on energy bills. Naturally, though, your energy bills will fluctuate depending on your business’s energy consumption.
Variable rate
With this type of energy deal, your business prices (per unit) go up and down in line with market prices for the duration of your energy contract. There’s a chance you could pay less, but there’s also the risk that you’ll pay more if the market rises. Your bills each month could be quite varied, as they’ll fluctuate based on market price, as well as your business energy usage.
Deemed rate
This is a rolling energy deal that businesses will be put on if they have just taken on new business premises and have not agreed to a contract with a supplier yet. This energy deal is just to ensure your operations don’t cease while you look into where you’ll get your business energy supply. The deemed rate business energy deal is expensive and definitely one to avoid or get off as soon as possible.
Rollover
This energy contract is used if there are no renewal provisions and you’ve not agreed to a new contract before your current business energy deal ends. Rollover contracts are typically very expensive and can also be a bit tricky to leave. So you’ll need to be sure to compare deals, select a new contract within the renewal period, and let your business energy supplier know your intentions.
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Business Energy FAQs
Who needs a business energy supplier?
Any business in the UK needs a commercial energy contract. You wouldn’t be able to get a domestic energy policy for business premises.
Do I need business energy if I work from home?
If you work from home or run your business from home, you don’t necessarily need business energy. You’d need to be registered as a business, as you can’t get business energy as a sole trader.
As a commercial customer, you’d have to pay extra VAT, additional levies and charges. Your meter would also sit under a new ‘profile’, which would monitor your energy usage differently.
So, while it’s possible to get business energy for a business run from home, it’s certainly not necessary if you’re a one-man band. Also, with domestic energy, you can claim for the electricity and gas you use while you’re working at home on your tax return as a legitimate business expense.
How are domestic and business energy deals different?
Business energy is vastly different to domestic energy, even down to the way you switch business energy suppliers.
Businesses use energy in a totally different way compared to households — from the hours they use energy to the size of the building and the machines that are run. These differences between domestic and business energy all need to be taken into account.
Most commercial energy contracts can’t be switched in just a few clicks, like with domestic energy deals. Partly, that’s because business energy policies are much longer. It’s also because business energy quotes are based on each organisation’s industry, location, staff and working hours. So, off-the-shelf policies aren’t really an option.
Finally, commercial energy contracts are split by fuel. There are no dual-fuel tariffs for businesses. You’ll need to get separate quotes when you compare business gas and electricity. But don’t worry, we’ll do the legwork for you. Use Quote Goat to shop around and compare business energy prices online with ease.
How long are business energy contracts?
UK business energy plans can often last up to five years or more. However, most commercial energy suppliers offer deals between one to three years long.
There tends to be a switching window as you near the end of your contract. If you’re nearing the end of your contract and you plan to change your supplier, you’ll usually need to let your supplier know. This is necessary in case they put you onto an expensive default contract.
You typically won't get a cooling-off period after you’ve purchased your contract, like you do with a domestic policy, though. And with contracts lasting years, it’s important to get it right by comparing quotes.
What are out-of-contract rates?
Out-of-contract rates apply if your contract period ends and you’ve not made alternative arrangements with either your current supplier or if you’re still looking for the cheapest business energy supplier to switch to. These rates will be applied based on how much energy your business uses until you agree to a new contract or find a new one and switch business energy suppliers.
Is business energy cheaper than domestic energy?
The unit cost of business energy prices is usually cheaper than domestic unit prices. However, even though there is a cheaper business energy tariff, businesses use a lot more energy. Plus, they must also meet more criteria and pay levies and regulations.
Does the energy price cap also apply to business energy?
The residential energy price cap restricts the amount energy suppliers can ask for gas and electricity bills. Unfortunately, the price cap does not apply to business energy tariffs.
What is a microbusiness, and do I qualify?
It’s important to work out whether you are a microbusiness, as certain rules apply to the way you’re billed. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) says a micro business:
- Has less than 10 employees (or their full-time equivalent) and the yearly turnover or balance sheet is not more than €2 million,
- Or uses less than 100,000 kWh of electricity annually,
- Or uses less than 293,000 kWh of gas per year.
If you qualify as a micro business, you can get extra protections, such as
- Clarity: brokers and energy suppliers must make it clear what you’re signing up to, and all the costs involved by using straightforward and easy-to-understand language when drawing up your contract.
- Protected from back-billing: Microbusinesses can’t be charged for any unpaid business energy tariffs older than 12 months — if you didn’t have an accurate bill for it before.
- Shorter notice periods: The shortened notice period applies for a rollover business energy deal, and there’s no notice period for other energy contracts.
Consumers enjoy the same protection on their energy bills.
Do larger businesses have special energy requirements?
When you compare business energy suppliers, you’ll notice that large businesses have higher energy tariffs. Energy tariffs are based on the size of your business, its location and the type of meter installed. Large premises are legally required to install special meters that take readings every half hour. It automatically records energy consumption and transmits an accurate, real-time reading to your business energy provider for effective billing.
How do business energy prices for charities and not-for-profits differ?
If you run a charity or not-for-profit organisation, you’ll be eligible for a 15% reduction on the VAT you pay on your business energy tariffs, taking it down to 5%. You’ll also be exempt from paying the Climate Change Levy (CCL). All you need to do is contact your energy supplier, fill in a VAT declaration form, and enjoy lower energy prices.
Can I get renewable energy for my business?
Absolutely! When you discuss your requirements with our partners, you can request renewable energy options. There are also specialist business energy brokers and suppliers who solely provide green energy tariff plans.
Ofgem also mentions several small business energy grant schemes to help businesses lower their carbon emissions and become more energy efficient.
What is the Climate Change Levy (CCL)?
The climate change levy is an environmental tax, which is charged on your business energy consumption. It’s designed to encourage businesses in the UK to embrace more energy-efficient operations and to work towards reducing their emissions in line with the UK’s goal of Net Zero by 2050.
If your business operates in an industrial, public services, commercial or agricultural sector, it’ll apply to you. The levy is charged on taxable commodities for heating, lighting and power. Your business energy suppliers collect the CCL charge as part of your payments, and they then pass the money onto His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC). You can find out more about the CCL on the GOV.UK website.
Can I switch business energy suppliers when moving premises?
If you’re planning to move to new business premises, you can take your current business energy supplier with you. Alternatively, you should be able to switch to a new business energy contract. It’s worth ticking it off your to-do list as soon as possible, as out-of-contract rates are expensive, and commercial energy plans can be tricky to leave in some cases.
You’ll need to let your energy supplier know your plans if you’re taking them with you. If you decide to switch and go with another provider for your energy supply, your new supplier will let your old supplier know for you. Remember to take meter readings when you leave your old premises and as soon as you get the keys to your new premises.
What does a business energy broker do?
Business energy brokers are contractors or companies who find and present the best deals and suppliers for your business’s energy supply needs. They can also look after your energy account, letting you know when your contract is due for renewal or if there are any issues with your energy suppliers.
When you need to switch to a new contract, your broker can manage the whole process for you. Plus, they can review your energy efficiency across the business and help you reduce your energy usage.
You will need to pay a fee for their services. Often, this is incorporated into the rate you pay, or it might be as a lump sum. It’s a good idea to ask for all terms, including costs and obligations, to be sent to you in writing before you agree to anything.
However, you can save yourself the cost of a broker by using our user-friendly tool to compare business electricity suppliers online. This way, you’re saving money by finding multiple quotes yourself and running a price comparison to choose the best energy deal that meets the needs of your business.
How do I save on business energy bills?
You can try the following tips to reduce your energy bills:
- Implement renewable energy sources to supplement your energy usage
- Introduce efficient workplace energy habits to adopt energy-saving practices
- Review your business energy usage with a business energy audit
- Request that your business energy suppliers install a smart meter and review your energy consumption closely
You can also compare business energy rates before committing to a contract, ensuring you get the best rates.
What do I need to get a business energy quote?
Business energy comparison sites, like Quote Goat, make getting a quote easier than ever. Just enter your business’s postcode and business name, along with your email address and phone number. Our partners will call you to introduce themselves, and you will also need to provide your recent business energy bills if you have them.
Our partners will then compare deals and will give you a call when they’ve found the best business electricity tariffs for you. They’ll talk you through the results of the business energy supplier's comparison and offer unbiased, no-obligation advice.
