Compare Business Electricity Prices

We'll aim to complete your electricity switch within 5 working days. 

Most businesses will simply decide to switch suppliers as their contract comes to end. However, certain times of the year can potentially offer better deals.

Switching during the summer months can offer cheaper rates on both business gas and business electricity tariffs. Keeping an eye on the wholesale costs of gas and electricity can help you identify when the best rates may be available.

However, if you’re switching outside of your renewal window, you may face exit fees from your current supplier.

VAT rates of 20% will apply to your business electricity bills. However, not-for-profit organisations may be eligible for a reduction in VAT to 5%.

If your business has more than one location, it can become complicated managing multiple energy contracts.

A multi-site tariff can allow your business to consolidate your tariffs into one contract. With multiple locations, your business may be entitled to discounts due to a greater buying power. At Energy Helpline, we can help your business find a great deal across your locations.

Yes, you can switch business gas at the same time with Energy Helpline. Although you will have two separate contracts for your business gas and business electricity, switching them at the same time makes it much easier to manage your business energy bills.

Your latest bill will have your electricity supplier information, if you can’t find the most recent bill, check your emails or documents for the contract between you and your supplier.

If you are new to the premises and don’t have access to these, and can’t ask the landlord or previous tenant, then use the Energy Networks Association too to first find your network operator using your postcode, and then contact the network operator to tell you who your supplier is. Network operators should have a postcode search tool to do this easily.

A more direct way to learn who your business electricity supplier is is to enter your postcode into our comparison engine. From there we will look up your meter number and let you know who your supplier is. The engine will also provide you with some business electricity price quotes free of charge to consider at your discretion.

If the majority of your business's electricity usage is for your business, then you may be eligible for a business tariff. Contact your electricity supplier to enquire if you are eligible for a business electricity tariff. If you signed a business electricity contract through a broker, then contact your broker.

Generally, business electricity rates are cheaper per kWh than domestic electricity rates. This comes about due to larger amounts of electricity that businesses use, resulting in suppliers offering them cheaper rates. Due to this lower rate, business electricity tariffs usually include a higher standing charge than domestic users, as well as other charges, such as CCL. 

That doesn’t mean that businesses have a lower electricity bill. Since they tend to use more electricity than households, their bills will be higher.

Your switch will not be disrupted, as you will be paying your previous supplier until the switch happens. Also, switching electricity suppliers doesn’t involve any infrastructural changes, so you will have electricity throughout the switching process.

Businesses with a peak electricity usage of 100 KVA (Kilo Volt Amperes) or higher at least three times a year must install a half-hourly meter.

A half-hourly meter communicates electricity usage with your supplier every half hour, ensuring your usage is as accurate as possible - and by extension your business electricity bill will also be as accurate as possible.

Your unit rate is the cost of the electricity that your business uses. It is billed in pence per kWh and varies depending on what is agreed with your supplier in your business electricity contract.

The standing charge is included to cover the cost of network maintenance. It is billed daily, again depending on what your contract says. Some business electricity contracts may even have a standing charge of zero, but those are rare and usually compensate with a higher unit rate.

VAT for business electricity is generally 20%, but some eligible businesses, such as charities, qualify for the same VAT rate as domestic users, i.e. 5%.

The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax for businesses that use high energy to encourage them to be more environmentally conscious. It is set by the government every year. The charge CCL for business electricity for April 2024 is 0.775p per kWh.

Not all businesses need to pay CCL - there are exemptions, including the following:

• - Businesses where a domestic contract supplies energy
  
  

• - Charitable organisations
  
  

• - Businesses that use less than 1000 kWh of electricity in an average month
  
  

• - Businesses that have registered a Climate Change Agreement (CCA)
  
  
• - Businesses involved in specific construction, manufacturing or metal production may also be exempt.
  
  

Read more about CCL exemptions on the Gov. uk website.