Relocating your business? This blog tells you all you need to know about change of tenancy for your business energy.
What is Change of Tenancy (CoT)
Moving premises brings plenty to manage. Among them, updating your energy supplier about your move is vital. CoT ensures the right party is billed and stays on the correct contract.
You should notify your supplier about a CoT when:
- You’re moving into a new site
- You’re moving out of your current premises
- The legal occupant or leaseholder of the property changes
It’s important to notify your energy supplier as soon as possible, or you could end up on deemed rates – which are usually much higher than contracted ones.
There are two types of COTs:
- An incoming COT is when you take over a new supply. For example, when you move into a new office.
- An outgoing COT is when you confirm to the supplier you are moving out of the property
What you need to know (according to Ofgem, 27 June 2025)
Act quickly
Notify your current supplier as soon as possible. Submissions can be made by business owners, brokers or another intermediary.
Staying with the same supplier?
If you are staying with the same supplier, you should provide a meter reading and essential documentation like lease agreements, purchase deeds, or rental contracts.
Under new changes as of June 2025, suppliers have 10 working days to review and either:
- Close the old account and open a new one
- Request more information (e.g. bank letters, landlord confirmation)
- Reject the change and detailing the objection
What if your new premises is not supplied by your current supplier?
In this instance, you need to inform your current provider that you are moving premises to a new location that isn’t currently supplied by them.
Notifying your supplier of this will ensure that your business will not be held liable for any charges incurred by tenants that move in after you.
Switching energy supplier?
You will need to notify your current and new supplier if you are planning a switch and submit your tenancy documents to both. The new supplier will initiate the transfer, and the old supplier must agree or explain any rejection.
What to do when moving out of your current business premises
Regardless of if you’re staying with the same supplier or switching to a new one, you need to give your current supplier a meter reading on the day you move out of your old premises. This is to ensure you only pay for the energy you’ve used and not charged for any utilities used by the next occupier.
Giving your energy supplier advanced notice of your move will help things run smoothly and give them a change to either prepare your final bill or arrange the transfer of your contract.
Sometimes supplier ask for the name of the new owner or business your old location to help them set up the new energy supply. If you don’t have this information, refer them to the landlord or managing agent.
You might also be asked for your business gas and electricity meter numbers – Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) for business electricity, and a Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) for business gas at your old premises. You can find this on a recently copy of your energy bill.
Why it matters
Failing to notify your supplier can land your business on deemed (default) rates, generally much higher than contracted rates. Plus, delays or disputes in the review process could mean bring ill incorrectly or losing access to energy services.
High risk COTs
Suppliers will investigate COTs further if it is deemed “high risk”. The most common causes for a high-risk COT are:
- Debt on the account
- A contract that started less than 6-months prior
- Recent COT history
How to make a complaint about CoT
You, your energy broker or a third-party intermediary should contact their energy supplier through their complaints process if you:
- Receive an incorrect or unexpected bill
- Disagree with the supplier decision about your change of tenancy
- Experience delays getting a supplier decision about CoT longer than 10 working days
- Feel that any additional information that the supplier has requested is unreasonable
If you are a Consultiv Utilities customer looking for help submitting a CoT, please reach out to your account manager our email info@consultivutilities.com
Categories: