Switch Business Energy
Get access to our panel of over 20 business energy suppliers and let our energy experts handle your switch to competitive rates.
Why switch business energy suppliers?
There are several good reasons to switch business energy suppliers, from avoiding higher out-of-contract rates to finding a contract that fits how your business uses energy today. Here are the main ones to consider.
Avoid higher rates
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If your fixed contract ends without a new one in place, your supplier will move you onto out-of-contract rates, which are usually higher. Switching before your end date keeps you on cheaper fixed prices.
Find a competitive rate
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Prices vary between suppliers for the same usage. Our experts check rates across our panel of over 20 business energy suppliers so you can see how your current price measures up.
Get full budget certainty
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Switching onto a fixed energy contract locks in your unit rate and standing charges for the full term, making your energy costs easier to plan for.
Match your cusage
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Your business may have grown or changed since you last signed. Switching lets you choose a contract length and type that reflects the energy you use now, including a flexible energy contract for larger users.
Choose green energy
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Switching gives you the option of 100% renewable energy, helping your business work towards its sustainability goals.
Lock in your rate early
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You don’t need to wait until your contract ends to arrange your next one. Our experts can secure a new contract in advance, so there’s no gap when your current deal finishes.
How to switch business energy
Our experts can handle your switch from first enquiry through to your new contract going live. Here’s how we handle your business energy switch:
Share your details
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Fill in the form at the bottom of this page with a few details about your business and the energy you use.
Choose your supplier
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Our experts search our panel of over 20 suppliers and talk you through the options, including unit rates, standing charges and contract lengths, so you can pick the one that suits your business.
We handle the switch
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Once you’ve chosen, you sign a letter of authority, and we arrange everything with your new supplier. Your supply carries on as normal throughout, with no interruption.
When can you switch business energy?
When you can switch business energy depends on where you are in your contract lifecycle:
Switch business electricity
Once you know you’re free to switch, moving your business electricity starts with a few details about your supply and current contract. Our experts can help you find anything you’re missing.
Find your MPAN
Your MPAN is the unique identifier for your electricity connection with the mains. You’ll find it on your electricity bill, and it tells a new supplier exactly which supply to switch.
Check your contract
Having these details to hand means our experts can find quotes that match how your business uses electricity:
- Expected annual consumption in kWh
- Meter type, including whether you’re on half hourly metering
- Your contract end date
- Your current unit rate and standing charge, so you can see how they compare with current business electricity prices
Your connection stays put
Switching supplier doesn’t mean replacing your meter or your electricity connection. Your local DNO continues to look after the network, so your supply carries on as normal and only the company billing you changes.
Switch business gas
Switching business gas follows the same steps as electricity, except your MPRN is used to identify your commercial gas connection. Our experts search our panel of business gas suppliers for you. For business gas, it’s worth considering these points before your switch:
Seasonal usage
If your business uses gas for heating, usage usually peaks in the colder months. Looking at a full year of usage (called expected annual consumption) gives a truer picture when comparing contracts.
What’s in the price
Your gas bill is made up of a unit rate and a standing charge, along with costs such as the Climate Change Levy and the green gas levy. Our experts can show you how your current costs compare with today’s business gas prices.
Can you switch business gas and electricity together?
Yes, many suppliers offer both gas and electricity, so you can move them to the same supplier at the same time. Unlike domestic energy, though, they’re still agreed as two separate contracts, each with its own rates and terms.
Using one supplier for both isn’t always the most cost-effective option. When you compare business energy with us, we look at both fuels separately, so you can get a competitive tariff for each supply.
What should a business compare before switching?
Comparing business energy quotes means looking beyond the headline price to the terms that affect what you pay over the full contract. These are the main things to check.
Unit rate
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This is the price you pay for each kWh of energy you use. Check it against your annual usage to see what it means in pounds, as a small difference adds up quickly for energy-intensive businesses.
Standing charge
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This is the fixed daily amount you pay regardless of how much energy you use. A low unit rate can be offset by a higher standing charge, so always compare the two together.
Contract length
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Longer contracts give you price certainty for more years, while shorter ones let you review the market sooner. Check that the end date fits your plans, such as a lease ending or a planned move.
What’s fixed
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Some contracts fix the full price, while others pass through non commodity costs such as network and policy charges. Check which parts of your price are fixed and which could change.
Exit fees
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Find out what it would cost to leave the contract early. Most fixed contracts charge an exit fee if you end them before the contract end date, so it’s worth knowing the cost if you might want to change supplier before the term is up.
Payment terms
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Check how and when you’ll be billed and how you’re expected to pay, such as by direct debit, and whether this suits how your business manages cash flow.
What can delay or stop a business energy switch?
Most business energy switches go through smoothly, but a few common issues can hold one up or stop it from going ahead. Here’s what to look out for.
Outstanding balance
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Your current supplier can object to a switch if your account has an outstanding balance. Clearing what you owe allows the switch to go ahead.
Still in contract
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If the switch date falls before your current fixed contract ends, your supplier can object. Setting your new contract to start once the old one finishes avoids this.
Incorrect supply details
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A wrong MPAN or MPRN can delay a switch or cause an erroneous transfer, where the wrong supply is moved. Checking your details against a recent bill avoids this.
Change of tenancy not done
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If you’ve moved into new premises, the existing supplier needs to register you as the new occupier before you can switch. Completing your change of tenancy first avoids delays.
Meter services not in place
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Larger sites on half-hourly metering need meter services in place for the new supplier, including MOP, DC and DA contracts. If these aren’t arranged, the switch can be held up.
Missing letter of authority
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We need a signed letter of authority before we can act on your behalf. Without it, we can’t speak to your supplier or arrange your switch.
Switch your business energy today
Tell us about your business and our experts will find a competitive contract for your electricity, gas or both, then handle the switch for you.
Business energy switching FAQs
How long does it take to switch business energy suppliers?
It depends on your situation. If you’re coming to the end of a fixed contract, we’ll line up your new contract to start the day after your current one ends, so the timing follows your contract end date.
If you’re on out-of-contract rates, or on deemed rates after moving premises and completing your change of tenancy, the switch can be as fast as just a few working days.
Will switching interrupt your electricity or gas supply?
No. Your meter, pipes and cables stay exactly as they are, and only the company billing you changes. There’s no work at your premises and no break in supply.
Is there a cooling-off period when switching business energy?
No, business energy contracts don’t come with a legal cooling-off period like domestic contracts do. Once you’ve agreed to a contract, it is binding, so it’s important to check the terms before you commit.
Can a verbal business energy contract be binding when switching?
Yes. A contract agreed over the phone can be just as binding as one signed in writing. The supplier must explain the key terms before you agree and send you the full terms in writing afterwards, so check these carefully when they arrive.
Does it cost money to switch business energy suppliers?
No, suppliers don’t charge you to switch. The switch itself is free, and there’s nothing to pay your new supplier to move your supply across.
The only time you might pay is if you leave a fixed contract before its end date, as most suppliers charge an exit fee for ending early. If you switch at the end of your contract, or while you’re on out-of-contract or deemed rates, there’s no exit fee to pay.
If you use a broker to compare and arrange your contract, you won’t usually get a separate bill for their service. Instead, their fee is usually paid by the supplier and built into your unit rate or standing charge. Ofgem rules mean suppliers must show this cost in your contract’s principal terms, so you can see exactly what you’re paying.