Business electricity is an electricity supply that is generated and sold for commercial use. Although business electricity comes from the same sources as home electricity (and even from the same supplier, in some cases), the way commercial energy deals are structured means it can't be used to power your home.
If you work or run your business from home, you should be able to switch to a business energy deal so long as more than half of the electricity you use is to power your business. Although you can include lighting and heating, appliances like fridges and freezers don't count.
If you're unsure which is the right type of electricity contract for your business, the tech-enabled experts at Bionic can help steer you in the right direction.
We compare business electricity prices from a panel of trusted UK energy suppliers and talk you through the options to make sure you get the right contract for your business.
How Bionic business electricity comparison works
No long forms
Start a business electricity comparison with just your postcode. We use secure smart data to find the details we need to run your quote.
We’ll do the comparison for you
Once we know more about the needs of your business, we'll compare quotes and exclusive deals from our panel of trusted UK suppliers.
We'll talk you through the quotes
One of our experts will explain the quotes on screen and answer any questions. You choose the best deal and we’ll handle the rest.
Your Bionic comparison is free.
If you decide to switch, we’ll be paid a commission by the new supplier that is included in the prices we quote.
Why it’s better to talk
Switching business electricity is more complicated than switching domestic energy. That's why 75% of business owners say they'd sooner speak to someone to get their questions answered. Our tech-enabled experts are on hand to help business owners just like you.
Look behind headline savings figures
Business electricity prices are calculated with many ‘moving parts’, like standing charges, unit rates, and other fees. We’ll help you look behind the headline figures to see which deals will result in savings for your business.
Tailor your price
Why accept the first price you’re given? As the UK’s market leader for business electricity comparison, we get exclusive rates from our panel of trusted UK energy suppliers, and can tailor prices to suit your business’s needs.
Make your new contract more likely to go live
Bionic has a dedicated team who manage your old and new suppliers to save you the hassle. When we talk, we can make sure all the details are exactly right so your new contract is more likely to go live smoothly.
All part of the service with Bionic
Proactive comparison for your next contract
Bionic’s Digital Renewal service makes everything much quicker and easier when it’s time to sort your next energy contract. We’ll proactively do your next comparison for you, and share it by email. You then choose the deal you want online, and we’ll take care of everything else for you.
Sort all your business essentials in one place
Bionic is a one-stop shop for business electricity, business insurance, business connectivity (phone line and broadband), and business finance (loans). Save yourself time and hassle by getting all your business products sorted in one place. Just one name to remember for any of your essential services.
If you've never sorted a fixed electricity deal, then you'll be overpaying for power. This is because your supplier will have placed you on out-of-contract rates. These are usually among the most expensive and are vulnerable to price volatility.
Switching to a fixed-rate deal will often see you land more competitive rates and offer bill stability for the length of your contract. This is because the unit rate and standing charge are fixed. When you're out of contract, these rates can vary depending on market prices.
Business electricity rates can be volatile, with prices changing daily. The last 12 months or so have been particularly volatile as we've seen wholesale prices - the amount suppliers pay for the energy they sell to homes and businesses - hit record highs. This has caused energy prices to go up and down quite significantly, which is why it's always worth comparing quotes to see if you can lock in a competitive fixed rate.
But why switch suppliers when you can just sort a fixed contract with your current supplier?
Unfortunately, loyalty often doesn't pay when it comes to energy contracts. Suppliers will often keep the best rates to entice new customers. This means that switching suppliers could help you bag better rates than sticking with your current one. At Bionic, we compare quotes from a panel of trusted UK energy suppliers to help ensure you get competitive rates alongside great service and a reliable supply.
If you'd sooner stick with your current supplier, we might be able to negotiate a better renewal rate. So it's still worth getting in touch with our tech-enabled experts.
Will the Energy Bills Discount Scheme cut your business electricity bills?
To qualify for the scheme, you must have a non-domestic electricity contract that was signed on or after December 1, 2021. If you're on a variable deal, deemed rates, or out-of-contract rates, then you'll also be eligible. But you won't get the discount if your rates fall below a certain threshold.
Here's an example of how the discount could affect the bills of a pub that uses 4 MWh (4,000 kWh) of electricity a month. If it signed a fixed contract in January 2023, its monthly electricity bill will work out at around £1,796 (to keep it simple we'll leave out the standing charges as these aren't affected by the scheme).
Under the scheme, it would save about £80 a month, which works out to around £960 a year. Here's how:
The fixed unit rate agreed with the electricity supplier
44.9p
Government threshold unit rate
30.2p
Difference between the fixed rate and threshold rate (44.9p - 30.2p)
14.7p
Discounted unit rate (14.7p - 2.0p)
12.7p
Monthly electricity bill before discount
£1,796
Monthly electricity bill after discount
£1,716
Total saving on the monthly electricity bill
£80
Note: The figures shown are based on the average gas and electricity unit rates quoted by Bionic for a microbusiness from January 3 to January 6, 2023. For more information on the latest energy rates, check out the Bionic blog on energy prices.
What are the latest business electricity rates?
If you work from dedicated business premises, then it’s likely you’ll benefit from a business electricity deal. When it comes to business electricity, the size of your business can be determined by the amount of energy it uses.
To give you an idea of how much your business should be paying for energy, here are the latest business electricity rates per kWh and standing charges.
Business size
Electricity unit price per kWh
Electricity daily standing charge
Micro Business
30.0p
92.3p
Small Business
29.3p
84.0p
Medium Business
30.1p
73.8p
Large Business
27.8p
68.4p
Note: Rates and bill size may vary according to your meter type and business location. The prices you’re quoted may be different from the averages shown. The figures shown are the average unit rates and standing charges quoted by Bionic per business size from November 1 to November 14. Rates do not include any Energy Bills Discount Scheme discount.
Check out our guide to average business energy usage and rates to learn more about the latest business energy rates.
If you run a large business, Bionic offers the following:
The rates you pay, the type of contract you're on, the supplier you're with, and the amount of energy you use all contribute to the cost of your business energy bills. But we've looked at the latest rates and crunched the numbers to give you an idea of how much a business of your size should be paying each year:
Business size
Annual usage
Cost per year
Micro Business
5,000 to 15,000 kWh
£3,337 (based on annual usage of 10,000 kWh)
Small Business
15,000 to 25,000 kWh
£6,889 (based on annual usage of 22,500 kWh)
Medium Business
25,000 to 55,000 kWh
£14,567 (based on annual usage of 47,500 kWh)
Large Business
More than 55,000 kWh
£15,540 (based on annual usage of 65,000 kWh)
Note: Rates and bill size may vary according to your meter type and business location. The prices you’re quoted may be different from the averages shown. The figures shown are the average unit rates and standing charges quoted by Bionic per business size from November 1 to November 14, 2023. Rates do not include any Energy Bill Relief Scheme discount.
What costs make up a business electricity bill?
When working out the cost of your business electricity bills, there are two main things to look out for:
Unit rate – Measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), this is the amount you pay for each unit of gas your business uses. If you're on a fixed tariff, this is the bit that stays the same for the length of your contract.
Standing charge – This is a daily amount that is charged regardless of whether or not you use any gas. It covers the cost of managing your service and delivering gas to your premises.
But it's not just wholesale prices that affect the rates you'll be quoted. Business electricity suppliers base their pricing on the size of your business size and its electricity consumption. And you should always find out whether the rates you're quoted include VAT. Although a reduced 5% VAT rate is available to certain businesses, most will pay 20% VAT on energy bills, which can really bump up your bills. If you're VAT registered, you should be able to claim this back though. You can find out more in our guide to VAT on business energy.
You may also need to pay other fees, such as the Climate Change Levy, Renewable Obligation, and the Feed-In Tariff. For more details, check out our guide to guide to understanding business energy bills.
If you're wondering how wholesale pricing is calculated and why a drop in wholesale prices isn't immediately reflected in the rates you pay or are quoted, then our guide to how energy is bought and sold explains how the UK energy market works.
How does business electricity differ from domestic electricity?
One of the first differences you’ll notice between business and home electricity deals is that there’s no default option to double up with your supplier and take out a dual fuel deal. But if your supplier offers business gas alongside business electricity, there’s nothing stopping you from using the same supplier for both.
Business energy contracts also usually last longer than domestic deals. While most households will be offered a one-year fixed contract, business owners can lock rates in for up to four years. Although business electricity deals offer less flexibility when switching (there’s rarely an early-termination option), locking your rates in for longer is a great way to protect against energy price hikes.
When you compare business electricity deals, you’ll notice a few different tariff types available. Bionic’s tech-enabled experts will talk you through your options to ensure you get the right deal.
Fixed - A fixed-term tariff usually lasts between one and four years, during which time the unit cost and standing charges stay the same. Although your bills will still vary depending on how much energy you use, the actual rates you pay are fixed for the deal's term.
Variable - The unit rate you pay on variable tariffs goes up or down in line with the current market prices. If prices drop, you’ll pay less, but energy prices are more likely to increase and leave you paying more.
Green energy – Green energy deals offer more environmentally-friendly energy by offering electricity from renewable sources, or by offsetting power produced from non-renewable sources by funding other green initiatives.
Deemed - If you’ve recently moved into new business premises but didn’t sign up with an energy supplier, the supplier that provided energy to the previous occupant will most likely continue to supply the premises. As a result, you’ll usually be placed on “deemed” rates, which are considerably more expensive than the rates offered to new customers.
Out-of-contract - If you don’t arrange a new energy deal before your current one ends, then your supplier can automatically roll you onto another deal. Rates are usually more expensive than fixed-rate deals. If you run a micro business, this contract can’t last more than 12 months.
Who supplies my business electricity?
If you're on a long-term fixed electricity deal, you'll probably not need to think about your energy supplier until your contract is up for renewal. But what if something goes wrong and you can't remember who supplies your business electricity?
Checking your emails or most recent bill is the simplest way to find out who your supplier is. If you're still drawing a blank, you'll need to call your regional electricity distributor. Check the table below for the phone number of your region's distributor:
Region
Number
North Scotland
0345 0262554
South & Central Scotland
0300 1010300
North East England & Yorkshire
0800 01113332
North West England
0800 1954141
North Wales, North Shropshire, Cheshire & Merseyside
0330 1010300
South Wales & South West England
0800 0963080
East & West Midlands
0800 0963080
Central Southern England
0345 0262554
Eastern England, South East England and London
0800 0294285
If you've switched with Bionic, you can give us a call and we'll let you know who your current supplier is and compare quotes for your next contract if the time is right.
At Bionic, we only compare business electricity prices from a panel of trusted UK suppliers. This means we can have confidence that you’ll be getting quality customer service and supply alongside great rates.
To find out more about a particular supplier, click on relevant the name above.
Business Electricity FAQs
To help you understand more about switching business electricity, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
How much is the Energy Bills Discount Scheme discount on electricity rates?
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will replace the Energy Bills Relief Scheme on April 1, 2022. If your business qualifies for the scheme, your electricity unit rate will be discounted by up to 2.0p per kWh. If your business is in the Energy Trade Intensive Industries category, your electricity unit rate will be discounted by up to 8.9p per kWh.
How long does it take to switch business electricity?
Although you can compare business electricity prices and sign up to a new deal as soon as your switching window opens - usually up to six months before your deal ends - the actual switch won’t take place until your contract expires.
Business energy switches usually take around six weeks to complete. To make sure you’re not rolled onto your supplier’s more expensive rates, you should compare prices and arrange a new deal about two months before your current contract ends.
Will switching interrupt my energy supply?
No. Both your current and the new supplier will work together to organise a date that your supply is transferred, meaning the provision of power to your premises remains unaffected. And your electricity will still be supplied through the existing cables, meaning there’s no need for digging or drilling at your workplace.
Where can I find my MPAN?
You should be able to find your MPAN on your energy bill. MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration number, but is also known as the ‘Suppy Number’ or ‘S Number’. You should be able to easily identify it as it’s a 21-digit number that begins with an ‘S’. Although it’s used to identify the supply meter at your property, you won’t find your MPAN displayed anywhere on your meter.
To find out more about meter numbers, check out Bionic’s guide to MPAN and MPRN.
Will my business electricity meter need to be replaced if I switch supplier?
If you have a standard electricity meter, it’s unlikely it will need to be replaced when you switch. But if you have a smart meter, you may need a new meter if the one you have isn’t compatible with your new supplier. For more information, check out our guide to smart meters for business.
What contract types are available to me?
The types of contract available to you will depend on the supplier and your circumstances, but you’ll most likely be offered one of the following four types of deal:
Fixed term business gas and electricity tariffs
Blend and extend tariffs
Flex approach tariffs
Pass through tariffs
If you don’t sign up to a new contract before your current one expires, your supplier will roll you onto a more expensive rate. For more information, check out our guide to business energy contracts.
What should I do when moving business premises?
There are two things that can happen to your energy contract when moving business premises:
It will be transferred to your new premises
It will be cancelled and you will have to set up a new contract at your new premises
Yes. There is a standard VAT of 20% applied to your energy bill automatically. It's possible to reduce this to 5% if you only use small amounts of fuel. To find out more, check out our guide to VAT on business energy.
What is half hourly electricity?
If your business has a peak electricity demand of 100KVA, you’ll need to have a half-hourly meter installed. Half hourly electricity meters automatically submit readings to your supplier every 30 minutes, to help ensure your bills are accurate.
If you have a half hourly meter installed, the MPAN will have ‘00’ after the ‘S’. For more information, check out our guide to half hourly electricity.
Can my business benefit from the solar panels Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme?
If you applied to the FiT scheme before April 1, 2019, then your business should have been enrolled on the scheme. This means you can make money by selling back to the National Grid any surplus energy generated by solar panels at your premises.
The amount of money you can make depends upon the number of solar panels you have, and your supplier must be a registered FiT licensee.
Can I switch to a green electricity deal?
Switching to a business electricity supplier that uses renewable sources could be good for both your energy bills and the image of your business - showing that you're doing your bit for the environment can go a long way with your customers.
Green electricity is available across the majority of the UK, and is generated by sunlight, wind, rain, plants and geothermal heat. Speak to our tech-enabled team if you want to compare quotes from green energy suppliers.
What are the best business electricity deals currently available?
Business electricity prices are always changing. The only way to make sure you’re on the best deal is to compare prices and switch. And remember, signing up to a new deal as soon as your switching window opens can help you lock in lower rates and beat any energy price rises.
Can I cancel my business electricity contract early?
Business energy contracts don’t offer an early termination option. If you want to cancel your business electricity contract, you’ll need to contact your supplier when your switching window opens. Your contract will still run until its scheduled end date, but cancelling it means your supplier won’t be able to automatically roll you onto a more expensive deal and you can sign up to a better deal with a new supplier. To save you time and hassle, Bionic can do all this on your behalf and will do so automatically as part of our Digital Renewals service.
How can I compare kWh consumption on business electricity quotes?
When you compare business electricity prices with Bionic, we use your electricity consumption data to find the most accurate quotes for your business.
What information do I need to compare business electricity prices?
At Bionic, we use smart data to get the info we need to run a business electricity comparison. This means we only need your business name and postcode to start a business energy comparison.
Do electricity prices and rates vary by region?
Yes, energy prices vary depending on which part of the country your business is based. The main reason for these regional variations are:
Supply and demand - How much energy suppliers are able to sell to customers in that region.
The cost paid by suppliers - How much energy suppliers buy from the national grid in that region.
Transportation costs - How much the local energy distributors for the region charge suppliers for that energy. This is why energy is often more expensive in rural areas.
With more electricity being generated by sustainable sources, prices are also dropping in areas that can produce their own renewable energy.
Our experts share essential knowledge on business electricity
Sign up to The Backbone, our free fortnightly newsletter for anyone who owns, runs, or works in one of the millions of businesses across the UK. Get the inside track from real business owners just like you
We use cookies to offer you the best experience online by understanding how you use our site.
By clicking 'Accept all’ you agree to the use of cookies. To manage your preferences choose ‘Manage preferences’ and if you would like to know more please view our privacy & cookie policy.
Your cookie preferences
You can manage your cookie preferences in the sections below. If you would like to know please view our privacy & cookie policy.
Essential
These cookies are essential for the functionality and security of our website. Without them, we can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to navigate around our website and use its features, including access to any secure areas of the site.
Marketing
These cookies help us understand which products, services and offers may be the most relevant to you. We may use this data to tailor the ads you see on our own and other websites and apps.
Performance
These cookies let us know how you’re using our site. This information helps us understand how our products and services are being used and what we can do to improve them. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymous.