Business energy comparison

Employee at work

Compare business energy

bullet point

Business energy is different. No price cap & no cooling off

bullet point

Compare, switch & renew business energy to beat price volatility

bullet point

Bionic is the comparison site for your small business

By clicking 'Compare Today's Business Energy Prices' you agree for us to search your current energy supplier and usage through industry held data. Enter manually.

Image

We compare a vetted panel of trusted UK business energy suppliers

Why compare and switch business energy suppliers?


There are several reasons people switch. Saving money is usually high on most people's list of priorities, and it doesn't always pay to stick with the same business energy supplier. Here are three good reasons why thousands of businesses compare and switch business energy suppliers with Bionic:

  • Dodge out-of-contract rates - If you’re suddenly paying ridiculous rates, you might be out of contract. And being loyal to your supplier doesn’t always pay off. Switching now could shave money off your monthly bill, and if you really don’t want to switch, we’ll do the heavy lifting and negotiate with your current supplier. 
  • Pay less for longer - We don’t just look at price, we listen to what your business needs. Sometimes it makes more sense to lock in a lower rate for a longer period. This gives you peace of mind for longer in an unpredictable market, so you can sit back and relax. 
  • Dependable suppliers – No one wants the hassle of their energy supplier going bust. We work with a panel of trusted suppliers who offer a reliable service along with great rates. We’ll manage the admin so you can get back to running your business. 

How Bionic business energy comparison works

How Bionic Works

No long forms

Start a business energy comparison with just your postcode. We use secure smart data to find the details we need to run your quote.

How Bionic Works

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.

How Bionic Works

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 energy 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 energy 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 energy 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

Tick

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.

Tick

Sort all your business essentials in one place

Bionic is a one-stop shop for business energy, 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.

Or speak to one of our team now on 0800 860 6833

Bionic provides the business switching services for many well known brands

Compare The MarketU SwitchJust EatConfused.comStarling BankUK PowerMoney SupermarketMoney

What’s the best energy supplier for your business?

We compare quotes from a panel of suppliers to find a deal that works for your business. If you’d prefer to switch to any specific suppliers on the list, let us know.

British GasBG LiteBritish Gas Plus
Crown Gas & PowerEDF EnergyOpus Energy
ScottishPowerSmartest EnergySSE
TotalEnergiesValda EnergyYĂŒ Energy

If you run a large, high-energy consumption business, we offer a range of additional services, including bespoke procurement, bill validation, metering and data collection, and meters for multiple sites. We can also compare deals from a range of other providers, including: 

CoronaEngieEon
HavenHudsonNpower
OrstedSmartestSqueaky

To find out more, check out our guide to large and industrial business energy.

How much should your business pay for energy?

When you compare business energy rates, it's unlikely that the rates you're quoted will be cheaper than the rates you're currently paying. This is because inflation means prices tend to go up over time. If you're renewing after a long-term fixed deal, rates may have risen considerably since you last took out a new contract.

And even though energy prices have been coming down since they spiked in 2022, and the market has become less volatile, rates are still higher than at any point since about September 2021.

At Bionic, we aim to find the best possible rates for your next energy contract compared to what you would be facing elsewhere or your current supplier’s out-of-contract rates. Unless you signed a contract when prices were at their highest, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get rates lower than those you’re currently paying.

Our experts will support you with the switch, but it always helps to be armed with a bit of knowledge before you run a business energy comparison. When looking for the best business energy rates, it’s worth knowing what rates similar-sized businesses are paying.

To find out what the average business gas and business electricity prices per kWh are in August 2024, check out the table below:

Latest business energy rates in September 2024

Business sizeElectricityGas
Micro Business25.6p per kWh8.0p per kWh
Small Business25.5p per kWh7.3p per kWh
Medium Business26.9p per kWh7.1p per kWh
Large Business25.0p per kWh7.2p per kWh

Note: Prices are correct as of October 2024. 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 on contracts sold by Bionic from October 1 to October 8, 2024.

Latest business energy rates by supplier

SupplierGas unit rate (kWh)Gas standing charge (daily)Electricity unit rate (kWh)Electricity standing charge (daily)
British Gas7.6p104.2p25.9p51.5p
BG Lite7.3p79.3p25.6p54.2p
EDF Energy7.5p41.9p26.0p58.0p
EON Next8.0p35.5p27.4p39.9p
ScottishPower6.6p35.1p24.6p77.3p
Valda Energy6.9p41.7p24.1p64.7p
Yu Energy7.0p30.5p24.5p69.2p

Note: Prices are correct as of October 2024. 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 on contracts sold by Bionic from October 1 to October 8, 2024.

Latest business gas rates

To find out what unit rates and standing charges your business should be paying, head over to our business gas page for up-to-date prices and rates.

Latest business electricity rates

To find out what unit rates and standing charges your business should be paying, head over to our business electricity page for up-to-date prices and rates.

How much energy does your business use?

The average amount of energy a business uses will depend upon the size of the business, along with how and why it uses energy.

Energy usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and to give you an idea of how much energy a business like yours should be using, below shows general usage for small business and medium businesses.

What is an average business energy bill in October 2024?

The amount you pay for your energy will depend upon the type of deal your business is on, how and when you use energy, as well as the energy efficiency of your workplace. The size and location of your business will also play a part.

But, to give you a rough idea of how much you should be paying, check out the following estimates:

Business sizeEstimated annual gas billEstimated annual electricity bill
Micro BusinessÂŁ923
(based on annual usage of 10,000kWh) 
ÂŁ2,758
(based on annual usage of 10,000kWh) 
Small BusinessÂŁ1,807
(based on annual usage of 22,500kWh) 
ÂŁ5,924
(based on annual usage of 22,500kWh) 
Medium BusinessÂŁ3,546
(based on annual usage of 47,500kWh) 
ÂŁ12,942
(based on annual usage of 47,500kWh) 
Large BusinessÂŁ4,885
(based on annual usage of 65,000kWh) 
ÂŁ13,914
(based on annual usage of 55,000kWh) 

To learn more about business energy bills, check out our guide to understanding business energy bills.

Note: Prices are correct as of October 2024. 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 on contracts sold by Bionic from October 1 to October 8, 2024.

Is the government offering any help for high business energy bills?

Since 2021, the government has had several schemes to help businesses struggling with high energy bills. The latest scheme, the Energy Bills Discount Scheme ended on March 31, 2024. Since energy prices have come down since the spike we saw in 2022, no further government support has been announced.

Remember, there is no price cap like there is for home energy, which means prices can be volatile. Even though rates are lower than the spike we saw in 2022, they are still much higher than pre-pandemic levels - and although we can’t predict the market, historically rates tend to rise annually.

That's why it still makes sense to do a business energy comparison and compare business energy suppliers to find the lowest possible rates. Getting a fixed deal means you'll not be affected by any further price volatility and help you avoid rolling on to your suppliers' (usually more expensive) out-of-contract rates.

What types of business energy deals are available?

When comparing new business energy deals, there are four main types of tariffs to choose from: 

Each is designed to meet the different needs of business energy users. To find out more, go to our guide on business energy tariffs

What affects business energy prices?

It might feel like energy prices are always rising, but they actually fluctuate, which can make the timing of your switch all the more important. There are a number of reasons why prices go up and down:

What is the difference between business energy and household energy?

There are a number of ways that business energy contracts differ from domestic energy deals​, including:

The rules are slightly different if you work or run your business from home or if you're classed as a micro business. To find out more, check out our guide micro business energy.

Business Energy FAQs

To help you understand more about switching business energy, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Is Opus Energy still trading?

Opus Energy hasn’t gone bust, but it will cease trading from September this year when EDF Energy will take over its current non-domestic energy contracts. 

For more information, check out the section “Has Opus Energy gone bust” in our guide explaining what you should do if your business energy supplier goes bust or ceases trading. 

If you’re on a fixed Opus tariff, EDF has confirmed your prices, terms and conditions will stay the same for the duration of your contract. 

If you’re on a variable tariff, this will be matched to the closest EDF equivalent.   

If you’re affected, give Bionic a call to discuss your options. 

Does the energy price cap apply to businesses?

No, there is no price cap on business energy rates, it only applies to domestic rates. Business energy and household energy are different, this has largely to do with how energy is bought and sold, and the way contracts are drawn up.

For domestic customers, the price cap is reviewed every three months. Although this doesn't directly affect non-domestic rates, it's worth keeping an eye on it to see whether energy prices are expected to go up. If the price cap review says the level of the cap will rise, it's probably a good idea to review your existing business energy contract and compare rates.

What are the best business energy deals currently available?

Business energy prices are always changing. The only way to make sure you’re on the best deal is to carry out a business energy comparison 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.

Who is the cheapest business energy supplier?

Because of the way business energy is bought and sold, rates are constantly changing. Different suppliers offer various deals depending on when you compare and switch - so the suppliers that offer the cheapest rates are always changing. When it comes to securing a reliable business energy deal, price isn’t the only thing you should consider though – you need to make you choose a deal that best suits your business needs.

Are business energy tariffs cheaper than household energy tariffs?

Although business energy bills are often more expensive than domestic energy bills, there are several reasons why this might be. Businesses often use more energy and don't benefit from dual fuel discounts. 

A number of costs go into the total amount you pay for each month. To work out whether business energy tariffs are cheaper than household ones, it's worth looking at those costs that are standard on both types of bills:

  • Unit costs - This is the amount you pay for the energy you use and rates are usually cheaper for business users and domestic customers. As a business customer, the unit rate you pay is determined by the size of your business, the amount of energy it uses, and the length of your contract. Domestic energy users generally pay a set amount based on the type of fixed-rate tariff they choose.
  • Standing charge - This is a fixed daily amount that you pay regardless of the amount of energy you use. This covers the cost of supplying gas and electricity to your premises and keeping it connected to the energy network. This cost is often more expensive for business energy users.
  • VAT - This is usually the biggest cost difference between business and household energy bills. While households pay a rate of 5% VAT on energy bills, VAT on business energy bills is 20%, although a discounted VAT rate of 5% is available for certain businesses. Find out more at our guide to VAT on gas and electricity for business.


When can I switch business energy supplier?

  • When your switching window opens - this is a timeframe during which you can compare and switch suppliers. Your switching window will depend on your supplier and the type of deal you are currently on.
  • When you’ve moved into a new business premises - If you don’t organise a new energy deal as soon as you move, you’ll be placed onto ‘deemed rates’ and these are always more expensive than any you’ll find on a negotiated deal. 
  • As soon as possible - Energy prices are always changing and although we’ve seen a drop in prices since the peak in lockdown, historically, they rise annually. So if you lock in your next deal earlier, you’re more likely to save than leaving it until your contract is up.


What is my switching window?

Your switching window is the earliest point at which you can compare prices and arrange a new deal, and it’s the responsibility of your supplier to let you know when this window opens. As standard, this will be 90 days before the end date of your contract, but timescales can differ so always check your contract. And if you run a microbusiness, bear in mind that the rules around switching are different to those of other SMEs.

However long your switching window, your supplier must provide you with written confirmation of it and also explain their automatic renewal policy and the terms of their deemed contracts.

What is a letter of authority (LOA)?

When you compare business energy prices and switch with any broker, comparison site or third-party intermediary (TPI), you’ll need to sign a Letter of Authority (LoA).

As this is a recognised legal document, it follows a standard format and states that while a third party can gather information, negotiate and submit notice of termination on your behalf, they do not have the right to agree a contract without your consent.

When you switch with Bionic, signing this letter confirms that you’ve given us permission to handle the switch with both your old and new suppliers. But we can’t agree to a contract on your behalf until you’ve signed the LOA. This means you stay in complete control of the switch.

What information do I need when switching my business energy?

When you switch with Bionic, we use smart data to find a lot of the information we need to help you switch to a better deal. This means we only need your postcode to start a business energy comparison.

We’ll take care of the switch for you, and even look after your renewals to make sure you never overpay for energy again.

How long does it take to switch business energy suppliers?

Business energy switches usually take around six weeks to complete, but it all depends on when your current contract expires - even if you agree on rates well in advance of your contract's end date, you won't be switched to your new supplier until this deal has expired.

If you're on a non-domestic energy deal then you can only agree to a new contract when your current one is up for renewal. This can be anything up to ten months before the contract's end date, so it's worth keeping an eye on the date. If you sign up for the Bionic Digital Renewal service, we can take care of this for you.

Can I switch business energy if I'm in debt with my current supplier?

If you're in debt with your current supplier, they'll object to your switch until the debt is cleared.

Will my business be disrupted when I switch suppliers?

No. The switching process is usually straightforward, and your business will face no disruption when you change supplier. And you won't need to worry about your new provider installing anything at your business premises, as they’ll use the same pipes and cables as your old supplier.

What happens to my energy deal when I move business premises?

If you’re moving into a new business premises, your energy contract will either be transferred to the new property, or it will be cancelled. If it’s cancelled, you’ll be on an expensive ‘deemed rates’ contract with that property’s existing supplier, and you should set up a new deal as soon as possible.

To find more, check out our guide to your business energy when relocating.

Can I switch energy suppliers if I run a large or industrial business?

Yes, you can still switch if you're a large or industrial business. If you use a large amount of energy or have a half-hourly meter, energy suppliers will categorise you under a large business classification.

At Bionic, we have a team dedicated to large business energy users and offer a bespoke procurement and bill validation service. To find out more, visit our guide to industrial and large business energy.

Do you need a business energy contract if you work from home?

If you work from home, even as a sole trader, you may be eligible for a business energy deal. While you don’t necessarily need to take out a business contract, doing so means you can take advantage of cheaper business rates by running a commercial energy comparison.

To qualify for a commercial business contract, you’ll need to prove that you work from home and that more than half of the energy you use there is for business purposes, this applies if you are a sole trader or run a micro business. Find out more about energy contracts if you work from home in our guide.

Do you offer energy price comparison for small businesses?

Yes, British small businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a big part in our customer community. If you run a micro business then your contract might work differently to other non-domestic energy contracts. For more information, and to find out whether you run a micro business, check out our guide to micro business energy contracts

What happens when my business energy contract ends?

When your business energy contract ends, you'll automatically be rolled onto your supplier’s more expensive out-of-contract rates - to avoid overpaying, you’ll need to do a business energy comparison and switch energy suppliers, or switch to a better deal with your current supplier.

Depending on your supplier, you may be rolled onto a new fixed-term contract – often with slightly higher rates – although this is becoming less common. Alternatively, you might be moved on to a 30-day rolling contract until you formally organise a new one.

Are business energy contracts legally binding?

Yes. Energy contracts are legally binding, and you don't need to physically sign one -  you can agree to a contract over the phone. That’s why it’s best to talk through your contract details or see everything in writing before you agree to sign.

Can you opt out of your automatic renewal scheme?

If you don’t arrange a new fixed energy deal to start when your current contract ends, your existing supplier will automatically renew your contract. The good news is that this means you won’t be left without an energy supplier. The bad news is that you’ll be placed on your supplier’s more expensive out-of-contract rates.

You can switch from these contracts at any time. If you find yourself in this position, you should compare quotes and switch to a fixed rate as soon as possible.  When signing up for your new contract, you have the option to opt into our automatic renewal scheme.

When you switch with Bionic, our Digital Renewal service means you never need to worry about being hit by an expensive contract gap. Our tech-enabled experts can keep an eye on the date of your renewal window and compare deals on your behalf. If you like the deals we’ve chosen, we can switch contracts without you having to lift a finger.

What are out-of-contract rates?

Out-of-contract rates are a default tariff that your supplier uses when:

  • Your current contract has ended and you haven’t arranged a new one with your existing energy provider or another supplier.
  • Your switch to another energy supplier has been delayed, meaning there’s a gap between the end of one contract and the beginning of another.

The only way to avoid paying out-of-contract rates is to sign up to a new energy deal, either with your current supplier or a new one. 

The simplest way to get an energy deal that meets the unique demands of your business is to let the tech-powered experts at Bionic do the leg work for you. We work closely with a selected panel of trusted energy suppliers, to make sure you get great rates and outstanding service.

What should you consider when choosing an energy deal?

Whichever type of tariff you choose, you’ll need to bear in mind that business energy suppliers don’t offer dual fuel deals - even if you agree to an energy deal with the same supplier, these will still be two separate energy contracts.

And consider that the rates you pay will depend upon a number of factors, including how much energy you use, where your business is located, and its financial situation - a poor credit score could see you paying higher rates, as your business is seen as a higher risk.

What does MPAN and MPRN mean?

MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration number, and is used by suppliers to identify the electricity supply at your property. Also known as the ‘Suppy Number’ or ‘S Number’, this is a 21-digit number that begins with an ‘S’ and should be displayed on your electricity bill, but not on the meter itself.

MPRN stands for Meter Point Reference Number, and is used by suppliers to identify the gas supply at your property. Also known as an ‘M Number’, your MRPN will be between six and ten digits, which you can find on your business gas bill or on your meter.

For everything you need to know about meter numbers, check out Bionic’s guide to MPAN and MPRN.

What are multi-site meters?

If you run an energy-intensive business that requires more than one meter, or you operate across a number of different sites, you might have multiple energy contracts, with multiple contract end dates from multiple suppliers.

If this is the case, a multi-site energy contract could save you time and money, as it will cover the billing for more than one meter, whether at a single business premises or in multiple locations. To find out more, check out our guide to multi-site energy.

Our experts share essential knowledge on business energy

Not your usual boring business content!

Not your usual boring business content!

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

Join the conversation on our
social networks

Share your thoughts with our experts and other business owners