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Here’s a concise step‑by‑step guide to switching business energy suppliers with our partner:
Get a personalised quote – Start by entering your business postcode (or address) into our comparison tool. The system finds your meter details and typical usage to generate a list of quotes from multiple suppliers.
Gather your information – To ensure accurate pricing, have your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) for gas and Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) for electricity ready, along with your business address, desired contract start date and an estimate of your annual consumption. This information is usually on your latest bill.
Compare and choose a deal – Review the available tariffs and pick the one that fits your needs. You’re free to stay with your current supplier if they offer a competitive deal. Both fixed‑rate and variable‑rate tariffs are available, and large users may need specialised meters.
Complete the switch – After you’ve selected a tariff, our partner manages the entire switching process on your behalf. They liaise with the old and new suppliers and keep you updated at each stage. Your energy supply is not interrupted; only the company billing you changes.
Time it right – Plan your switch during the contract’s renewal window—typically one to six months before the end date—to avoid being rolled over onto expensive “out‑of‑contract” rates. If you move premises, the previous tenant’s supplier will keep supplying you at high out‑of‑contract rates until you arrange a new deal.
Separate gas and electricity – Dual‑fuel tariffs are for households only. Businesses must switch gas and electricity separately, though you can still use the same supplier for both fuels by signing separate contracts
Be aware of credit‑score effects – Your company’s credit score may influence which suppliers and tariffs are available, and a lower score could mean higher deposits or additional conditions
Following these steps helps you find the most cost‑effective energy tariff for your business with minimal hassle.
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Written by: EnergySwitch editorial team · Last reviewed: 26 October 2026
Direct answer: There is no single “best” business energy supplier or tariff for every firm. The best contract for your business is the one with the lowest total cost over its term (unit rates, standing charges and any broker fee) on contract terms you can live with (length, exit fees, renewal rules), from a supplier with a decent service record. Business energy is not covered by Ofgem’s price cap, so prices are set by contract and depend on your size, meter, region, credit and when you buy. Government figures show businesses paid an average of 24.51p per kWh for electricity and 5.28p per kWh for gas in April to June 2026 (including Climate Change Levy, excluding VAT), with the smallest users paying far more per unit. To see real prices for your site, compare quotes, then check the contract before you sign.
This page explains what “best” can sensibly mean, how to compare business energy suppliers and tariffs, what the rules say about brokers and commission, and when not to switch. We do not rank suppliers on price and we do not publish star scores. Where we mention a supplier, it is because an official source names it.
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Disclosure: business energy quotes are provided by our partner Love Energy Savings. We may earn a commission if you take a contract through this link. You can still renew with your current supplier or go direct.
Card payment fees are another running cost worth checking. CardRateCheck compares UK card machine fees.
“Best” depends on what your business needs. Ofgem’s advice is to check the type of contract, its length, any fees (including special clauses), what protections you have, whether broker fees or commissions are included in the price, and what happens at the end of the contract. In practice, weigh three things together:
| Priority | What to compare | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Unit rate (p/kWh) and standing charge (p/day), any capacity or availability charges, and any broker fee built into the price. Work out the total over the contract, not just the unit rate. | Your quotes and the contract’s principal terms |
| Contract terms | Fixed or variable, length, exit (termination) fees, notice deadline, and whether it rolls over or moves to out-of-contract rates at the end. | Principal terms and full terms and conditions |
| Service | How the supplier handles complaints, billing and problems. | Citizens Advice non-domestic supplier performance table (below) |
A cheap unit rate on a long contract with a high exit fee can be the wrong choice for a business that may move. A slightly higher fixed price can be the right choice for one that needs a set budget. That is why we show you how to compare rather than naming a “cheapest” supplier.
Citizens Advice has a statutory role to publish energy supplier performance data. Its non-domestic league table ranks suppliers on weighted complaints per 10,000 business customers, so a lower number is better. Complaints that reach the Energy Ombudsman or the Extra Help Unit count for more than first-contact cases. It measures complaint handling only, not price.
| Citizens Advice rank | Supplier | Apr–Jun 2026 | Jan–Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crown Gas and Power | 0.0 | 11.2 |
| 2 | Ecotricity | 41.6 | 0.0 |
| 3 | E.ON Next | 97.4 | 108.0 |
| 4 | Octopus Energy | 135.0 | 138.4 |
| 5 | British Gas | 196.4 | 175.5 |
| 6 | Ruby Energy | 232.1 | 231.6 |
| 7 | Scottish Power | 283.0 | 301.2 |
| 8 | EDF | 413.3 | 382.6 |
| 9 | SSE | 493.0 | 479.0 |
| 10 | Yu Energy | 721.5 | 638.4 |
| 11 | Corona Energy | 789.3 | 976.2 |
| 12 | SmartestEnergy Business | 879.5 | 633.3 |
| 13 | Pozitive Energy | 1,080.3 | 762.7 |
| 14 | Engie | 1,216.7 | 1,272.0 |
| 15 | Maxen Power | 1,982.9 | 3,281.3 |
Citizens Advice says Total Gas and Power is not in the April–June 2026 table because it has not submitted customer numbers since April 2026 (it was 5th in January–March). Suppliers not in the table are not necessarily worse; the table covers the suppliers Citizens Advice includes. Scores can swing a lot from quarter to quarter for smaller suppliers, so look at more than one quarter.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes average prices actually paid by non-domestic users. These are averages across contracts agreed at different times. They are a benchmark, not a quote.
| Measure | Electricity | Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Average, all business sizes | 24.51p | 5.28p |
| Smallest DESNZ band (electricity under 20 MWh a year; gas under 278 MWh a year) | 38.36p | 9.31p |
Smaller users pay more per unit because they buy less energy and fixed costs are spread over fewer units. Full figures by size band and the recent trend are in our guide to business electricity and gas prices per kWh. DESNZ says the next update is due on 17 December 2026.
Household figures such as Ofgem’s £1,723 typical annual bill (October–December 2026) are not business prices. Do not use them to budget for a commercial site.
Ofgem describes these contract types. Not every supplier offers all of them.
| Tariff or contract | How it works | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-rate | Unit rates and standing charges fixed for the contract | Budget certainty; leaving early can mean an exit fee |
| Variable-rate | Prices can rise or fall during the contract, for example with wholesale prices | More exposure to the market in either direction |
| Flexible (structured) | Energy bought in portions over time rather than at one fixed price | Ofgem says these suit large, high-use businesses |
| Rollover / evergreen | Renews automatically at the end of a fixed term if you do nothing | Ofgem says the new term is usually 12 months and may be at a higher rate |
| Out-of-contract | Rates some suppliers charge when a fixed term ends without a new deal | Usually more expensive than fixed-term contracts |
| Deemed | Applies when you move into premises without a contract, or if your supplier fails | Usually higher than negotiated rates; arrange a contract as soon as you move in |
Many suppliers sell renewable-backed business tariffs. Ask what backs the claim (for example renewable certificates or direct supply agreements) and compare the price and terms in the same way as any other contract.
Half-hourly metered and multi-site businesses are usually priced on their own consumption data. Expect to provide interval data, not just an annual kWh estimate, and allow more time for quotes and credit checks.
There is no cooling-off period once you agree a business energy contract, Ofgem says, so do these checks before you say yes, not after.
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Disclosure: quotes come from our partner Love Energy Savings. We may earn a commission if you take a contract through this link.
The timing rules are explained in business energy switching windows explained.
You can arrange a contract yourself or use a broker, consultant or comparison service (Ofgem calls these third-party intermediaries, or TPIs). Ofgem’s rules and advice:
Business comparison through EnergySwitch is free for your organisation to use. Business energy quotes come from our partner Love Energy Savings. EnergySwitch may earn a commission or affiliate fee if you take a contract through this site. We do not rank suppliers, and you are free to decline every quote, renew with your current supplier, or go direct. See our terms of use.
A Letter of Authority (LOA) lets a third party act for your business with suppliers. Depending on the wording, it may let them see your account data, request quotes or switch your supply. Check the scope, the end date and how the third party is paid before you sign. You do not have to appoint a broker to compare or to switch.
Ofgem counts you as a microbusiness if you have fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover or balance sheet of no more than £2 million, or you use up to 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas a year. Your supplier must:
Since 1 July 2024, Ofgem’s Standards of Conduct (the rules that suppliers must treat customers fairly) apply to business customers of every size. Microbusinesses and small businesses can get help from Citizens Advice and take unresolved complaints to the Energy Ombudsman. More detail is in our guide to micro-business energy contracts.
No. Ofgem says you are not protected by the energy price cap if you have a business energy contract. If you work from home on a household meter you are probably on a domestic contract, and domestic rules (including the cap) apply. Compare those on compare gas and electricity. The household cap is explained on our energy price cap hub.
Business bills
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No supplier is best for every business. Compare the total cost of quotes for your own site and usage, the contract terms and the supplier’s service record. For service, Citizens Advice’s non-domestic table for April–June 2026 (published September 2026) placed Crown Gas and Power, Ecotricity and E.ON Next first to third on weighted complaints. That measures complaints, not price.
For most small businesses the choice is between a fixed-rate contract (price certainty, possible exit fees) and a variable one (moves with the market). The best one is the tariff whose total cost and terms suit your budget and plans. Very large users may also consider flexible (structured) contracts.
There is no single published rate. DESNZ figures show businesses paid an average of 24.51p per kWh for electricity and 5.28p per kWh for gas in April–June 2026 (provisional, including CCL, excluding VAT). Your rate depends on your size, meter, region, credit and contract.
No. Ofgem says there is no cooling-off period after you agree a business energy contract, so check the principal terms first.
No. You can arrange a contract yourself. If you use a broker, any fee added to your bill must be shown in the contract’s principal terms for contracts signed on or after 1 October 2024.
Both are on your business energy bill. The MPAN is the electricity supply number; the MPRN is the gas meter point reference.
Depending on your contract, it may roll over onto a new term (Ofgem says usually 12 months, possibly at a higher rate) or move onto out-of-contract rates. Both are usually dearer than a negotiated deal, so compare during your renewal window.
Yes, if you have fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet of no more than £2 million, or you use up to 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas a year.
Only for qualifying supplies. From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, electricity in Great Britain that would have qualified for the 5% reduced rate, including small de minimis business supplies of up to an average of 33 kWh a day, is charged at 0%. Other business electricity remains standard-rated.
No. Switching changes who bills you, not the wires, pipes or meter.
This page is general information, not a quote or financial advice. EnergySwitch does not rank suppliers on price.
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