Short answer
To compare UK business energy suppliers properly, request quotes from every B2B supplier currently active on your meter type and usage band, compare unit rates and standing charges separately from pass-through items, and demand that any broker discloses their per-kWh uplift on every quote. Switching takes 4 to 6 weeks and has no impact on supply continuity.
UK business energy is sold through a market most buyers never see. Suppliers price differently for direct quotes versus brokered volume. Brokers vary wildly in panel size, fee disclosure and recommendation discipline. Auto-rollover terms quietly punish inattention. The result: two businesses on identical meters and usage can end up paying very different unit rates, simply because of how they bought.
This guide is the practical walkthrough we wish every business had before signing their first contract. It is opinionated. It assumes you want the best deal, not the easiest path.
Step 1: Understand your meter and your usage
Before anyone can quote you a real price, three things need to be confirmed about your supply.
Meter type
- Single-phase electricity: most small businesses, sub-100 kVA. Profile Class 03 or 04 on Ofgem coding.
- Three-phase electricity: heavier loads, workshops, larger commercial. Profile Class 05-08.
- Half-hourly (HH) electricity: peak demand above 100 kVA, settled in 30-minute intervals. More sophisticated pricing options open up here.
- Gas: classified by Annual Quantity (AQ). Sub-25,000 kWh per year sits in the micro business band with Ofgem-specific protections. Above that, you are commercial.
Annual consumption
The single most important number a supplier needs. Your last 12 months of kWh determines which suppliers will quote, which tariffs are available, and what unit rate band you sit in. If you do not know it offhand, it is on every monthly bill. Add them up, or pull it from the supplier portal in 60 seconds.
Current contract end date
The point at which you can move suppliers without paying exit fees. Most B2B contracts allow renewal pricing to be locked in up to 12 months ahead. Inside the 90-day window before end date, you are at risk of auto-rollover, which puts you on deemed or out-of-contract rates that are typically 30 to 50% higher than negotiated tariffs.
Step 2: Get whole-of-market quotes, not a curated panel
This is where most comparisons fail. "We compare X suppliers" sounds reassuring until you realise the market has 15+ active B2B suppliers and the broker only has commission deals with three of them. The other twelve never see your meter.
A proper whole-of-market quote means every B2B supplier currently active on your meter type, distribution area and usage band is invited to quote. Typically that returns 6 to 12 live prices depending on your size.
How to verify it actually happened:
- Ask the broker for the list of suppliers they invited.
- Check that obvious names are present (British Gas Business, EDF, E.ON Next, SSE, Drax, Opus, Crown Gas & Power, Yu Energy, Smartest Energy, SEFE, TotalEnergies).
- Ask why any obvious supplier is missing. The legitimate reasons are "they do not quote your meter type" or "they are not accepting new accounts in your distribution area". Anything else is a flag.
Step 3: Demand fee disclosure on every quote
Energy brokers are paid by the supplier you sign with, via a small uplift added to the unit rate in pence per kWh. The Ofgem TPI Code of Practice requires this uplift to be disclosed in writing on every quote.
Typical broker uplift for a UK SME contract sits in the 0.1 to 0.5p/kWh range. On a 200,000 kWh/year contract that is £200 to £1,000 of fee per year of contract, baked into the unit rate.
If the quote does not show the uplift line by line, ask. If the answer is "we are paid by the supplier so there is no charge to you", that is misleading. The supplier passes the broker fee through to you in the unit rate. Get the number.
Step 4: Compare like-for-like
Two quotes at 24.5p/kWh can still be very different deals. The line items to compare:
| Component | What to check |
|---|---|
| Unit rate | Pence per kWh. Day, night, eve/weekend if applicable. |
| Standing charge | Pence per day, charged regardless of consumption. |
| Capacity charge | For larger meters: per-kVA charge against your authorised supply capacity. |
| Pass-through items | CCL, RO, CfD, FiT, TNUoS, BSUoS. Either fixed or pass-through. Make sure quotes are consistent. |
| Broker uplift | Pence per kWh, disclosed separately. |
| Contract length | 12, 24, 36 or 48 months. Longer is not automatically cheaper. |
| Quote validity | Typically 24 to 72 hours. Sign within the window or repeat the round. |
| Exit fees | Some suppliers charge significant exit fees for early termination. Check. |
| Auto-rollover terms | What happens at contract end. Look for "rolls onto out-of-contract rates unless renewed". |
Step 5: Decide, sign, and set the calendar
Once you have chosen, the supplier issues a contract pack, you sign electronically, and the supplier handles registration with the meter agent. There is no break in supply at any point. Switching typically completes 4 to 6 weeks after signature.
The single most important admin task after signing: put the renewal end-date in three calendars. The earliest reminder should be 12 months before end. Most businesses fail their next procurement round because they forgot the date.
Common traps to avoid
- Verbal agreements. Verbal contract acceptance is legally binding for business energy. Be deliberate about every yes.
- Auto-rollover. Many contracts default to out-of-contract rates if you do not renew. Read the small print.
- Long-term lock-in. A 5-year contract pays the broker more commission but exposes you to 5 years of market change. 24 to 36 months is usually the sweet spot for SMEs.
- Bundling. Suppliers sometimes bundle additional services (insurance, telecoms, EV charging) at a premium. Decline unless they genuinely earn their keep.
- Believing the panel claim. "We have 30 suppliers" might be true at the company level but only mean 5 are active on your meter type. Get the list.
Quick checklist before you sign anything
- I have requested quotes from every B2B supplier currently active on my meter.
- The broker has disclosed their uplift in pence per kWh, in writing.
- I have compared unit rate, standing charge and pass-through line by line.
- I have read and understood the contract length and any exit fees.
- I have noted what happens at contract end (renewal versus rollover).
- I have set a calendar reminder 12 months before contract end.
- I am signing within the quote validity window.
If all seven are true, you are buying business energy the way it should be bought.
Frequently asked
- How many suppliers should I get quotes from?
- Every supplier currently quoting on your meter type and usage band. In practice that is typically 6 to 12 active suppliers depending on your size and profile. A broker with a whole-of-market panel covers all of them in a single request.
- Should I ever go direct to a supplier?
- Occasionally. Suppliers reserve their best pricing for brokered volume, so direct walk-up quotes are usually higher. But if you have a long relationship with a supplier and your renewal is competitive, taking the direct quote and skipping the broker fee can be the right call. Compare and decide.
- What is the worst-case scenario if I do not switch?
- Auto-rollover to deemed or out-of-contract rates, typically 30 to 50% higher than negotiated tariffs. On a £25k/year electricity bill, that is £7,500 to £12,500 of avoidable cost per year of inaction.
- Is there a best time of year to switch?
- Not really. Wholesale prices move continuously and seasonally, but a good broker is in the market every day. The best time to switch is when your contract end window opens (typically 6 to 12 months before end date), not when the calendar says January.
