29 May
Businesses Can Switch Energy Supplier
Posted on May 29, 2017 by D-ENERGi
Businesses can switch energy supplier and make a big impact on reducing their overheads and more firms are being encouraged to follow this path.
The government and the industry regulator Ofgem want more firms to shop around every year when their energy bills come up for renewal.
This is regardless of the business sector they are in and there are some effective ways of comparing energy deals and switching suppliers.
The first step is to speak with the current energy supplier to see whether they have any better offers and this will act as a benchmark when it comes to analysing other supplier’s deals.
It should also be appreciated that firms can only switch suppliers during a window of opportunity before the contract is renewed.
This means the firm will need to understand their current contract because the terms will define when the contract ends and when the client can tell the supplier that they want to switch.
Contracts will allow an energy switch to take place
The contracts will only allow an energy switch to take place at certain times.
However, should a firm not switch suppliers then their contract may be rolled over onto an automatic contract which will probably be costing them more than it needs to.
Indeed, these ‘deemed’ contracts are the default for suppliers and the supplier has a legal obligation to inform their clients about other contracts that are available and how their client can find out more.
The next step is for the firm to look at their meter readings on a regular basis so they understand what their energy consumption is over a period of time.
By using this information, they can ask a supplier to give a bespoke quote which could be a quick win for saving cash.
Also, while it’s important that the firm understands its current energy contract, they should also take the time to understand and appreciate the contract being offered by a new energy supplier.
They must do this before they sign up and be wary about agreeing to a contract during a telephone conversation.
Cheap business energy deals
It’s also important that firms appreciate that most cheap business energy deals do not offer them a cooling off period which is a way of canceling the contract within an agreed number of days.
By not understanding the contract, means the firm may be stuck with an energy deal that’s not only unsuitable but is more expensive than their current offering.
To avoid issues with energy contracts and understanding how to switch energy suppliers efficiently, contact the experts at D-Energi for more help and advice.
For any organisation looking for business energy suppliers, the market will appear to be complicated to navigate.
While there are lots of business energy suppliers, including the better-known names, there are lots of opportunities to reduce energy bills with just a little bit of effort.
So, for those who are looking to find the cheapest business electricity and gas deals, it’s important to find a contract that meets their needs and reduces energy bills.
It should also be appreciated that suppliers will be offering a range of services as well as lower prices in a bid to entice potential new commercial customers.
This means it is worth the time taking a look at what they have to offer.
Business electricity suppliers who offer a low a fixed price
Indeed, some organisations may prefer to find those business electricity suppliers who offer a low a fixed price and longer contract term.
For many organisations, this policy would make sound financial sense since energy experts are predicting that energy prices will rise over the coming years.
To find the best deals, organisations also need to understand that while they could check comparison websites to find lower prices, these prices may not be available to their business.
That’s because business energy suppliers will offer a bespoke deal and the organisation will need to find two quotes for their electricity and gas usage.
Unlike for householders, organisations cannot get a dual fuel deal and must find separate quotes for each fuel type. While this may appear to create an obstacle, it also presents the opportunity to have two separate energy suppliers for gas and electricity offering the best prices.
So, when it comes to accessing accurate quotes an organisation will need a recent energy bill to hand.
Potential new business energy supplier
This will have on it important information for the potential new business energy supplier, including the meter registration number so the supplier will know exactly where the organisation is.
The bill will also show up the energy rates being charged and the organisation will also need to know when the current contract comes to an end.
This is because they cannot switch energy suppliers mid-term and can only give notice to quit their current supplier in the weeks before the contract comes to an end.
However, if the organisation owes their supplier money then they may be prevented from switching suppliers until the bill is finally settled.
Also, there will be lots of organisations who have not switched suppliers previously and so their commercial energy contract will have been automatically ‘rolled-over’.
In this situation, these organisations will probably be on a ‘deemed’ contract and are likely to be paying more for their energy than they need to but they can leave a deemed contract for a new supplier at any time.
Compare business gas suppliers
There are lots of reasons why an organisation should undertake to compare business gas suppliers for their prices as well as electricity suppliers, on a regular basis, and the main one is to ensure that they are not paying more than they need to for their business energy supply.
It also helps to keep abreast of the market for prices and new suppliers entering with better offers.
Once the firm finds a potential new supplier, they will then have an energy package tailored to their business needs.
Some commercial energy providers also undertake an analysis of their customer’s usage to ensure they get the best deal that suits them and highlight ways to save money by using less energy as well.
So, for organisations that are looking to lower overheads and beat ever-increasing business energy prices, it will pay to search the market and find a cheaper energy supplier.
Savings that can be made every year
While this may sound complicated and time-consuming, it’s a process that will pay dividends because the savings that can be made every year range from several hundred to several thousands of pounds.
While the savings can be impressive, it should also be appreciated that the savings are applicable to organisations of all sizes whether they are small or large and range from one-man bands to multisite operations.
However, the most efficient way of searching the market for business energy suppliers and finding great deals is to contact a firm that specialises in sourcing these deals and that means contacting the experts at D-Energi who will be pleased to help.
Read Article There’s no doubt the process for a business to switch energy suppliers is much easier now than it has been previously – particularly for small firms.
One reason for this is that Ofgem, the energy market regulator, has brought in rules that enable a business to find a better business electricity or gas contract than they currently enjoy.
However, it is important to appreciate that the business owner will need to arrange their new business energy deal while they have more than 30 days remaining on their contract.
It’s important to appreciate too, that before a fixed term contract ends, usually around 60 days beforehand, the firm’s energy supplier must tell them how much energy they have used each year and how their current deal will compare with their new contract deal.
Essentially, this information will put the business in a strong position for negotiating a new business energy deal with a potential new supplier when their current contract comes to an end.
Find a new business energy supplier
This change means that business can either remain with their current supplier and continue with their new tariff or shop around to find a new business energy supplier.
For any business owner who likes the sound of saving money on their energy bills but is not sure of when their contract comes to an end, they can check their latest bill which will have the end date of the contract on it and any notice period.
It’s important to appreciate too that a business tells their current supplier that they are planning to switch suppliers at any point before the notice period actually begins.
The aim of this means the business will not have to react within a short timeframe when it comes to finding a new supplier. Previously, this short window of opportunity varied between suppliers and could range between 60 days and 120 days.
This often created confusion within the marketplace and would lead to a business being automatically placed onto a rolling contract which was usually more expensive than the one they were on. The contract would normally be for a minimum term of 12 months as well.
Making the switch between energy suppliers
It should also be appreciated that firms making the switch between energy suppliers could lock themselves into fixed energy rates and be reassured that their price per unit will not increase for the duration of the contract.
Also, a new energy supplier offering a new contract may also be meeting the needs of the business more effectively than a current supplier is doing.
This means it is worthwhile shopping around when a contract is due to end even if the business is happy with their current energy supplier since this will reassure them that they are on a contract they are happy with.
For a business looking to switch supplier, they will need: recent energy bills
the contract end date
their company details
their MPRN and MPAN numbers (which are found on the meter or the bill)
Save money by switching energy suppliers
Businesses also need to appreciate that not only can they save money by switching energy suppliers, but the commercial energy market operates differently to the domestic market.
By shopping around, business will be able to find an energy package that will be tailored to their specific needs.
And while this process may appear to be time-consuming, it is easy to carry out some research online but it’s even easier to use D-ENERGi who specializes in finding excellent energy deals for businesses looking to switch suppliers.
Indeed, for the price of a phone call, a small business owner can substantially reduce their overheads and boost profitability and be reassured that the switchover process will not see them losing energy supply.
For most firms, the quickest and most efficient way to switch energy suppliers is to contact the helpful and experienced team at D-ENERGi who will be able to look at the whole business energy supply market and find a deal to impress.
Read Article