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In the past, if you wanted business gas, the only choice for you was British Gas. This is not the case these days as there are now lots of business gas suppliers to choose from, meaning you can now opt for the one that best suits your needs. Each business gas supplier will have its own range of business gas rates, customer ratings, and offers that will make it easier for you to compare them and find the best one for your business. While the price you are charged for your business gas should always be the most important thing you think about when switching suppliers, it is not the only thing you should consider. If you are solely focused on price then it will potentially be easy to pick the best supplier, but some business owners will be looking for additional benefits such as different payment methods, longer contract times, or suppliers who have the best customer service. Business Gas Contracts When it comes to business gas contracts, there are two things you need to keep in mind, to begin with: Unit cost – the amount your business gas supplier is charging per unit of energy Standing charge – the set price you pay for maintenance and transportation Then you need to look at the type of contract they are offering: Fixed-term contract – this type of contract ensures the price of your gas stays the same throughout the contract term. So, the cost per unit will stay the same, but your bill may differ depending on how much energy you use. Variable-rate contract – the cost per unit of gas may fluctuate throughout the term of your contract. It will go up or down depending on market activity. Deemed rate contract – this is sometimes also called ‘out of contract’ tariff and can be very expensive, so it is not one you want to find yourself tied into 28-day contract – this is a very rare type of contract as it only applies to businesses that have not switched suppliers since gas deregulation Rollover contracts – if you missed the opportunity to switch to a new gas supplier you may find your supplier assumed you wished to stay on the same contract and so just rolled you over Using D-ENERGi to compare business gas tariff prices Your first step should be to grab a copy of your most recent gas bill as this will contain all of the information, we need to get you a better deal from a new supplier. Once you have contacted us and told us the information we need, we contact lots of different gas suppliers to get quotes on your behalf. Get the best prices on your business gas by contacting the D-ENERGi team on 0800 781 7626.

Here at D-ENERGi we often get asked about half hourly electricity and metering – how it works and how it can affect our customer’s bills. So, we have pulled together this handy guide to help you understand more about it and how it could be exactly what your business needs. What is a half-hourly electricity meter? A half-hourly electricity meter is a special type of meter provided by half hourly electricity suppliers. It is based on AMR (automatic meter reading) technology which is used to provide suppliers with a more accurate electricity reading – which is sent via a fixed-line every half an hour (which is where the name comes from). The benefit of hour hourly readings for business owners is that the meter reading is automated, so you don’t have to mess around sending meter readings to your supplier – and you also access much more accurate bills as well. Another benefit hour hourly electricity brings is it allows you to easily access consumption data from your supplier – meaning you can preview exactly how your business is using electricity throughout the day, helping you to make more informed decisions about how to run your business more efficiently by reducing your operational energy use. Does my business need a half-hour electricity meter? Having a half-hourly electricity meter is compulsory for any business that uses over 100kW of electricity, but if your business uses 70kW of energy or more you can opt to have a meter installed. If you have recently moved to new business premises and are not sure whether you have a half-hourly meter or not, the easiest way to check is to look at your most recent energy bill. The bill will contain a number starting with ‘S’ and if the number following this starts with 00 then you do have a half-hourly meter installed. How does half-hourly electricity pricing differ? Half hourly electricity offers you the energy that is better tailored to your usage and your requirements as it relies on regular meter readings meaning the data gathered is much more accurate –removing the need for estimated billing. We hope this article has given you a better idea of half hourly electricity prices and how half-hourly electricity can benefit small businesses. If you have any questions about anything, please contact our customer service team at 0800 781 7626 – they are always happy to help.

The Federation of Small Business recently claimed that as many as one-third of small businesses highlight energy costs as a barrier to the growth and success of their company. However, 70% of small businesses also say that they find it difficult to compare business energy tariffs and 43% have never switched business electricity supplier. So, if you want to find out how to save money by grabbing cheaper business electricity rates then read on: Pick your lightbulbs wisely If you currently use fluorescent or halogen light bulbs, try swopping them for energy-efficient bulbs such as LED bulbs. And encourage your employees to turn off lights when they are not in use, as this could save you up to £100 per year. Cooldown Lights can be one of the main culprits for driving up your energy bills, and heating comes in a close second. This is why it is wise to make sure your heating system is set around four degrees different from your air conditioning system – so they are not fighting against each other. Keep it clean If you have a staff kitchen, it is really important to keep it clean – not just from a hygiene point of view, but to help you save money too. Clean appliances, such as fridges, are much more energy-efficient than dirty ones – and just cleaning the dust off can save you up to a fifth of the energy they normally use. Make your technology work for you 46% of the electricity used in offices is used outside of standard operating hours – so make sure all computers, printers, and other electrical items are switched off at night. It is also a good idea to unplug any mobile phone chargers when they are not in use as well – it sounds like a silly thing to do, but it can really help to save you money. Compare business electricity suppliers Of course, the main way you can reduce your energy outgoings is to make sure you are on the best tariff for your business by comparing business electricity suppliers and swapping to a better tariff. While this sounds like it will be time-consuming, it won’t be if you put it all in the hands of the D-ENERGi team. We do all the hard work comparing the best deals on the market, and finding the best tariff for you.

Energy prices seem to have fluctuated quite a lot recently, with many business owners being frustrated by the changes. Rising electricity and gas prices mean that they have to pay more, while cheap business energy prices make money management unpredictable. This is why it is a good idea to know a little bit more about business gas prices and what affects them. Supply and Demand The first factor that affects cheap business gas is the traditional concept of supply and demand. Gas is bought, sold, and then transported in large amounts. How much of a supply of gas there is will affect the price of gas. When there is demand for gas in the UK and it isn’t available, then the price will go up as will the demand. However, when the gas supply in the UK outstrips demand then gas prices may be lowered. Gas Storage The UK’s biggest gas storage site was closed down in 2017 which meant that we dropped from having fifteen days’ worth of gas in storage to just four or five days. This has had a huge effect on gas prices especially in 2018 when we suffered from a particularly cold winter. A warning of gas shortages saw the price of gas shoot up to its highest level in more than 10 years. Although the UK government has been urged to take a closer look at its gas storage plans although it believes that a combination of LPG tankers and gas pipelines is more than sufficient. The Pound Gas prices are affected by fluctuations in the value of the currency and as we buy a lot of gas from Europe which means that the price that appears on your gas bill will reflect the strength of the pound. In recent years, the strength of the pound has dropped to an all-time low, which has led to rises in gas prices that will have been reflected in your business gas bills. Wind Power We create more energy from offshore wind generators in the UK than any other country, with Britain alone accounting for over 40% of the global capacity for wind-generated energy. On less windy days natural gas needs to be diverted to power stations which will result in an increase in prices. From changes in how we get gas and produce energy to global disruption means that gas prices are always going to fluctuate. Not all of these changes will affect every business but it is always worth keeping an eye on the bigger picture when it comes to cheap business gas and cheap business electricity costs. Get the best prices and deals on your business gas with D-ENERGi. Speak to our experts directly.

Despite the fact that we started the new year with the promise of a vaccine rollout, the UK has stayed in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic and entered into a third lockdown. So, the most important question is what has business energy suppliers got planned for us this year? What impact has the pandemic had on business energy consumption As you might expect, business energy consumption was lower this year than last year at the beginning of the year, but it started to rise again at the end of March when restrictions eased a little. The business sector that this can be seen in the most is the retail sector who experienced a real dip in energy consumption, especially during the first lockdown. As businesses continue to navigate the changing landscape, it is likely we can expect more surprises when it comes to business energy consumption and so this is why it might be the best time to shop around to find the best business electricity and business gas suppliers for your business. What is happening with renewable business energy? 2020 was the year that many businesses went green, and in fact, in April 2020 renewable business energy broke through the 40% mark for the first time. However, we are starting to see the move towards renewable energy drop off a little, which should come as no surprise due to the lower wind power generation and lower solar power take up – while the use of gas is rising. This doesn’t mean that UK businesses are losing their appetite for green power, rather than the need for gas has risen due to the lower temperatures we have been experiencing. The National Grid uses gas-powered energy stations to bridge the gap between supply and demand at busy times, so when the weather is still and cloudy, gas can be used to plug the gap. What will happen for the rest of the year? As we head into the second quarter of 2021, there are no signs that energy prices will start to drop. So, if your business has been thinking about reducing your costs by using energy-efficient measures such as smart meters, now is the time to switch. Rising energy prices and the possibility of higher targeted charging costs means now is a good time to review whether your existing business gas and business electricity suppliers – which is where D-Energi can help.

There are currently more than 40500 charge point connectors across the UK in no less than 15064 locations – which means there are now more public electric vehicle charging points UK than there are petrol stations! How long does it take to charge an electric car? If you are used to a petrol or diesel car then you will be used to being able to fill your car up in a few seconds – however electric vehicles can take much longer. However, it can actually be more convenient, as you can charge them when the car is not in use – such as when you are at work or asleep at home at night. How much you need to charge your electric car will change depending on factors such as how often you like to charge it? You might be someone who waits until it is nearly empty to charge it, or someone who tops up each day rather than waiting for it to get low. Another factor that might influence how often you charge your electric car is temperature! Lithium-ion batteries, for example, perform better in warmer weather – which means you may see a drop in the range your electric car can do in the winter as compared to the summer months. What types of electric vehicle charging stations are there? When it comes to electric vehicle charging station UK there are four main types: Slow – these tend to have a maximum of 3.6kw available and can take six to twelve hours to charge a pure electric car Fast – these tend to be anywhere between 7 to 22kw and can take between 3 and 7 hours to charge a pure electric car depending on the car’s battery size Rapid – rapid chargers are quicker than fast as they are around 43kw or more and are capable of charging electric cars to around 80% in 20 to 40 minutes (depending on how big the battery is and how much charge it has to start with Wireless – this is not available in the UK yet, but it is likely to appear over here in the future – so watch this space If you are interested in purchasing an electric car, and want to find out more about electric vehicle charging UK then please get in touch with the D-ENERGi team as we can not only help you with electric vehicle charging but also make sure your energy tariff is the lowest it can be too.