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Getting a business energy quote is arguably the most important step when it comes to picking a supplier for the foreseeable future. However, running a business already comes with a lot of spinning plates. Something that should be simple like securing a few business energy quotes online can feel a little overwhelming.  We’ve put together this blog to give some actionable insights into getting your business energy quotes, ensuring you approach the process with confidence and the requisite street smarts.    Why should I get a business energy quote?   There are plenty of reasons to get a business energy quote, especially if you’re not satisfied with your current tariff. Getting a quote is great for: Comparing prices between different energy suppliers/negotiating better terms Generally understanding the nature of your rates and why you pay them Staying ahead of the curve on market prices and offers Seeing different terms and flexibility options with various energy suppliers   Where can I get a business energy quote?   Getting your quote can be approached from a variety of angles, including: Online comparison sites and similar ones can use your details offer multiple quotes/estimates Energy brokers and consultants can source quotes on your behalf, accessing deals that the public might not be privy to Energy suppliers themselves will be able to offer you quotes if contacted directly There are industry specific organisations that can collect quotes for suppliers in their circles   What information do I need to provide to get an accurate business quote?   Accurate quotes come from accurate information, the latter of which falls on you to provide. Covering your bases will ensure you get the right quotes, whatever your preferred receipt method. Make sure to provide:  Your business’s name and full address(es) Your current energy supplier(s) for help with existing usage data Your estimated annual energy consumption (in kWh) for both electricity and gas Your Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN or Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) Any other current contract details you know Your VAT registration number What meter you’re currently using – smart meter or standard meter   How long will it take to get my business energy quote? The time your quote takes will vary depending on a range of factors. For example, a comparison site will offer instant quotes but they’re more likely to be estimates. Energy brokers, suppliers and consultants will generally take anywhere between a few hours and a couple of days to give a response.    Are energy quotes free?   Getting a business energy quote online or over the phone shouldn’t cost you anything. However, a broker or consultant is more likely to charge you for their time so make sure to review their policy.    What should I look for when reviewing a business energy quote?   Headline price can only offer you so much – you need to examine every aspect of the quote, including:  Price per kWh unit Contract duration Standing charges Renewal terms Payment terms Any additional fees Customer service records Supplier reputation    Anything else? Remember all of these things while seeking out a business energy quote, as well as the fact that you can negotiate for better quotes if you’re not satisfied with what’s on offer. After getting your quotes, make sure to review the contract terms, ask any clarifying questions and keep copies of all important documents.  Find out more about how we can help your business energy quote. Contact our energy experts to get a free quote.  For more guidance on how to navigate the world of business energy, visit our blog today.

Every company can benefit from implementing business energy savings, especially as SMEs and larger businesses face rising energy costs amid a nationwide crisis. While industries like manufacturing, retail, and catering have high energy consumption, many UK businesses are also seeking ways to save energy in the office. Although offices don’t operate heavy machinery, they can still incur significant business energy bills from: Lighting needs Running computers and technology Heating and air conditioning Office appliances like kettles and coffee machines Dishwashers and other amenities   Research shows that an office of 100 employees can spend nearly £35,000 on energy annually. This blog offers office energy-saving tips to help your office-based business save energy, whether you’re a small business or a large business.   Understanding Seasonal Energy Challenges Saving energy in the office varies by season, with temperature and sunlight significantly impacting usage.   Summer Energy-Saving Tips During summer, cooling costs can soar, especially in poorly insulated offices. Here are some effective strategies for reducing energy bills on hot days: Enhance natural ventilation Utilise blinds or shades to block sunlight Adjust dress codes to suit warmer weather Set thermostats to the highest comfortable temperature   Winter Energy-Saving Tips In winter, heating becomes a primary concern, with costs rising due to inadequate insulation. Consider the following advice for winter savings: Improve insulation using both traditional and DIY methods Leverage natural light for warmth Encourage wearing warmer clothing Set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature Maintaining your HVAC system is crucial for managing costs in both seasons. Poorly maintained equipment can lead to higher energy bills. Installing heavy curtains and double-glazed windows can also help reduce heat loss in winter and block excess heat in summer.   Maintaining HVAC Systems Ensuring your HVAC system operates efficiently is one of the top energy-saving tips for office buildings. If replacing the system isn’t feasible, follow these maintenance tips: Conduct regular inspections for irregularities and debris Clean the system after each inspection Check air filters frequently Seal any leaks in ductwork These simple maintenance tasks can significantly lower energy bills for businesses over time.   Additional Energy-Saving Practices Beyond technological upgrades, adopting certain behaviours can further contribute to business energy savings. Small adjustments can lead to substantial savings. Consider these effective office energy-saving ideas: Run full loads for washing and dishwashing Only boil the kettle for the required amount Switch off lights and equipment at the plugs when not in use Encourage remote workdays to reduce office energy consumption Educating your staff about these practices is essential for fostering a culture of energy efficiency.   Switching Business Energy Suppliers Implementing these energy-saving ideas can significantly impact your annual spending. However, another critical step is to consider switching your business energy supplier. Choosing a supplier that offers renewable energy could be one of the most effective moves for maximising business energy savings. If you are ready to make a business energy switch, get your free gas and electric quotes today. We’ve streamlined our switching process to help you save time and money.

Business energy suppliers aren’t all created equally, so switching is a fairly common practice over the years to ensure that you get the best deal possible. However, making a business energy switch isn’t always the most straightforward thing, whether you’ve been doing things a certain way for years or are fairly new to your industry.    We’ve put together this blog to answer frequently asked questions about how to switch business energy suppliers, so you can feel more confident making a change when you need to.    Why should I switch my business energy supplier? There are plenty of reasons to change your supplier, such as:   Seeking a better energy rate or cheaper energy tariffs can make a huge financial difference to your business – essential during the energy crisis!  Better customer service from an energy supplier can make your life a lot easier when running a business, especially when scaling up demand or navigating energy tariffs. You might find different contract terms, especially between small business energy suppliers and larger business operations. Elements like fixed terms or flexibility will make a difference to your overall experience.  Some suppliers will offer renewable energy options, such as wind power, which are better suited for achieving your sustainability goals.    How often can I switch to a different business energy supplier? You can technically change your business energy supplier at any time, however, contracts will influence how easy or seamless that transition might be. For example, an early switch might subject you to early termination fees, which will differ based on your remaining duration and the terms of your contract. If you’re currently out of contract, you might be paying an extortionate amount known as a “deemed” or “standard variable” tariff, but you should be able to switch at any moment.    How long does the switching process usually take? A switch will generally take anywhere between two and six weeks, allowing for new and old suppliers to make any necessary checks or arrangements, such as:    The new energy supplier notifying the current supplier to begin the transfer process The current supplier making any objections around things like outstanding debts Your final meter reading and subsequent bill (more accurate with a smart meter)   It’s also worth noting that your business should not experience any interruptions to energy supply during the switch.   How to compare business energy suppliers?  The way to find the best or cheapest business energy supplier lies in your comparison skills. Some common techniques include:    Using online comparison sites Contacting dedicated energy brokers or consultants Contacting energy suppliers directly to better understand their approaches Checking for industry-specific tariffs   Make sure to consider elements like unit rates, standing charges, contract length & terms, any early termination conditions, customer service reputation and any other attractive/unattractive features offered by each supplier.    What information will I need to switch business energy suppliers?  To ensure accuracy and smoothness, you need to prepare some basic information.    Business name and address Current supplier(s) and contract details Average annual energy consumption in kWH for both electricity and gas Meter Point Administration Number Your bank details Contact details for the authoritative figure   With this information, you should be much better equipped to take on a business energy switch. However, there’s no such thing as being too informed. If you’re interested in learning more about this unique industry landscape, visit our blog today!   If you are ready to make a business energy switch, get your free energy quote today. We’ve streamlined our switching process to help you save time and money. 

Energy and education go hand in hand. One of the largest expenses in running schools and nurseries is energy. This makes an effective energy conservation plan essential for all learning environments.    Between kitchens, digital learning resources and general operations (keeping the lights on), there are a lot of drains on the energy supply of a school (even when compared with other commercial industries). This blog will offer some energy saving ideas for schools, so you can help your establishment balance the budget and keep education alive!   Optimise lighting Lighting, like anywhere else, is one of the most significant energy-related costs of running a school. Here are effective strategies for reducing lighting expenses:    Layout classrooms to take advantage of natural light Keep windows and skylights clean Switch off lights when rooms are empty or the sun is bright (encourage students to monitor this)  Install occupancy sensors or timers to automatically turn off when areas are unoccupied  Upgrade to more energy efficient lighting installations (LEDs)   These tips can all help to reduce the burden of lighting on the overall lighting bill.    Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) tips Schools, while not subject to their own specific temperature laws, do have to operate to the same standard as other workplaces, maintaining temperatures of at least 16°C” (60°F) and recommended to be 18ºC (64.4ºF). Children need to be comfortable to learn properly, however, this can be a significant cost. Tips for minimising HVAC bills can include:    Maintaining temperatures as close to reasonable as possible, not higher or lower unnecessarily Install thermostats and enforce the maintenance of set figures Ventilate classrooms properly Maintain the quality of HVAC systems with clean and replaced filters Seal any air leaks or draughts promptly Invest in proper insulation   These solutions might all cost some money initially, but they’ll conserve energy for education in the long term.    Appliances and equipment optimisation There are countless appliances and items of equipment in the average educational institution. Energy conservation can seem impossible when you have to maintain a full working kitchen, staffroom refrigerators, electric interactive whiteboards, dishwashers, washing machines. However, some mindful choices can make a difference, like:     Buying energy-efficient appliances and monitoring performance consistently Turn off computers and other equipment when not in use Unplug any chargers and power cables when they’re not in use Lower the water temperature of boilers and other water-heating devices   Being conscious of your equipment is a pillar in energy saving tools.    General energy conservation strategies for schools Along with these more specific concepts, there are some very general concepts that every school manager should consider.  Finding the cheapest business gas supplier: Research and switch to cost-effective energy providers. Get a free, no-obligation energy quote from our experts.  Conduct energy audits: Schedule regular energy audit for schools to identify further savings opportunities.  Educate students and staff on sustainability: This will all help contribute to long-term energy savings at your school.  Visit our blog today for more insights into the energy landscape of the 21st century!

Running a larger business means spinning a lot of plates, many of which require energy expenditure. As your facilities grow and you hire more staff, you’re going to have to keep more lights on, operate more desktops, run larger HVAC systems and so much more. Large business energy consumption is always going to be harder to reduce energy costs.    Small businesses can also struggle with this, but keeping things moving in large businesses’ operations naturally takes more effort and consideration. This blog will offer advice on business energy conservation, even if you’re running a more substantial operation.    Conduct energy audits and data analysis If you’re operating in the realm of high-energy consumption businesses like manufacturing , the public administration or printing, among others, tools enacting detailed energy audits is always a smart move. This will break down the energy inefficiency across a business’s operations. Similarly, other tools like Energy Monitoring Systems (EMS) can provide consumption data at a granular level.    Analysing usage data and comparing it to KPIs is essential for larger businesses, as things can easily get lost in translation without careful analysis. Bringing in smart meters, IoT equipment and using an energy consumption calculator is a great way to set up better data collection.    Effective strategies to reduce energy consumption Businesses of any size should consider optimising their physical workplace to reduce energy consumption, whether working across sites or in one place. Some of the typical building upgrades that can make a difference to your consumption levels include:    Smart HVAC controls: Regular system maintenance, along with locational zoning to ensure proper heating and cooling situationally Proper ventilation wherever possible LED lighting: Upgrading lighting to LED systems, installing occupancy sensor and adding daylight harvesting systems Improving the building envelope: Improve insulation, sealed air leaks and more energy-efficient windows and doors Installing reflective cool roofing: This reduces solar heat absorption   Insulation and lighting are the most controllable and impactful things about your building in terms of energy expenditure. Some of these things might require a significant initial investment, but they’ll all save you money in the long run.    Create an energy-efficient culture of accountability   To effectively manage large business energy consumption, create a clear, standardised culture of accountability and energy management. This means creating dedicated positions for energy mindfulness in every department of the business and properly educating employees about consumption at all levels of the operation.    Make sure that the company is clued up about:    Energy-efficient equipment purchasing Regular appliance and equipment maintenance Turning off and unplugging idle equipment Analysing production lines and optimising manufacturing (when relevant) Any overarching sustainability initiatives   Make responsible consumption part of your company culture to keep all the moving parts accountable.    Embracing renewable energy   Switching your business electricity providers to embrace renewable energy can be a great way to reduce energy consumption in large businesses. Lowering consumption could be as simple as finding a provider that offers alternative fuel sources, as they are, by nature, better for the environment and generally less tough on the wallet.    Conclusion Reducing energy consumption in large businesses is a multifaceted approach that involves energy audits, energy-efficient upgrades, cultural change and renewable energy adoption. For more insights into energy efficiency and sustainability, visit our blog today.  If you’re ready to find the right energy supplier to help reduce your energy bills, get a free, no-obligation quote, visit our get a quote page.

A half-hourly meter is essential for any UK business with peak loads of more than 100,000 kWh a year. Generally, half-hour electricity tariffs are intended to make readings more accurate for businesses, automatically recording energy consumption every half hour. This eliminates both the task and potential for error that come with regular manual readings.    This blog was put together to demystify the nature of half-hourly electricity suppliers and meter readings, so you can get a better understanding of what these readings might tangibly mean for your business during the Energy Crisis and beyond.   Are half-hourly meter readings more expensive? In short, no. Half-hourly electricity tariffs do not intrinsically increase energy supply costs – this is a major oversimplification of the system. The reality is that costs can be increased and decreased across multiple data points.    Increased costs 1. Standing charges The half-hourly meter standing charge is going to be a new cost for businesses that have recently had the meter installed. Half-hourly meters have a higher degree of technological infrastructure and data processing power, resulting in higher standing charges compared to traditional smart meters.    2. Capacity charges This is something that isn’t necessarily caused by a half-hourly meter – rather a result that comes alongside its arrival at the workplace. Once you consume enough energy to necessitate one of these meters, you’ll likely have to pay a fee to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). This fee ensures you can consistently meet demand based on your Maximum Import Capacity.   3. Operating costs Operating a half-hourly meter involves additional expenses. Installation, maintenance and data transmission services contribute to the overall cost.     Decreased costs  1. Better unit rates Businesses utilising half-hourly meters often benefit from lower costs per kWh. Larger businesses typically receive better rates, leading to significant savings.   2. Accurate billing The increased accuracy from half-hourly meters provides precise usage data, meant to eliminate estimated bills, which can often be inflated. Even if your energy supplier provides fixed wholesale rates, the accuracy of your half-hourly meter should make these rates closer to reality, and easier to manage in the long term.    3. Tariff flexibility Using a half-hourly system can allow businesses to utilise alternative, complex or more specific tariff structures. For example, there might be off-peak hour options, which could save them significant amounts of money.    Embracing Half-Hourly Meters All in all, half-hourly meters are generally associated with businesses that will be spending more on energy in general. Yes, there are a few additional costs. However, the increased accuracy of data collection should in turn result in better energy management – at the very least, creating a more realistic picture of bills and tariffs. It’s not necessarily going to raise or lower your costs – it’s going to create a newer, transparent structure within them.  For more insights into business energy supply, half-hourly meters and half-hourly prices, don’t hesitate to visit our website today. Ready to make the switch to a half-hourly electricity tariff? Contact our experts for a quick quote!