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After two years of what can only be described as total chaos and uncertainty for the energy market, is 2024 bringing a change to the energy market and what could be influencing prices? In this blog we will explore the current situation for the energy market and wholesale prices. Whilst also considering what businesses are currently dealing with in terms of energy prices and bills.   Uncertainty remains for business owners Global events and supply/demand fluctuations can cause prices to rise unexpectedly. And with various conflicts undergoing around key energy supply areas around the world, governments and businesses will keep a close eye on the global markets, with some hesitancy towards a sense of relaxation just yet. In fact, just recently, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict across Israel, Palestine and areas in the Middle East, wholesale prices have once again experienced a rise. For many business owners, dealing with the energy crisis and the impact this has had is still ongoing and this is expected to continue while essential leaders in the industry undergo volatile situations. And while some businesses have been able to access government-funded support, others felt this wasn’t enough. Subsequently these small businesses are still dealing with debts and financial issues as a result.   Comparison is key Despite a few changes to wholesale prices since the beginning of the energy crisis, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. So, this is still something that businesses are having to adjust to. And in combination with other factors such as the cost of living, this isn’t necessarily a relief for businesses. In fact, for many, wholesale prices are still having a considerable effect on business finances. To conclude, high prices, although subject to change, are yet to be a thing of the past. And now would be a good time, while we are at the start of a new financial year, to shop around for your business energy rates, and settle on a good deal for the year ahead. For some of the best rates from an alternative business energy supplier to the big energy suppliers, choose D-ENERGi. Get a quote today.   What to do in the wake of rising energy prices While the global situation continues to impact the market, we are here to help. All our business customers can access the support of our dedicated account managers for assistance in regard to their energy bills and concerns surrounding payments. We offer personalised services and support to address your concerns promptly. For those who want to get the best rates and keep costs down, as much as possible, we suggest that you consider installing a smart meter for closer observation of your energy usage, and consider ways to reduce consumption. And, as we near the warmer months of the year, now is a great time to service your high energy consuming appliances such as your HVAC units, refrigerators and more, ensuring these are as economical and as energy efficient as possible. By doing this you will be taking small and simple steps to keep your consumption down. We would also suggest that you make the most of natural light during the day, keeping artificial lights off or dimly lit. Meanwhile the temperature of your business premises should be kept at a consistent and comfortable working temperature. For help with your current situation and to discuss your business energy rates with a member of our helpful team, do not hesitate to get in touch with D-ENERGi. We ensure that all calls will be answered within five rings or less by a human instead of leaving a voicemail.

It is highly advisable for all businesses to keep an eye on their business energy suppliers, keep track of their energy contract end dates and business energy rates being charged. This practice ensures that businesses can secure the most competitive deals available. While conducting a business energy comparison may require a significant investment of time for business owners, it is a worthwhile endeavour. Many of the businesses that have worked with the D-ENERGi team have reported noteworthy savings upon switching their business energy suppliers to us. When undertaking a business electricity or business gas comparison, it is prudent to keep a few things in mind:   #Always read the contract It is essential you take the time to read every aspect of your commercial energy contract before you sign it as some contracts contain a specific window in which you are allowed to cancel or switch the contract without penalty. You probably won’t ever be refused the opportunity to be let out of your contract if you do choose to switch business energy suppliers outside of this window – but you will potentially be liable for larger costs, so you should think about your timing of switching energy suppliers carefully.   #Be sure of your expectations A lot of businesses state that their number one reason for switching business energy suppliers is to save money, which they do, to begin with only to find that their energy bills go up over time despite their energy usage not increasing. Don’t ever take it as certain that you are guaranteed to save money throughout the length of your new business energy contract. Look at your energy usage and what you are paying for it at the start of your contract, and monitor it throughout the length of your contract so that you can be sure you are really saving the money you thought you would.   #Be patient when considering business energy deals Don’t accept the first business energy deal you are offered – take some time to evaluate it carefully. When comparing business energy quotes, it’s important to properly assess each offer, including the length of the contract and the quality of service provided. Remember, you are the one who is in control, so you should switch business energy suppliers when you are ready. If you contact our friendly team at D-ENERGi, we will assist you with your current circumstances and what you are looking for. Leave the rest to us. We will look at your current energy usage and offer a tailored solution for your business. Our dedicated account manager will provide personalised service and address your enquiries promptly. Saving your valuable time and money on your business energy bills. We will guide you through the entire process of switching energy supplier, ensuring a quick and smooth transition. If you want to get a quick quote on business gas and business electricity, get in touch with the D-ENERGI friendly team. We ensure all calls will be answered within five rings or less, without the annoyance of switchboard or long pick-ups.

When submitting an electricity meter reading to your business energy supplier or providing information about your meter when switching suppliers, there’s a few things you need to look for. In this latest blog we will explain how to read different business meter types and explain what your MPAN and MPRN numbers are and where you can find them.   Reading your business electricity meter Reading your meter should be simple, although we understand that posed with this requirement may leave you slightly confused at what to look at or what the numbers mean if you have never done this before or have a new meter. Firstly, there are several different types of meters, so it is important to identify which type you have. However, for the most part, what you will see is a display of numbers, typically six numbers, which identify units of kWh. Reading most typical meters will require you to write down all the numbers you see from left to right. This number indicates to your supplier how much energy you have used. If you have another type of meter display such as a two rate meter, you may see two different displays of numbers. These are usually your off peak and peak or ‘normal’ units of electricity used. If your business energy supplier requires both sets of numbers then supply both, reading from left to right.   What are your MPAN & MPRN numbers? Two numbers that you may be required to supply your business energy supplier with, particularly if you are a new customer is your MPAN and MPRN numbers. Your MPAN number is used to identify your electricity meter and allows your supplier to decide rates for your electricity. You can find your MPAN number on your electricity meter, it consists of 21 digits and will often be displayed in seven small boxes with a capital S at the beginning of the display. Your MPRN number, on the other hand, is not located directly on the meter, but can be found on your gas bills. Your MPRN number is related to gas supply and confirms to your new supplier that they are taking over the right energy supply.   Submitting your meter reading If you are a D-ENERGi business energy customer, we make it simple for you to submit your meter readings directly through our website. Here, you can submit your meter readings by supplying us with your name, account number, email address, date of your reading, and meter serial number. If you run into any problems when trying to submit your latest meter readings we suggest getting in touch with the team for some assistance. We can also take these readings over the phone if you find that easier.   Make meter readings even easier with a smart meter Don’t want the hassle of manually reading and submitting your meter readings? Why not make the switch to a smart meter today? Join the rollout phase of smart meters for business across the nation with our installation partners. At D-ENERGi, we can provide you with a business smart meter and can have this installed by one of our installation partners. Automatically submit meter readings in real time to your supplier Track your business energy consumption thanks to the handy Consumer Access Device Bring an end to estimated billing, you will be billed for the energy you actually use A smart meter is a very good choice for businesses who may have difficulty accessing their standard meter, making readings difficult to retrieve   Register now for your business smart meter.  

Optimising your business energy quote can provide several benefits, such as enhancing your economic prospect, reducing energy consumption, and establishing your brand as environmentally sustainable.  Ensuring financial stability is crucial for all businesses, but sometimes business energy costs were taken a backseat when exploring ways to minimise expenses. To assist you, here are some remarkable tips, businesses of all scales can potentially reduce their business energy costs.   #1 Check out the business energy deals on offer The easiest way to save money on your business energy is to look at all of the deals available in the energy market, and pick the best one for you. Many businesses fail to realise this, with research showing that 46% of small businesses don’t review their energy plan options at the end of their contract – meaning they are paying significantly more than they should for their business gas and electricity. When an energy contract comes to an end, many business energy suppliers will just automatically roll customers onto a more expensive deal – flexible tariff, but this can be avoided if you find a cheaper deal before the end of your contract and switch over to another business energy suppliers. At D-ENERGi we have built up strong relationships with many business energy suppliers, and so are able to offer you accurate energy quotes based on your consumption and help you to make the most of your energy budget. You don’t even need to negotiate with any of the business energy suppliers – we do it all for you. Saving your valuable time and money.   #2 Consider smaller business energy suppliers A lot of business owners fall into the trap of thinking that their business energy has to come from one of the “Big Six” suppliers –British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON,  Npower, SSE, and Scottish Power. However, despite the fact that these companies have the biggest market share, they are not the only energy suppliers out there. There are lots of smaller business energy suppliers who are already having a big impact on the business energy market, providing the “Big Six” suppliers with some competition prices, which offers you the best potential for greater savings on your energy costs. #3 Reduce your business energy consumption and make a positive impact on the environment The simplest and most effective method of lowering your business energy bill is to reduce your energy consumption. Heating and lighting are significant contributors to overall energy costs in most businesses. Even a small adjustment, such as lowering your heating down by just one degree could save you 8% on your energy costs. And it has been estimated that using energy-efficient lighting could reduce your annual business electricity bill by 66%. By reducing your business energy consumption, you can establish your brand as environmentally sustainable, reduce your carbon emissions, and attract environmental aware customers. If you want to make significant savings on your business gas and business electricity costs, get in touch with our friendly team at D-ENERGi. We guarantee that all calls will be answered within five rings or less by a real person to assist you in finding a tailored solution.

Now that Spring is officially here, we’re anticipating at least some sunnier days on the horizon. And while much of your energy costs will be higher in winter, it is always a good idea to plan for the next few months ahead and take the necessary steps to prepare your business for any changes that may occur due to a shift in the season and the weather.   The importance of energy efficiency in summer With the push for greener business practices throughout the UK by the government and environmentalists, energy efficiency can be practised year round. With several practices being especially applicable during the summer months. This summer, keep your carbon emissions low and continue on your journey to net zero emissions with our top tips and best practices.   Assess current energy usage Leaving the winter months behind and awaiting the warmth of summer, the next few months provide the ideal opportunity to review and evaluate your current energy usage. Looking for ways to cut your energy costs and identify areas of your business that require improvement.   The importance of understanding your current energy consumption Staying in the know and being on top of your business energy bills provides you with greater insight into what you are paying and why. Leaving the high consuming energy periods of autumn and winter in the past, you should take a look over your most recent energy bills and assess where and when you have spent the most money and why. Perhaps there was a peak in your energy consumption during a particular month or you have debt with your supplier that you will now need to settle.   Tips on how to conduct an energy audit for your business One of the best ways to understand how your business uses energy is to conduct an energy audit. We recently wrote an article explaining in detail what an energy audit is and the best way to conduct one. This article can be found here. However here are some simple tips on conducting an energy audit for your business:   Understand Your Energy Bills Assess Building Systems and Equipment Use Energy Monitoring Tools Conduct a Building Envelope Assessment Review Operating Schedules   Highlighting the benefits of identifying areas for improvement Finding areas of your business that are consuming high levels of energy or require improvements offers you the perfect place to start to ensure your business is ready for the summer months and is adhering to your new energy audit recommendations by the time winter inevitably arrives once more. This first step is the perfect stepping stone to provide you with the information you need to ensure your business is running efficiently and saving on energy costs this summer.   Upgrade to energy-efficient equipment For those areas of improvements highlighted in your business energy audit, you should consider upgrading your equipment, machinery and business tools to energy-efficient alternatives where possible. While this may be a big investment for your business, there is support available from the UK government and tax incentives that may make such changes to your business more affordable. We suggest that you search the GOV.UK site for more information about schemes, relief and taxes for the support of businesses going green. An area to focus on during summer in particular would be your HVAC system. Providing cool air in summer and during warm days, the HVAC system should be well maintained and monitored to ensure it is running smoothly and is not consuming excessive amounts of energy.   Implement smart energy management practices Much like the winter months it’s just as important to implement and encourage proper smart energy management practices within your business. From the top to the bottom, every member of your team should be aware of the business’ goals for cutting carbon emissions and the areas in which they should be applying energy efficient practices. From keeping the working environment at a consistent temperature, especially on hot summer days, to turning off lights and reducing the use of energy draining equipment. Those in charge of the maintenance of equipment should certainly have particular systems serviced before summer. Including air conditioning units, refrigeration systems and water pumps.   Harness renewable energy sources Summer may be the perfect time for you to switch to renewable energy sources. Allowing you time to adjust to this change and cover the cost of any investment before winter rolls around. From solar panels to accessing wind energy and geothermal systems, there’s several options for a variety of businesses in different industries. Offering excellent cost savings and the chance to improve the energy efficiency of your business. Plus, such a decision may allow you access to relief from certain green taxes implemented by the government.   At D-ENERGi we supply all our electricity via D-ENERGi Trading from UK based wind farms. Supplying 100% renewable electricity to our business energy customers. Also supplying the best and competitive price for business electricity, with tailored solution that suits your business needs. Making us unique within the business energy sector and a perfect alternative to the big energy suppliers in the UK. Find out more about switching today with a free quote from us or contact us on 0800 781 7626.

While Jeremy Hunt did not mention the EBDS Scheme in his Spring Budget announcement, it is confirmed that the support scheme ends 31st March 2024. For small businesses utilising the support of the Energy Bill Discount Scheme may feel slightly left in the dark now, as no alternative or additional support has been mentioned by the government. So what now?   Costs of running a small business in 2024 Although there’s certainly mixed opinions regarding the scheme and the genuine support that it did or could offer SMEs, having little to no other options leaves many small businesses wondering about the future. Despite predictions for the energy market looking better for 2024, many small businesses will still be dealing with the financial fallout of the energy crisis and of course the other issue of the cost of living crisis. Ensuring staff are paid enough to cover their own bills, business rents increasing and difficulties in a variety of sectors, there will continue to be concern about finances and staying afloat for small business owners in 2024.   A desire for tailored support for small businesses While there is not a single scheme or support programme set to succeed the EBDS Scheme as of yet, there’s some discussions surrounding what SMEs truly desire from the government. Research done within the industry has highlighted that small business owners wish for the government to acknowledge their want for energy support that is tailored to their unique needs, rather than schemes that many do not deem to be adequate. Microbusinesses especially, have called for bespoke assistance from the government for those that have been most affected by rising energy prices. And many are calling for regular winter support to be introduced, making sure that each year businesses are thoroughly supported financially to survive the often challenging months of winter and the extra costs the cold weather presents businesses.   What can small businesses do now? However, since there is yet to be any response or correspondence from the government regarding these concerns and desires, here are some examples of support you can currently access and will be able to access beyond the end of the EBDS Scheme. The best method of support if you can not afford to pay your current energy bill is to contact your business energy supplier and negotiate a payment arrangement that works for your business and them. At D-ENERGi our team of customer service representatives are on hand to offer the best possible advice and guidance for all our business customers. Alternatively support from Citizens Advice and Ofgem may help if you are struggling with what to do next. From understanding how to switch business energy suppliers to knowing if you are overpaying for electricity, these organisations offer some of the best advice for businesses.   Cutting your energy consumption And while we await the government’s offers of more assistance through a new scheme or financial plan, you can also make a difference by actively reducing your energy usage to maximise your savings. From better energy management practices to improving your energy efficiency, there are many small steps you can take for a positive impact on your business. Our blog explores a wide range of these topics. Including the best advice for businesses wanting to cut energy costs and how to cut your energy consumption.   To conclude: While we remain hopeful that the government will continue to offer support for small businesses with their energy, we understand that from the latest budget, much more focus is being placed on inflation. Meaning less attention may be given to the energy market over the next year. Using our advice, we suggest that all small businesses worried about the end of their government-backed support to reach out for more information from our customer support teams. We can discuss next steps and future payments, helping to ensure you are on the right tariff and are able to pay your energy bills.