Business Energy Guides
Plain-English guides to choosing business gas and electricity contracts, with advice for specific sectors. Business energy has no price cap, so comparing contracts before your renewal date makes the biggest difference.
Business energy for Cafés & Coffee Shops
How to choose a business energy supplier and contract for a café or coffee shop: usage profile, fixed vs flexible contracts, VAT & CCL rules and easy ways to cut bills.
Business energy for Takeaways & Delis
Energy guide for takeaways, delis and fast-food shops: fryers, ovens and extraction, evening peak usage, choosing a business energy contract and cutting costs.
Business energy for Commercial Landlords
Energy guide for commercial landlords: who pays during void periods, deemed contracts, recharging tenants, multi-site contracts and minimum EPC rules for lettings.
Business energy for Restaurants & Commercial Kitchens
Cooking gas baseloads, half-hourly metering and green tariffs for hospitality.
Business energy for Banks, Offices & Data Centres
Multi-site purchasing, REGO-backed green power and resilience for larger organisations.
Business energy basics
Is business energy covered by the Ofgem price cap?
No. The Ofgem price cap only applies to domestic tariffs. Business energy prices are set by each contract, which is why comparing quotes before your renewal date matters so much.
How much VAT and Climate Change Levy do businesses pay on energy?
Business energy normally carries 20% VAT plus the Climate Change Levy (CCL). If your usage is very low (under 33 kWh of electricity or 145 kWh of gas per day on average) the supply counts as "de minimis": VAT drops to 5% and CCL is not charged. Check your bill shows the correct rate.
Am I a microbusiness, and why does it matter?
You are a microbusiness if you have fewer than 10 employees (or equivalent) and annual turnover or balance sheet of no more than €2 million, or if you use under 100,000 kWh of electricity or under 293,000 kWh of gas a year. Most cafés, takeaways and small restaurants qualify, and microbusinesses get extra Ofgem protections — including being told how much of the price goes to a broker, and access to the Energy Ombudsman for complaints.
What happens if my business contract ends and I do nothing?
You may be rolled onto a new contract or moved to "out-of-contract" or "deemed" rates, which are usually much more expensive. Note your contract end date and the notice window in your terms, and start comparing quotes a few months before it ends.