What is business energy and how is it different from domestic energy?

Business energy is the gas and electricity your organisation uses for day-to-day operations. Business tariffs and contracts often differ from domestic plans in pricing, contract length, billing options and eligibility. If your supply is used for commercial purposes, you’ll typically need a business energy plan.

Can Energy Plus help me switch business electricity and gas?

Yes. Energy Plus can guide you through switching your business electricity and/or gas. In most cases there’s no disruption to your supply because the energy continues to come through the same network—only your supplier and contract change.

How do I get a business energy quote?

You can request a business energy quote by providing a few details such as your business name, postcode, current supplier (if known) and your meter numbers (MPAN for electricity and/or MPRN for gas). If you have a recent bill, it helps us match your supply quickly and accurately.

What information do I need to switch business energy?

To switch business energy, you’ll typically need your supply address and postcode, electricity MPAN and/or gas MPRN, current supplier details, your current contract end date (if you’re in contract), and an estimated usage figure (kWh) or a recent bill.

Will my business energy supply be interrupted when I switch?

No—switching supplier should not interrupt your business electricity or gas supply. The physical network remains the same; your billing and contract simply move to the new supplier.

How long does a business energy switch take?

Switch times can vary depending on your current contract and cooling-off periods. If you’re out of contract, switching can often be completed in a few weeks. If you’re in contract, you may need to wait until your renewal window to avoid exit fees.

Can you help if my business is on deemed or out-of-contract rates?

Yes. If your business is on deemed, variable or out-of-contract rates, you may be paying more than necessary. We can help you review your options and move to a fixed plan where appropriate to improve cost certainty.

Do you offer fixed-rate business energy contracts?

Yes. Fixed-rate business energy contracts are commonly available and can help you budget by locking in unit rates for an agreed term. The best option depends on your usage, risk preference and contract length.

What is an MPAN and MPRN and where can I find them?

An MPAN is your electricity meter point administration number, and an MPRN is your gas meter point reference number. You can usually find them on your energy bill, often in a section labelled ‘Supply details’ or ‘Meter details’.

Can I switch if my business has multiple sites or meters?

Yes. If you have multiple sites, meters or a portfolio, we can help coordinate quotes and contracts across your locations. Having a list of addresses and MPAN/MPRN numbers will speed up the process.

Is renewable or green business electricity available?

Yes. Green business electricity options may be available, depending on supplier and product. If renewable supply is important to your organisation, tell us when requesting a quote so we can factor it into the options presented.

How can I lower my business energy costs?

Common ways to reduce business energy costs include moving off deemed/out-of-contract rates, choosing a contract length that matches your risk appetite, improving efficiency (LED lighting, controls, insulation), monitoring usage, and considering smart or half-hourly metering where suitable.

Compare Business Energy Prices & Best Deals

Business energy is not price-capped like household energy — rates are quoted per business, and the gap between a negotiated contract and out-of-contract rates is routinely 40–80%. Use the guides below to understand your contract position, then get a quote in minutes.

Get a business energy quote

Tell us who you are and we will take you straight to Octopus Energy for Business — switching businesses currently get a £75 account credit.

No call-backs from brokers — you deal with the supplier
Works for micro-businesses and multi-site
Takes about 2 minutes

What UK businesses actually pay — official Q1 2026 averages

Official averages from the government’s Quarterly Energy Prices survey of suppliers — the most reliable public benchmark for what UK businesses actually pay.

Electricity

Consumer size band	Annual usage	Q1 2026 (p/kWh)	Q1 2025 (p/kWh)	Change
Very small	0–20 MWh	35.0	32.9	↑ 6.6%
Small	20–499 MWh	28.8	29.4	↓ 2.3%
Small/medium	500–1,999 MWh	28.1	28.8	↓ 2.4%
Medium	2,000–19,999 MWh	25.0	27.3	↓ 8.4%
Large	20,000–69,999 MWh	23.9	26.0	↓ 7.9%
Very large	70,000–150,000 MWh	21.9	22.9	↓ 4.3%
Extra large	>150,000 MWh	21.4	22.7	↓ 5.7%
All non-domestic average	—	24.14	25.74	↓ 6.2%

Gas

Consumer size band	Annual usage	Q1 2026 (p/kWh)	Q1 2025 (p/kWh)	Change
Very small	<278 MWh	7.48	7.54	↓ 0.8%
Small	278–2,777 MWh	4.77	5.32	↓ 10.3%
Medium	2,778–27,777 MWh	4.55	5.04	↓ 9.8%
Large	27,778–277,777 MWh	4.46	4.61	↓ 3.3%
Very large	277,778–1,111,112 MWh	4.53	4.70	↓ 3.5%
All non-domestic average	—	5.17	5.54	↓ 6.7%

Prices above include the Climate Change Levy (CCL) but exclude VAT and standing charges. The CCL main rate rose to 0.801p/kWh for both electricity and gas on 1 April 2026 (from 0.775p/kWh) — the first increase since 2021, so contracts renewing after April 2026 carry a slightly higher levy than the Q1 figures shown.

The small-business penalty is widening. Across Q1 2025 to Q1 2026 the average non-domestic electricity price fell 6.2% — but the very smallest consumers (under 20 MWh a year, which covers most shops, cafes and small offices) saw their average price rise from 32.9p to 35.0p/kWh. Small sites now pay around 63% more per kWh than the largest consumers, and are the group most likely to be sitting on out-of-contract or deemed rates — which is why getting a negotiated quote matters most if you are small.

Source: DESNZ Quarterly Energy Prices, tables 3.4.1–3.4.2 (non-domestic prices including CCL, excluding VAT), published 30 June 2026; Q1 2026 figures are provisional. Next official update: 29 September 2026.

Best business energy deals in July 2026: how to actually get one

There is no public price cap and no published “best buy” table for business energy — suppliers quote each business individually on usage, meter type and credit profile. What “best deal” really means in practice:

Beat out-of-contract rates first. If your fixed term ended and you never renewed, you are typically paying 40–80% over a negotiated rate — any quote wins.
Compare against the official averages above. If a quote beats the government average for your size band, it is a genuinely good rate — not just good marketing.
Fix before 1 October 2026. The domestic cap change flags where wholesale prices are heading; business quotes move earlier.
Skip the broker call-backs. Our quote route goes straight to the supplier — switching businesses currently get a £75 account credit.

Compare & switch

Business energy comparison

Compare current business electricity and gas deals.

Small business energy prices

Prices and switching for small firms.

How to switch business energy

The switch process, timelines and what you need.

Micro-business rates

Special protections and rates for micro-businesses.

Multi-site contracts

Rates for businesses with multiple premises.

Rates & forecasts

Unit rate forecast 2026

Where business unit rates are heading.

Gas rate forecast - winter

Winter 2026 business gas outlook.

Business electricity prices

Current electricity prices per kWh.

Gas standing charges

Business gas standing charge rates.

Standing charge increases

2026 standing charge changes explained.

Do price caps apply to business?

July 2026 changes and what they mean.

Price index 2004–2026

Official price history: the 2023 peak, the recovery, and the record small-business premium.

Contracts & renewals

Contract types explained

Fixed, variable, flexible and deemed contracts.

Renewal quotes before end date

When and how to get renewal quotes.

Fixed vs flexible

Which contract style fits your business.

Flexible, no exit fee

Contracts you can leave without penalty.

Fixed contract ending?

Your options before rollover kicks in.

Avoid expensive rates

Avoid deemed rates

Get off out-of-contract and deemed rates.

Hidden exit fees

Spot and challenge hidden contract fees.

Early exit fees

What leaving a contract early really costs.

Rollover exit fees

Escaping an auto-rollover contract.

Meter read before contract end

Protect yourself at switchover.

Meters & half-hourly

Half-hourly tariffs

Costs and comparison for HH-metered sites.

Meter type charges

How your meter type changes what you pay.

Meter upgrade costs

Smart and HH meter upgrade pricing.

Pass-through charges

Non-commodity costs on your bill, explained.

Brokers

Broker-free quotes

Compare without a broker in the middle.

By business type

Pubs & bars

Energy for wet-led and food pubs.

Restaurants

High-usage kitchen energy strategies.

Care homes

24/7 usage profiles and contracts.

Farms & agriculture

Agricultural electricity pricing.

Why EnergyPlus for business energy

We are an independent UK comparison site. No broker call-backs, no reselling your number — you go straight to the supplier, and our guides are reviewed against Ofgem and supplier documentation. If you spot an error, tell us via the contact page.

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Updated on 3 Aug 2026