Business energy comparison

No, the energy price cap does not apply to business energy rates—only domestic rates are capped and reviewed quarterly. Business energy and household energy contracts are different. While the domestic price cap doesn’t directly affect business bills, monitoring changes can help you decide when to review or compare your business energy contract.

You can compare business energy quotes when your switching window opens, usually a few months before your contract ends - timings vary by supplier. Secure a new deal during this window to start after your current contract ends. If you’ve moved premises and are on deemed rates or you're on out-of-contract rates, you can compare and switch at any time.

When switching business energy via a broker or comparison site, you must sign a Letter of Authority (LoA). This legal document allows a third party to gather information and negotiate for you. But we can’t agree to a contract on your behalf until you’ve signed the LOA. This means you stay in complete control of the switch.

Switching times depend on your business size - micro businesses switch in five days under Ofgem’s Faster Switching rules, while others may take up to 30 days. Switching only happens once your current contract ends. You can arrange a new deal up to ten months in advance—services like Bionic’s Digital Renewals handle this process for you.

You generally can't switch business energy suppliers if you are in debt with your current supplier and have been for more than 28 days. If this is the case, your current supplier can object to the swicth and you'll need to pay off the debt before switching to a new provider. 

No. The switching process is usually straightforward, and your business will face no disruption when you change supplier. And you won't need to worry about your new provider installing anything at your business premises, as they’ll use the same pipes and cables as your old supplier.

When you leave your business premises, the energy contract at that property will be cancelled. If you don't arrange a new contract at your new premises, you'll be put on ‘deemed rates’ with that property’s existing supplier. These are more expensive than fixed rates, so you should switch as soon as possible. To find more, check out our guide to your business energy when relocating.

When your business energy contract ends, you’ll be given renewal rates from your supplier. Always compare offers before accepting. If you don’t act, you’ll be moved to out-of-contract rates, which are usually much higher. To avoid overpaying, secure a new fixed-rate deal as soon as your current contract ends.

Yes. Energy contracts are legally binding, and you don't need to physically sign one -  you can agree to a contract over the phone. And there's no cooling-off period on business energy contracts. That’s why it can help to talk through your contract details or see everything in writing before you agree to sign.

While choosing our cheapest energy deal can help reduce your overheads, the best energy deal is one that meets the specific needs of your business. At Bionic, our tech-enabled experts help you find a business energy quote that supports your long-term goals, not just your short-term savings.

The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a government tax added to your business energy bill to encourage energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Most businesses pay this at the relevant taxable rate, but you may be exempt or pay a reduced rate if you use very little energy or operate in a specific energy-intensive sector.

Unlike domestic energy, there is no "dual fuel" discount in the commercial market, meaning your gas and electricity will always be managed under two separate contracts. However, you can still choose to have both utilities supplied by the same provider to keep your billing and point of contact as simple as possible.

Energy prices always change, so it's difficult to say who the cheapest supplier is from one month to the next. You may also find that different suppliers are cheaper for gas and electricity. Check out the latest rates from our panel on our business energy suppliers page, or start a business energy comparison online now.