Switching your business energy supplier is easy, and it can save money and get you better service.

Check your existing contract

Find your most recent bill, and check the details of your contract. You’ll need to look for the contract end date, and check for early exit fees. If can’t find this information, then contact your supplier.

Get your information together

Before you can compare deals and switch suppliers, you’ll need to gather the following information:

• Business address and postcode
• Annual energy usage
• Details of your current tariff
• Serial numbers for your meters
• Your MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas) numbers

If you can’t find everything, don’t worry, as your supplier might be able to help you out.

Compare business energy deals

Unlike domestic energy, business energy tarrifs are based on how much you use, and your kind of business. The larger your business, the more chance you have of negotiating better rates.

It’s important to shop around, and to get quotes from multiple suppliers. When comparing, it’s important to think about:

• Unit rates for gas and electricity
• Standing charges
• Contract lengths
• Payment terms
• Quality of customer service

Always read the small print

Business energy contracts can often be complicated. So, it’s important to keep an eye out for things like automatic rollover clauses, and pricing structures.

Make the switch

Once you've chosen your new supplier, they'll manage most of the switching process, including notifying your previous provider.

All that will leave you to do is:

• Sign the new contract
• Provide your new supplier with access to your meter readings

Usually, the takes around 2-3 weeks for electricity, and up to 6 weeks for gas. But don’t worry, your energy supply won't be interrupted during the changeover.

Once you've switched

It’s important to take meter readings on the day of of the switch, and to keep copies of your final bills from your previous supplier. Your new provider should set up your account and payments, and if anything goes wrong during the switch, it should be down to the two energy firms to fix any problems that occurred during that time.

What to avoid doing

It’s important not to just focus on the cheapest unit rate, as standing charges and the small print in your contract could cost you more.

You should also always shop around for the best offers and never go to just one supplier.

If you’re renting your business premises, check whether it’s you or your landlord who is responsible for choosing the energy supplier.

When to switch again

When signing your new contract, make a note of the end date, and set a reminder to alert you a few months before. You can usually shop around before it ends, and you might be able to switch early, and without having to pay any early exit fees.

When looking for your next contract, it’s important to review your usage and any changes to your business to make sure you get the most personalised offer.