Compare Business Electricity Suppliers

It can, yes. Business electricity suppliers often run a credit check before offering a contract. If your business has a strong credit score, you’ll generally see a wider range of quotes and more favourable terms. A lower score doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get a deal, but some providers might ask for a deposit upfront or limit the contract options available to you. It’s one of those things worth being aware of before you start comparing.

Signing a Letter of Authority for your business electricity contract gives your broker permission to access your supply data and negotiate on your behalf. It’s a standard part of the process that lets us pull your current tariff details, compare providers accurately, and handle the switch without you needing to chase your existing supplier for information. It doesn’t commit you to anything.

A deemed business electricity contract kicks in when a business starts using electricity at a premises without a formal agreement in place. This typically happens when you move into new premises or let an existing contract expire without renewing. The supplier puts you on their default rates, which are almost always higher than what you’d get on a negotiated contract. It’s worth checking whether you’re on a deemed contract and comparing providers to move onto something more competitive.

An MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is a unique identifier assigned to every electricity meter point in the UK. You will need your MPAN when comparing business electricity suppliers, as it tells the new provider exactly which meter they are quoting for. Our guide to MPAN numbers explains the full breakdown of what each part of the number means.

Your MPAN can be found on your business electricity bill, usually labelled as the “Supply Number” or “Meter Point Administration Number”. It is a 21-digit number starting with S. If you are not sure where to look, our MPAN number explained guide shows you exactly where to find it and how to read it.

A standing charge is a fixed daily fee on your electricity contract, regardless of how much energy you use. It covers the costs of maintaining the supply connection, metering, and network infrastructure. The standing charge is set by the supplier and appears separately from the unit rate (measured in kWh) on your bill. There’s a more detailed breakdown in our guide to business energy standing charges. When comparing electricity providers, it’s worth looking at both the unit rate and standing charge together, as a low unit rate with a high standing charge can still work out expensive.

kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, which is a unit of measurement used to quantify electricity consumption. It represents the amount of energy used by a device or system that consumes one kilowatt of power for one hour. In the context of comparing business electricity contracts, kWh is used to indicate the amount of electricity consumed over a specified period, typically measured in kilowatt-hours per month or year. This measurement is essential for understanding electricity usage and determining the cost associated with different contract options.

The unit rate and standing charge are the obvious ones, but they’re not the whole picture. Look at the contract length and whether it suits where your business is heading. Check what happens at the end of the term. Some suppliers roll you onto expensive out-of-contract rates if you don’t actively renew. Our guide on business energy standing charges breaks down how those fees work. It’s also worth considering customer service, whether the supplier offers smart metering, and whether green energy options are included or cost extra.

No. When you switch business electricity suppliers there will not be any interruption to your supply. The electricity still comes through the same wires and the same meter. The only thing that changes is who bills you and at what rate. The process is handled between the suppliers, and our complete guide to switching business electricity walks through each step so you know exactly what to expect. There is also a more detailed explanation of what happens when a business energy contract ends if your current deal is coming up for renewal.