Unit rate and standing charge
The two numbers that decide most of your bill, benchmarked against live market pricing rather than against your renewal letter.
Business electricity
Business Electricity
Compare business electricity across the market — single site or multi-site, standard or half-hourly metering. Independent, with commission disclosed up front.
- 20+
- suppliers compared
- 1–5 yr
- fixed terms available
- £0
- cost to compare
Why it is different
Commercial power is priced per business, not per tariff
There is no price cap on business electricity and no published rate card. What you are offered depends on your consumption profile, your credit position, the length of term and the day the supplier is asked.
- Two firms on the same street can pay very different unit rates.
- Prices are only held for a short window, so timing genuinely matters.
- A contract that lapses moves to out-of-contract rates, not a fair one.
- Half-hourly sites are priced on shape, not just total kWh.
What sits inside a unit rate
Illustrative
Wholesale energy
the market bit
Network & policy costs
largely fixed
Supplier margin
negotiable
Proportions vary by meter, region and contract — a simplified illustration, not a quote. The part a broker can genuinely move is the supplier margin and the terms attached to it.
Where the savings come from
Four things we push on for every electricity contract
Contract timing
When we go to market, and how long we fix for, is often worth more than which supplier we land on.
Meter profile
Half-hourly data shows when you actually use power. Suppliers price a predictable shape more keenly than a guess.
Multi-site alignment
Different sites on different end dates is where money quietly leaks. We bring the portfolio into one view.
Business electricity is not sold like a home tariff. There is no price cap, no standard rate, and no obligation on a supplier to offer you a fair renewal. Prices are quoted per business, per meter, based on how and when you use power — which means two firms on the same street can pay very different rates for the same electricity.
What we look at
- Unit rate and standing charge — the two numbers that decide most of your bill, benchmarked against live market pricing rather than your renewal letter.
- Meter type — standard non-half-hourly profiles through to half-hourly (HH) metered supplies for larger sites.
- Contract length — fixed terms from one to five years, weighed against where the wholesale market sits today.
- Non-commodity costs — network, policy and capacity charges that can quietly make up a large share of the bill.
Multi-site portfolios
If you run several sites, the biggest savings usually sit in the mess: different suppliers, different end dates, different rates, all drifting out of sync over the years. We bring the portfolio into one view, align renewal dates where it helps, and put sites on the contract structure that actually suits them — whether that is a single agreement or a set of coordinated ones.
Out of contract? Move quickly
If a fixed term has lapsed, you are almost certainly on out-of-contract or deemed rates — typically among the highest a supplier charges, and applied automatically. There is no penalty for leaving them behind, and it is usually the fastest saving we can find. Send us a recent bill and we will tell you where you stand.
Ready to see the market? Start a free, no-obligation comparison and we will come back to you with the options worth considering — usually the same working day.
How it works
Four steps, and most of the work is ours
You send a bill and answer a couple of questions. We do the market search, the supplier chasing and the paperwork.
01
Send us a bill
A recent bill carries everything we need in one place: meter numbers, current supplier, end date, consumption and the rates you are on today.
02
We search the market
You sign a Letter of Authority so we can speak to suppliers for you. We take your usage out to the market and push for the best commercial rates.
03
You decide
One clear comparison, with our commission on each option stated up front. If your existing renewal offer is already competitive, we will tell you.
04
We handle the switch
Your new supplier takes over when the current contract ends. No interruption, no engineer visit, and we diarise the next renewal for you.
Worth knowing
The renewal letter is an offer, not the market
Suppliers price the same business differently depending on who asks and when. Here is what changes when somebody asks properly.
| What happens | Accepting the renewal letter | Going to the whole market |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the price | Your current supplier, unchallenged | Suppliers competing for the contract |
| Number of prices seen | One | Twenty-plus, priced on your actual usage |
| If you do nothing | Out-of-contract or deemed rates | We come back to you before the end date |
| Commission visibility | Not usually stated | Disclosed before you sign |
| Effort from you | Sign and hope | One bill and a short conversation |
Suppliers we compare across the market
Supplier names and logos are the property of their respective owners and are shown to indicate the market we search. We are an independent consultancy, not affiliated with any supplier.
Straight answers
Business energy, explained properly
The questions we get asked every week — answered without the sales spin.
How do I switch business energy supplier?
It is more straightforward than most people expect, and you will not lose supply at any point — the wires and pipes stay exactly the same, only the company billing you changes.
- Send us a recent bill so we can see your meter numbers, current rates and consumption.
- You sign a Letter of Authority, which lets us talk to suppliers on your behalf.
- We search the market and come back to you with the options worth considering.
- You pick a deal, sign the contract, and your new supplier handles the switch.
The changeover happens on the day your current contract ends. Nothing is switched off and no engineer needs to visit.
When should I start looking at renewal?
Most business energy contracts let you agree new rates well before the end date, and many suppliers will quote up to 12 months ahead. Starting early gives you time to watch the market rather than accept whatever lands in front of you.
Leaving it too late is the expensive mistake. If a contract ends without a new one in place you roll onto out-of-contract or deemed rates, which are typically among the highest a supplier charges. If that has already happened to you, it is usually worth moving quickly.
What do I need to get a quote?
Ideally a recent energy bill — it carries everything we need in one place:
- Your MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas) — the long meter reference on the bill.
- Your current supplier and contract end date.
- Annual consumption in kWh, plus your current unit rate and standing charge.
If you cannot find a bill, we can still get started with your business name, address and postcode.
How much does it cost to use Manage My Utilities?
There is no fee for you to pay us directly. Like most business energy brokers, we are paid a commission by the supplier you choose, which is built into the unit rate on your contract.
We will tell you what that commission is before you sign anything. Under Ofgem rules, suppliers and brokers are expected to be transparent about third-party costs, and you are entitled to ask for that figure on any quote you receive from anyone.
Which suppliers do you compare?
We work across the business energy market rather than a single panel — that includes the large legacy suppliers and the business-only specialists who often price better for smaller commercial sites.
No broker has access to literally every tariff in the market, and any that claims to should be treated with caution. What we can tell you is which suppliers we approached and what each one came back with.
No cost, no obligation
Find out what you should be paying
Send us a recent bill or answer four quick questions. We will tell you honestly whether you are on a good deal — and if you are, we will say so.