Business Energy Suppliers, Rated & Compared

A business energy supplier is a company that provides gas and electricity to commercial premises rather than homes. They buy energy wholesale and sell it to businesses on commercial tariffs, which work differently to domestic deals.

The traditional Big Six were British Gas, EDF, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE. The market has changed since: today the largest suppliers by share are Octopus Energy, British Gas, E.ON Next, OVO, EDF and Scottish Power. The biggest names aren’t always the cheapest, so it pays to compare.

There’s no single cheapest supplier. The best rate depends on your usage, location, meter type and contract length, and prices change daily. Running a live comparison is the only reliable way to see who is cheapest for your business right now.

Business energy isn’t covered by Ofgem’s domestic price cap, and bills include the Climate Change Levy and 20% VAT (against 5% for homes). Unit rates are often lower than domestic because businesses use more, but these extra charges can make overall bills higher.

Common options are fixed-rate, variable, green/renewable, pass-through, and half-hourly for high-usage sites. Avoid deemed, out-of-contract and rollover rates, which are the expensive defaults that apply if you don’t agree a new deal in time.

Yes. Most suppliers offer a renewable tariff backed by wind, solar or hydro, and some provide 100% renewable electricity as standard. Specialists include Good Energy, 100Green, Octopus Energy and Ecotricity. Green tariffs are now often priced in line with standard ones.

You won’t lose supply. Ofgem appoints a replacement supplier to take over your account, and you simply wait to be contacted. Take a meter reading and don’t switch during the process. Note that businesses aren’t covered by the domestic safety net, so any credit is at the new supplier’s discretion.

A number of suppliers failed during the energy crisis, including Whoop Energy, Xcel Power and Together Energy in 2022, and CNG Energy, MA Energy and Bluegreen Energy in 2021. Choosing an established supplier with strong reviews is one reason we weigh up service alongside price.

Look beyond the headline unit rate. Weigh up the standing charge, contract length, tariff type, supplier reviews and any incentives such as renewable energy or smart metering. Your location, industry and meter type also affect the rate you’re offered.

Leaving early usually means an exit fee, so weigh the saving against that cost. The simplest route is to switch in your renewal window, where you can secure a new deal up to 12 months ahead, ready to start the moment your current contract ends.