Business Energy for Manufacturing

UK industrial electricity prices are among the highest in Europe, roughly 40% above what French and German manufacturers pay, driven largely by wholesale costs and the policy and network charges baked into bills. It is a big reason buying well, and claiming any relief you are due, matters so much for industry.

It varies enormously by volume. In 2025, extra-large users paid around 12p per kWh while small users paid over 25p, with the average sitting around 30p. The more you use, the more buying power you have, which is exactly where a broker can help.

If your site peak demand reaches 100kW, a half-hourly (HH) meter is required by law, and most manufacturing sites qualify. HH metering gives detailed usage data that we use to manage demand charges and sharpen your contract.

A flexible contract lets large users buy energy in tranches when wholesale prices are favourable, rather than fixing everything at once. A pass-through contract separates a fixed wholesale rate from variable network and policy charges. Both can suit high-consumption sites, and we will advise on the right fit.

Possibly. Schemes such as Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and Energy Intensive Industries (EII) support can reduce the policy costs in your bill for qualifying sectors like paper, metals, chemicals and ceramics. Many businesses do not claim everything they are entitled to, so we check.

Combine three things: a well-timed procurement strategy, active demand management (capacity, power factor and peak avoidance), and efficiency upgrades or on-site generation like solar. For most plants the contract and demand side is where the quickest, largest savings sit.

Yes. Multi-site manufacturers can consolidate every plant onto one supplier, with one bill and one renewal date, even where contracts currently end on different dates. Combined volume often unlocks a better rate, and it cuts admin.

Yes. Alongside green tariffs, larger sites can explore on-site solar and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which fix a portion of supply at a known price while cutting carbon. We can compare green options as part of your procurement.

It depends on your usage, contract and how you currently buy, but high-volume sites on the wrong contract or missing reliefs can be overpaying considerably. The best starting point is a call with a manufacturing specialist.