When it comes to keeping the running costs of your business as low as possible, one area that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked is your business energy usage. However, shopping around and comparing energy prices can be a time consuming process, but the rewards of finding a reputable, reliable and great value business energy provider will definitely be worth it. At D ENERGi, we want to help you understand how to compare business energy prices to find the right deal for you. Compare Business Energy Prices Know the Market Business energy prices are subject to a lot more change than domestic rates as they are connected to the daily wholesale price. So when comparing prices it’s important to remember that a quote you get one day, could well be lower or higher a few days later if the wholesale price has changed. Find your benchmark To get a good gauge on the market deals, you need to have a benchmark to work against, so calculating your current energy prices and consumption will give you a good indication of what your requirements are and whether you can save money by switching providers. Don’t be led by price Naturally, no two business requirements are the same and there are numerous variables taken into account by business energy providers to calculate rates. Low rates you see advertised by a provider, may not actually be available to your business and could come with caveats that cost you more in the long run. It’s better to shop around and possibly pay a little more with a reputable company who offer excellent customer service. Go bespoke As so many considerations such as business size, credit rating, location, sector and annual consumption are taken into consideration with business energy rates, it’s always a good idea to get a bespoke quote. While taking the time to contact individual providers may seem arduous over a quick online form, you’ll find that doing a thorough job from the start will save you time and potentially money further down the line. Understand the terms and tariffs With business utilities there are various types of contracts and tariffs you can get with business energy such as rollover, fixed term and 28-day contracts. Also, some contracts can have an agreed rate based on a fixed consumption for the duration of the contract or per year, so can incur additional charges. To ensure you know what you’re signed up for, it’s important to understand the terminology and terms and conditions. By taking all of these aspects into consideration, along with choosing a reputable business energy supplier, you can ensure you find the best possible deal that’s right for your business, saving you time and money that can be better invested into your organisation.

There are many things left in the dark with business energy, here we will give you some pointers with some free business electricity advice. Things that you should know but have never quite been told by your supplier. You shouldn’t feel left in the dark when it involves something as important as your money. We have put together some facts that are handy for you to know to assure yourself just where your money could be going. Business Energy Advice Loyalty doesn’t pay the bills – make sure you shop around. Being a loyal customer doesn’t entirely mean you will get the cheapest rates. In fact, usually it’s the opposite. When it comes to energy, loyalty never pays. If you have been with the same supplier for more than 2 years, you will more than likely be on their standard deal – this isn’t always the cheapest. According to GoCompare.com, switching suppliers could save you up to £291 per annum. The standard deal you are probably on will enable your supplier to increase prices in areas like your kWh and standing charge. Not all suppliers are the same, newer and independent suppliers are more likely to be more flexible and appreciate your custom. For example ourselves here at D-ENERGi will always look to price match any electricity price you get if you are our customer or if you just shopping around. Enabling our existing customers and prospective customers to always feel valued. Deemed contracts A deemed contract is in place when anyone moves their business premises and begins consuming gas, electricity or both – with no agreement in contract with a supplier. If a contract is ended by either the supplier or customer but the supplier continues to supply the customer a deemed contract is usually present if: The original contract does not obviously state the outcome after termination The existing customer continues to use gas, electricity or both at the premises 10% of micro businesses are on deemed contracts for their energy, prices in deemed contracts are usually more than a substantial 80% more than rates at a negotiated price. Make sure you know exactly when and where your charges are coming from, it is easy to be misled into paying more than you should be. Do you run a care home or are you a charity? Care homes, charities and other establishments using less than 33 kWh of energy per day are entitled to 5% VAT in comparison to the standard 20% VAT. When signing a contract with The Big Six – this usually isn’t outlined. Therefore meaning you could be being charged 20% VAT instead of 5%. An unusual service which we offer at D-ENERGi is your VAT rebait which we take into our hands from start to finish. Customers in the past have received as much as £15, 000 with their rebait. This process usually takes around 3-4 weeks but is most definitely worth it. Like-for-like tariffs If you have been shopping around for cheaper electricity rates then you must ensure you compare ‘like-for-like’ tariffs. Suppliers can throw in hidden charges which you are unaware of. This has happened in many cases when it is just as easy to avoid. A hidden charge is something we call a FiT charge, when you have been quoted for your business electricity, it is a point to ensure the FiT charge is included in your quote. On average, it has been estimated that a hidden charge can add an extra 2-3% onto your electricity bill. Understanding the benefits of half hourly meters P272 is a new regulation decided by Ofgem, having a half hourly meter will become mandatory in 2017. Until then, you could be saving a vast amount of money just by installing a half hourly meter. With a HH meter, you will be charged every half an hour which essentially should secure you cheaper rates. The process of installing HH meters can be tedious but your energy supplier will help you through step by step. If your profile class is 05, 06, 07 or 08 then you will automatically be changed to a HH by 1st April 2017 however, you can switch and save before this! Visit our page dedicated solely to P272 and read our infographic which will fill you with all knowledge you need to know. You can visit our page.  

The majority of businesses require considerable more electricity than the average home. This can work in your favour as it can enhance your negotiation price with your commercial energy supplier – in most cases.   Finding the perfect deal for your commercial electricity rates can be quite tedious and time consuming. As a result you will find that most businesses use a specialised energy broker experienced in energy negotiation, which is understandable. However most energy brokers will typically add in a margin on the unit rates and standing charge so they can generate a commission on the energy a businesses may consume. Therefore the most reliable way to getting the best deal is by directly calling commercial energy suppliers yourself and shopping around. You may be surprised about the fact that by speaking to a commercial energy supplier direct, like ourselves, you may able to get better commercial electricity rates. D-ENERGi is a direct commercial energy supplier,  fill in our quote form and receive a free, no obligation quote from us. Or if you would prefer to talk to us direct, call on 0800 781 7626.  We are a leading commercial independent energy supplier based in the heart of Manchester. A small energy supplier working under the radar of the big six for over 15 years. We know how it feels when you are being passed from pillar to post and having to endure long waiting times when trying to resolve a customer query,  which is why we have a 3 ring guarantee to all our customers. All energy suppliers will try and persuade you to allow them to supply your business electricity, but we want to ensure you that with a D-ENERGi quote you will feel no pressure – it is completely your decision, only you know what is best for your business and its energy needs. In the 1990’s a deregulation occurred which changed the game. Both domestic and business energy customers all over the UK can become a customer to the energy supplier of your choice. Once you switch suppliers, the only change you will notice is a different company logo on your bill and considerably lower charges. The ‘Big 6’ energy suppliers admittedly supply the majority of businesses in the UK but if you shop around, you should notice smaller, less popular suppliers could help you and your business save amounts you wouldn’t believe – it’s worth switching your investigation mode on!   Comparing electricity prices Comparing the prices for electricity can and will help you find what it is exactly that you need for finding the cheapest rates. Proceed with the following steps to learn how to compare electricity rates to the best of your ability: Find a recent if not the most recent electricity bill from your current supplier. Look around for a trusted electricity price comparison site, ensure the site you find offers you a whole market view, some of them will only show you plans you can switch to via their company Fill in the data captures with your electricity usage details as requested – this is so you can receive the most accurate results which are specific to your region and consumption Review your electricity comparison results – switching online could save you hundreds or you may just be checking to see how your current electricity plan compares to the rest of the market. Enjoy your savings! Talk to our experts today for competitive business energy quotes today!

Renewable energy can be composed in a wide variety of ways: wind, solar, hydro, tidal, and geothermal and also biomass. Renewable energy is something that is vastly growing throughout Europe therefore the European Union has lowered its dependence on imported fossil fuels and makes its energy production more sustainable. The 2020 package is a set of mandatory regulations to ensure the EU meets its climate and energy targets by 2020. Therefore the target is set to cut 20% in greenhouse gas emissions, to use 20% of EU energy from renewable sources and a 20% improvement in energy efficiency. The target in each country in the EU differs according to national wealth – from a 20% cut for the richest countries to a maximum 20% increase for the least wealthy. A target of 20% final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020 has been set for the EU by the EU’s renewable energy directive. To achieve this, each country of the EU is required to have at least 10% of their transport fuels come from renewable sources by 2020. Also, the countries have devoted to embracing their own national renewables targets ranging from 10% in Malta to 49% in Sweden. Britain has set a target of 15%. Each EU country has adopted national renewable energy action plans showing what actions they intend to take to adhere to their renewable targets.   These plans have been split into sectors of: electricity, heating and cooling, transport, planned policy measures, the different mix of renewable technologies they expect to employ and the planned use of cooperation mechanisms. Following from this, Amber Rudd conceded the UK does not have the right policies in place to meet the EU 2020 targets of sourcing 15% of energy from renewable sources. Rudd told the MP’s that reaching the target would be difficult and went on further to say that the UK could end up having to buy renewable energy from its European neighbours if it fell short. “It’s my aim we should meet the 2020 target. I recognise we don’t have the right policies, particularly in transport and heat, but we have four to five years and I remain committed to making the target,” she told the energy and climate change committee. To find out more information on the 2020 targets, click here.