Research by the Federation of Small Businesses has revealed that 70% of businesses have experienced difficulty when it comes to comparing energy suppliers, with 43% saying they have never switched suppliers. These are incredible numbers when you think about how the cheapest business electricity prices could help you save money as a business. A lack of understanding about different energy suppliers, wanting to remain loyal to existing suppliers, and a concern about the effort and time it may involve to switch business energy suppliers are all things that stand in the way of businesses potentially making the switch to the cheapest business electricity supplier. However, switching business energy suppliers is not the long and complicated task that you might think it is, and the savings you could achieve will make any slight effort on your part well worth it. Here are some FAQ’s relating to switching business energy suppliers. #1 How do I find out who my existing supplier is? You can find out who supplies your current business gas and electricity, by looking at your most recent utility bill – the contact details of your current supplier will be printed on it. If you have just moved to new premises or you can’t find your latest bill, you can contact the Meter Point Administration service to ask for their details. #2 What is a deemed contract? If you have recently moved into new premises then a deemed contract will probably be in place for your electricity, gas, or maybe even both if you have not agreed on a contract with your current supplier. If your existing contract has come to an end but you are continuing to consumer electricity then a deemed contract probably exists. The cost of deemed contracts tends to be about 80% more expensive than a negotiated contract – so you can see why they are not good news for many businesses. #3 What is a rolling contract? A rolling contract is when your business gas or electricity supplier rolls you over into a new contract automatically – which may be the case if you fail to tell your supplier of your intention to end a contract before the end of your notice period. #4 Do I need to tell my existing business energy supplier that I am leaving them? Yes. If you decide to leave your existing energy supplier and switch to another one, then you must inform your existing supplier by either Telling them directly Asking your comparison company (D-ENERGi) to provide them with a Letter of Authority (LoA)   #5 What is a Letter of Authority (LoA) A Letter of Authority is a recognised legal document that allows us to liaise with energy suppliers on your behalf, with your permission. It basically allows us to call time on your existing tariff and set you up on a cheaper and more competitive one. D-ENERGi is here to help businesses across the UK save money and make the switch. Call us today so that we can help you find the cheapest business electricity rates UK.

Energy bills can be a real drain on your running costs, whatever size of business you have. Equipment, heating, and lighting are all essential items for most businesses, and it is really easy to get stuck on business gas and business electricity prices per kWh that are not right for your current needs or even sky-high. Here at D-ENERGi we understand that just as companies can vary wildly in scale and size, so can their energy requirements. When it comes to business gas and business electricity use, it is certainly not one size fits all. That is why it is so important that you compare business electricity prices per kWh to find the best rate for your individual business’s needs. What do you need to know about business energy tariffs? There are two main types of tariffs used – fixed-rate and variable. Because the size and scope of each individual business are different, so will their requirements for electricity and gas be. Choosing the correct tariff for your business will depend on how you use electricity and gas and how you want to pay for it. Certain factors need to be taken into account when selecting the right commercial energy tariff for your business, including your financial situation, where your company is located, and how much electricity and gas you use currently. #Fixed rate tariff This type of energy payment plan is suited to those businesses who are on a budget as your energy bill will be fixed at a set rate for a period of time – in some cases, this can be as long as four years. After this fixed rate tariff comes to an end, you can continue with the same supplier and switch to a different agreement, or switch to a different supplier altogether. This tariff arrangement is preferred by business owners who wish to protect themselves from price changes during the agreed period of time as prices are usually cheaper than they are on a variable rate tariff. Some energy providers also offer fixed rate tariff customers a further reduction on their bill if they agree to pay by direct debit. One thing to consider with this tariff, however, is you are locked into it for the agreed duration of time and cannot switch tariffs if prices go down, or other better deals come onto the market. #Variable tariff Variable tariffs can offer a cheaper rate at the time of the initial agreement, but you don’t get the same level of protection against energy price rises on your business gas or electric bill and so the amount you pay will fluctuate based on the energy market in general. A variable tariff represents the balance between the risk of energy prices rising in the long term and paying lower energy costs in the short term. This may be a balance that start-up or smaller companies may be more willing to accept in order to keep the cost of their immediate overheads down. Within the variable tariff there are two main types of agreement: Tracker price tariff – changes based on the wholesale market movement Blend and extend price tariff – a unit rate that comprises of an average between your current contractual rate and that of the current available market rate If you want to save money on your business gas prices per kWh then contact the team at D-ENERGi today.

Hinkley Point has Postponed Plans until September   Towards the end of July, last minute delays were proposed for Britain’s first new nuclear power plant for a generation. The decision for Hinkley Point, Somerset, came into place after Theresa May’s Government announced a new review. Resulting in the decision on the future of Hinkley Point being postponed until September. After the EDF board approved the £18 billion project, within hours their decision had been subsided by the new Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark. He announced the project will be delayed. He said: “The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix. The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.” Critics say that Hinkley Point is “poor value for money” and “very risky”.   The government has promised to pay EDF a cemented cost of £92.50 per mega-watt hour of electricity for a substantial 35 years. Questions have been raised regarding the association in the project with the Chinese State nuclear firms who are due to invest one third of the Hinkley Point project. The Chinese ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, has stated that he feels as though the ‘mutual trust’ is in jeopardy as a result of the recent delays to the nuclear project. This will continue unless the Hinkley Point power station is given the green-light again. Liu Xiaoming said: “Right now, the China-UK relationship is at a crucial historical juncture. Mutual trust should be treasured even more. “I hope the UK will keep its door open to China and that the British government will continue to support Hinkley Point – and come to a decision as soon as possible so that the project can proceed smoothly.” The two reactors which are planned to be constructed at Hinkley Point are expected to generate the right amount of electricity in order to meet 7 percent of the UK’s energy needs. This would enforce power in 5.8 million homes. Considering recent delays, the power is expected to be produced by 2033. Before the recent changes, the initial prediction for power to be produced was 8 years before this date, therefore allowing Hinkley Point to be producing power by 2025. Given the above, the government have insisted that Hinkley Point represents a good deal to assist the replacement of Britain’s ageing power plants. Old coal stations have been shut down to environmental rules and old nuclear reactors have to also bid farewell. What are your views on the new Hinkley Point plans? Do you agree with the critics comments or do you think Hinkley Point will be a good investment in the energy industry? Should the plans be postponed or should we go ahead ASAP with our new nuclear power plant station?