Changing Commercial Tenancy: Energy Supplier Guide

When your business moves to a new address, make sure that you review your business energy suppliers straight away to avoid paying over the odds for your business gas supply or electricity.

What happens to the energy supply when my business moves?

Moving into new business premises is an exciting step for many business owners, but it is important that you don’t overlook reviewing suppliers when you move. If you fail to review and update your energy suppliers, you will have a ‘deemed contract’ with the previous occupier’s business suppliers. On the one hand, this means that you are not left without a gas or electricity supply but you will almost certainly be paying an extremely high rate for the energy you use.

What rate will I pay if I do not organise my own business energy contract?

If you carry on using electricity and gas at the new property without organising your own energy contract, you will pay the previous tenant’s business energy supplier at a very high rate, known as the ‘out of contract’ rate.

What should I do to get a better deal from business energy suppliers?

Make sure that you perform a comparison before you move premises, and carry out a switch as soon as possible. If your business also has a gas supply, compare and switch that, too. You are not limited to the supplier the previous tenant used. Some comparison tools gives you details of the very best rates available for your electricity supply and makes it easy to get the best deal. Make sure the tool of your choice has access to the whole of the business energy market, including the ‘big six’ suppliers. 

How do I set up a contract with a business energy supplier?

Once you have used a price comparison tool to check the best available deals in the market, simply get in touch with us. Checking prices yourself is time-consuming: we take the hassle out of the process for you, making it easy for you to find the best deals and switch to the energy supplier and deal which will save your business the most money. With our impartial, free service, we compare over 150 business energy tariffs to save you time, hassle and money. We have saved UK businesses over £85 million so far! Once you have switched with us, we will keep a note of your renewal date and contact you so that you always get the best deal.

We understand that the best deal is not just about saving the most money although, of course, saving money is important to every business! We pride ourselves in finding the business energy service tailored to your own business needs and so we encourage you to give us as much detail as possible about what is important to you. This might be, for example, a green energy supplier, one supplier for multiple premises, online account management, a personal account manager or a lower standing charge.

We will give you quotes for a variety of business energy options and we will explain the terms of the contracts for you so that you can make an informed decision. We always use plain English to make it easy for you to understand what is being offered.

Once you have made your decision, we will talk you through a verbal contract and then take care of the paperwork for you, leaving you to concentrate on running your business.

What steps should I take when I move into my new business property?

If you are moving into a brand-new property, then ideally make sure the energy services you require have been connected before you move in. If this isn’t already done, then you need to make sure the connections are made as quickly as possible. If your property has had a previous occupier, then make sure they have paid their bills – disconnection could be an unwelcome and stressful surprise.

You should be able to organise your new energy contract as soon as you have completed your agreement to lease the property, so that it is ready to go when you move in. On the day you move in, take opening meter readings to give to your new energy company.

What about my existing property?

Many businesses will need to deal with ending contracts on their existing property as well as entering into new contracts on the property they are moving into. Don’t forget to notify your existing energy supplier on your old property that you are moving out. Take photographs of the meters at your old property on the day you move out, too, as evidence of the final meter readings you will give to your old energy company.