Quick guide to comparing direct quotes for business energy

Here’s to great deals made better

In your business, when it comes to managing your costs, you don’t just accept what’s in front of you. You challenge it. And you relish the opportunity to do so. So why should it be any different when you compare business energy quotes?

You don’t need to haggle any more to get a great deal on energy. When you go direct online to different energy suppliers, by law they have to display all their rates or clearly state where you can find them. All that’s left for you to do is to compare them. And with a little help, that shouldn’t take up too much of your time.

Here we give you the tools to pull apart the prices you’re quoted and inspect the real value. That way you can easily compare like-for-like and make up your own mind about what’s best for your business.

Let the direct comparison hack begin

We’re sure you know a good deal when you see one so our six-steps guide focuses on where to look for hidden charges, what’s significant in the quote, and why it pays to consider service as well as cost. That way, you can get the best deal on your energy and get right back to what you’re best at: growing your business.

1. Prepare to compare

• Check a recent bill or statement to find your meter type and usage.
• Use our handy ‘Quick Quote Kit’.
• Get quotes online from a range of business energy suppliers, using the same information for each quote.

2. Begin with the basics

• Fill in your own annual usage, plus each supplier’s unit prices and daily standing charges.
• Be aware that smaller businesses use fewer units of energy, so standing charges may have a bigger impact on your bill.

3. Discover if fixed means fixed

• Find out if you’ll always pay the same non-energy costs (such as FiT Levy or Capacity Market Charges). Some suppliers fix the price, others keep it flexible to recover their own costs.
• So remember, even if you’re comparing fixed-price energy contracts, your non-energy costs may still be flexible.

4. Check taxes are included

• Confirm that all your quotes include VAT and Climate Change Levy (CCL). The prices are set by government so will be the same for all suppliers, but some quotes exclude them.
• Make sure you get a VAT and CCL discount if your business qualifies.

5. Think about service

• Take note of important services included with each contract that could save you time in the future.
• Look out for mobile apps, online account tools, call centre times and anything else that could save your business time and money.

6. Apply discounts and compare

• Check if you’ll get a discount for paying by Direct Debit, or a charge for paying by cash or cheque.
• Finish by tallying the annual costs, weighing them up against levels of service, and choosing the deal that best suits your business.

Job done!