Extra help for business customers – our update

The government have created various rebate schemes to support businesses across the UK with the cost of energy bills. They include the latest, which is the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.

Here's where you'll find the latest information on these and other helpful updates

How to find the right info

We've pulled all the important info into one place. So how do you know what content to look at.

  • If your energy account number is 12 digits long, you're classified as a SME customer, so click on any of the SME info buttons
  • If your energy account number is 10 digits long, you're classified as an EDF Business Solutions (EBS) customer so click on any of the EBS info buttons

Current government rebates for businesses

Energy Bills Discount Scheme

  • This rebate scheme runs from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
  • It provides eligible customers with a discount against the wholesale part of their unit rate
  • Any customers who are Energy Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) can apply for additional support via the government website

                               

SME business infoEBS info 

Energy Bill Relief Scheme

  • The EBRS was launched in October 2022 to support businesses through the rise in energy costs
  • This scheme has now finished and been replaced with the Energy Bills Discount Scheme
  • A discount is applied to unit rates
SME business infoEBS info

Alternative Fuel Payments

  • The AFP is a one-off payment of £150 for business customers across Great Britain who use alternative fuels such as biomass, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or heating oil to heat their business premises
  • More funding available for customers who use high users of heating oil
  • View how payments will be made
SME business infoEBS info

What does the Energy Bills Discount Scheme mean for our SME business customers?

We're now rolling out the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which discounts our SME customer's prices. If you're one of our customers whose tariff deal means you're eligible for the discount, you'll start to see it on your bills from 1 April 2023. The discount depends on when you signed your contract and your current unit rates. We've created a simple table to show you how the discounts will work;

FixedCustomers on fixed contracts agreed before 1 December 2021If you signed your fixed contract before 1 December 2021, the recent wholesale price rises would not have affected you. You will, therefore, not be eligible for this scheme.
FixedCustomers on fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 December 2021

The discount will be applied automatically between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Variable priced contracts

Customers on a variable tariff (Deemed, Freedom and Extended Supply)

 

The discount will be applied automatically between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. 

Due to the current energy market conditions, you may still benefit from moving to a fixed tariff.

A couple of key points;

  • The EBDS total discount will vary depending on the amount of energy you use during this period
  • The supported price includes the green levies discount; this will not be discounted in addition
  • The discount will also vary dependent on your current unit rate vs the threshold defined by the government
  • The government have decided the eligibility criteria for this scheme. They're using wholesale gas and electricity prices to set this discount. The easiest way to see what your SME discounts will be to use our online calculator, which we're currently creating
  • For customers who signed up for a fixed contract, your contract sign date will be the date used to determine your fixed price unit rate vs the threshold defined by the government. You can find this info in your welcome pack that was sent to you when you signed up
  • For customers who signed up to our Easyfix tariff, your fixed price date will be the date your renewal letter was originally sent


How do I know which tariff I'm on?

The table below explains how the tariff name displays on your bill.

EBDS classificationTariff nameProduct name displayed on your bill
VariableFreedom

Elec - On your bill: Freedom for business
Gas - On your bill: Freedom for business - gas

VariableDeemed

Elec - On your bill: Deemed Elec Product SME
Gas - On your bill: Deemed Gas Product SME

VariableExtended SupplyElec - On your bill: Extended Supply Elec Product SME
Gas - On your bill: Extended Supply Gas Product SME
VariableTariff CoreElec - On your bill: Core Elec Product SME
FixedEasyFixElec - On your bill: EasyFix for Business (year)
Gas - On your bill: EasyFix Gas for Business (year)
FixedFixed For Business OnlineElec - On your bill: Fixed for business Online (year)
Gas - On your bill: Fixed for business Online gas (year)
FixedFixed for businessElec - On your bill: Fixed for business (year)
Gas - On your bill: Fixed for business gas (year)

Work out the discount your business is entitled to

We've created a simple tool for our SME business customers to help you see what discount your business is entitled to through the EBRS and EBDS schemes.

What your discount depends on;

  • the amount of energy you use
  • your current unit rate vs the threshold defined by the government

Prepayment customers, you won't need to use the calculator, your discount will be sent as a cheque every three months.

How to use our calculator

Enter your business account number and postcode below to get started. It will help calculate your discount more accurately if you have a recent meter reading handy – and if you also you have the first meter reading that you took after 1 October 2022. You can come back to calculate your new total discount whenever you have a new meter reading.

Please then enter the postcode of your supply address

EBRS and EBDS rates for our EDF Business Solutions (large business) and SME customers

The table below shows our EBS and SME customers the new discount rates and allows you to compare them to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme discounted rates. We're still waiting for more information about the Qualifying Heat Supplier and will update this as soon as we have it.
 

Electricity table comparing old EBRS to new EBDS rates

 EBRS (1 Oct 22 - 31 Mar 23)EBDS (1 Apr 23 - 31 Mar 24)
 Contract TypeStandard RateStandard RateETII* Rate
Max thresholdFixed ContractsNo Maximum Discount£19.61 per MWh or 1.961p per kWh £89 per MWh or
8.9p per kWh
Flexible Contracts£345 per MWh or
34.5p per kWh		£19.61 per MWh or 1.961p per kWh £89 per MWh or
8.9p per kWh
Deemed, Extended, Tariff£345 per MWh or
34.5p per kWh		£19.61 per MWh or 1.961p per kWh £89 per MWh or
8.9p per kWh
Floor / Price thresholdFixed Contracts£211 per MWh or
21.1p per kWh		£302 per MWh or 30.20p per kWh £185 per MWh or
18.5p per kWh
Flexible Contracts£211 per MWh or
21.1p per kWh		£302 per MWh or 30.20p per kWh £185 per MWh or
18.5p per kWh
Deemed, Extended, Tariff£211 per MWh or
21.1p per kWh		£302 per MWh or 30.20p per kWh £185 per MWh or
18.5p per kWh

*ETII: Energy & Trade Intensive Industries
Applicable to 70% of volume (remaining 30% of volume given 'Standard Rate' discount)
 

Gas table comparing old EBRS to new EBDS rates

 EBRS (1 Oct 22 - 31 Mar 23)EBDS (1 Apr 23 - 31 Mar 24)
 Contract TypeStandard RateStandard RateETII* Rate
Max thresholdFixed ContractsNo Maximum Discount£6.97 per MWh or 0.697p per kWh £40 per MWh or
4.0p per kWh
Flexible Contracts£91 per MWh or
9.1p per kWh 		£6.97 per MWh or 0.697p per kWh £40 per MWh or
4.0p per kWh
Deemed, Extended, Tariff£91 per MWh or
9.1p per kWh 		£6.97 per MWh or 0.697p per kWh £40 per MWh or
4.0p per kWh
Floor / Price thresholdFixed Contracts£75 per MWh or
7.5p per kWh		£107 per MWh or
10.7p per kWh  		£99 per MWh or
9.9p per kWh
Flexible Contracts£75 per MWh or
7.5p per kWh		£107 per MWh or
10.7p per kWh   		£99 per MWh or
​​​​​​​9.9p per kWh
Deemed, Extended, Tariff£75 per MWh or
​​​​​​​7.5p per kWh		£107 per MWh or
​​​​​​​10.7p per kWh  		£99 per MWh or
​​​​​​​9.9p per kWh

*ETII: Energy & Trade Intensive Industries
Applicable to 70% of volume (remaining 30% of volume given 'Standard Rate' discount)

Frequently asked questions about the Energy Bills Discount Scheme

Am I eligible for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS)?

The scheme is available to everyone on a non-domestic energy supply contract with a licensed energy supplier, including:

  • businesses
  • voluntary sector organisations, such as charities
  • public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes
     

Who are:

  • on existing fixed price contracts that were agreed on or after 1 December 2021
  • signing new fixed-price contracts
  • on deemed/out of contract or variable tariffs, or
  • on flexible purchase (or similar) contracts
  • on variable ‘Day Ahead Index’ (DAI) tariffs (Northern Ireland scheme only)
  • meeting the qualifying threshold set up by the government

How will I know what my discount is?

Eligible non-domestic customers will receive a per-unit discount on their energy bills during the 12-month period from April 2023 to March 2024. This is subject to a maximum discount.

To help our business customers, we've created some content on this page and are creating a calculator for our SME customers.

EBS customers use our EBS discount tables.

How do I know if I'm eligible for ETII support?

Some Energy and Trade Intensive Industries can apply for higher support. You can now apply via the government website or learn more about the additional support. Information includes:

  • Eligibility for ETII support
  • The support you'll be eligible to receive
  • Example discount calculation for an ETII customer
  • Getting ready to register for support
     

Once your application has been approved, the government will let us know so we can apply your higher rate ETII discount. Your discount will then be applied automatically.

Please be aware that ETII eligibility does not guarantee that you will also qualify for EBDS discount. This will be determined by your Electricity or Gas unit prices vs the government defined thresholds.

Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment

This scheme is for all businesses across Great Britain using alternative fuels, such as biomass, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or heating oil to heat their business properties. This is a one-off payment of £150. We'll start contacting you from the 20 February if the government has identified you as an eligible business for the payment.

Your one-off credit will be applied to your account by 24 March 2023 and will be included in your next invoice produced after this date.
 

If you’ve been identified as one of these businesses, please see below for how you'll receive this payment.

Type of business customerPayment methodHow you’ll receive your payment
SME customersBudget Direct DebitAn automatic refund payment will be made within five working days of your normal payment date. This will be paid into your Direct Debit payments bank account. Your Direct Debit amount will not change.
SME customersSmart Pay As You GoAn automatic credit will be paid onto your smart Pay As You Go meter.
SME customersPrepaymentA cheque will be sent in the post from the 27 February. It will show on your next annual statement as a £150 bill adjustment.
SME customersCash/Cheque & Direct Debit Whole Amount customersAn automatic credit to your energy account between 20 February and 28 February 2023.
EBS customersAll payment types

There’s nothing you need to do any eligible site(s) will have received an automatically applied one-off credit of £150 to your account by 24th March. This payment will be included in your next invoice produced after this date.

If you'd like to learn more about the scheme, please visit the government website.


Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment top-ups for high users of heating oil

For customers who;

  • are not connected to the gas grid
  • have purchased over 10,000 litres of kerosene (heating oil) over a recent 12-month period to use as a fuel on-site at the property


You may be eligible for more support.  Visit the government website, where you can find out more about this additional support and apply directly.

The closing date for applications is 28 April 2023

 

Discounts through any of the rebates are automatically applied to our customers. So we won't be asking you for any bank details. If you receive a suspicious email or SMS, please don't click on any links; delete the email or message and report it.

 

Please continue to check this page for any updates. We'll be adding information to guide you through this process.

We're here to help

If you're worried about paying your energy bills, we're here to help you get back on track. Please use our help area it has some practical advice on what to do as well as tips on how to manage your energy account.

SME customer helpEBS customer help