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How business gas is priced
A business gas bill works on the same two-part structure as electricity. You pay a unit rate, in pence per kWh, and a standing charge per day. The numbers look smaller than electricity because gas tends to be cheaper per kWh, but the variation between suppliers is just as wide.
Unit rates depend on three things. The supplier’s wholesale buying position, the credit grade they give your business, and how long the contract runs for. Longer contracts often get a slightly better unit rate, but you give up flexibility if the market drops.
Standing charges on gas matter less than on electricity for single-site businesses. They become significant if you have multiple sites with low gas usage at each. Pubs with one meter per site, retailers with seasonal usage, that sort of profile.
When it’s worth getting a fresh quote
Most contracts run twenty-four or thirty-six months. The renewal window opens around six months before the end date. Earlier than that, suppliers won’t quote firm prices because the wholesale picture changes too much. Later than that, you risk slipping into deemed rates if the renewal doesn’t get sorted.
Gas pricing moves on a different rhythm to electricity. Sometimes one is cheaper to switch on, sometimes the other. The only way to know is to check both at the same time, which is part of why we treat gas and electricity together rather than separately.
If you’re mid-contract, exit fees usually make switching uneconomic. But running a quote anyway is still useful. It tells you what the market looks like and gives you a baseline for the renewal conversation later.
What we do
You give us your postcode. If you have the MPRN, the long meter reference on your gas bill, that speeds things up. If you don’t, we’ll track it down for you.
We ask the suppliers on our panel for a quote against your usage. They each come back with a unit rate, a standing charge, and contract terms. We pull it into a single comparison so you can see who’s actually cheaper, not just who has the lowest headline number.
If you want to switch, we handle the paperwork. The supply doesn’t get interrupted. There’s no engineer visit. It’s a back-office change between the old and new supplier, with a fixed switchover date.
No upfront cost. The supplier pays our commission, and we charge the same rate across our panel so the recommendation isn’t tilted in any one direction.
Frequently asked questions
What’s an MPRN and where do I find it?
The Meter Point Reference Number. It’s a six-to-ten digit number on your gas bill, usually near the meter address. It identifies your specific gas supply point. If you can’t find it, we can locate it from your business address.
How does business gas pricing differ from domestic gas?
Business contracts are negotiated individually rather than off a published tariff. Suppliers bid for your business, which is why prices vary widely. The trade-off is that contracts run longer than domestic, and you can’t switch on a whim.
Can I have one supplier for gas and another for electricity?
Yes, and it’s often the cheaper option. Suppliers compete on each fuel separately. The same supplier rarely wins both quotes. Dual-fuel deals exist but they’re not always better in business markets.
What’s the climate change levy and is it negotiable?
A government tax on business energy use, added to your bill as a per-kWh charge. The headline rate isn’t negotiable, but if you sign a Climate Change Agreement (typically for energy-intensive businesses) you can get a partial discount. Most SMEs won’t qualify.
What happens if my supplier goes bust mid-contract?
Ofgem moves you to a supplier of last resort who picks up the supply. Your gas keeps flowing. The new supplier will put you on their standard tariff, which is usually higher than your old contract, but you can switch off it as soon as the dust settles.
Find out what your business gas could cost on a new contract
Postcode in, comparison out. We do the legwork with the suppliers on our panel.