Frequently asked questions

A business energy introduction service. You tell us about your premises and energy use, and we pass your enquiry to an energy expert who can review the contract options available to you. We are not an energy supplier and we do not give independent or whole-of-market advice.

There is no charge to you for making an enquiry. We may receive a fee from our energy expert partner, an energy broker, for each introduction. Our energy experts are energy brokers, usually paid commission by the energy supplier, and that commission can be included in the rates you pay. See How we’re paid for the detail.

Our energy expert, who we name on the form before you submit. They will contact you by phone or email using the details you give.

Tell us first. If you’re a micro or small business and the broker can’t resolve it, you may be able to take it to their redress scheme, such as the Energy Ombudsman or the Utilities Intermediaries Association.

No. Making an enquiry does not commit you to switching, signing or speaking to anyone further.

Yes. You don’t need to be a limited company. Sole traders, partnerships, charities and limited companies can all make an enquiry.

No. We are an introduction service. We pass your enquiry to an energy expert, who reviews your options and arranges any contract.

Our guides cover the energy market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own market and rules. If you’re there, tell us and we’ll let you know whether our partner can help.

Yes. Call us on 0114 398 4301 or use our contact form.

Yes. Some charitable uses can qualify for reduced VAT on energy, which the energy expert can take into account.

Ideally well before it ends. Some suppliers will let you agree a new contract months ahead of your current end date, which gives you time to compare options rather than rush.

It depends on your contract and supplier. You may be moved on to out-of-contract rates, which are usually higher than agreed contract rates. Larger businesses should check their terms for notice periods. Suppliers can’t require microbusinesses to give notice that they intend to switch.

The arrangement that applies when you use energy at a premises without having agreed a contract, for example after moving in. Deemed rates are usually higher than agreed contract rates, so it’s worth putting a contract in place promptly.

Not always. A fixed contract normally fixes your unit rate and standing charge for the term, but some contracts pass through certain network or policy costs. Read the contract information carefully or ask the energy expert to explain it.

Business energy contracts generally don’t come with the 14-day cooling-off right that household contracts have, so read the terms before you agree. Suppliers must give you the principal terms, including any broker fees, before the contract is agreed.

No. The Ofgem price cap applies to household energy only. Business prices are set by the contract you agree.

Most businesses pay 20% VAT and the Climate Change Levy. If your average use is no more than 33 kWh a day of electricity or 145 kWh a day of gas, you should be charged 5% VAT and no Climate Change Levy on that supply. Some charitable and residential uses also qualify.

Many suppliers offer terms from one to five years for business customers. Longer terms give more certainty but less flexibility.

A contract where some costs, such as network or policy charges, are charged at whatever they turn out to be, rather than fixed.

The parts of your bill that aren’t the energy itself, such as network charges, balancing costs and government policy costs.

Not for the fixed elements during the term. Costs your contract passes through can change.

A contract that automatically renews onto new terms if you don’t act. Rollover terms are restricted for microbusinesses; larger business contracts may still include them.

Under Ofgem’s definition, you are if you use less than 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas a year, or have fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet of no more than €2 million.

Usually not without paying exit fees. In most cases you can agree a new contract now that starts when your current one ends.

No. Switching supplier changes who bills you, not the physical supply. The same cables and pipes deliver your energy.

It varies by supplier and situation. The outgoing supplier can object in some cases, for example if there is an outstanding balance or you are still within a contract term.

Usually, yes. New businesses or those with limited credit history may be asked for a deposit.

Your supplier may object if there is outstanding debt. Clearing or agreeing the balance usually resolves this.

No. Your meter normally stays the same.

Tell your supplier, take dated final and opening readings, and arrange a contract for the new premises quickly to avoid deemed rates.

A Meter Point Administration Number. It identifies an electricity supply point in Great Britain and is printed on your electricity bill.

A Meter Point Reference Number. It identifies a gas supply point and is printed on your gas bill.

A fixed daily charge for each supply point, paid whatever you use. For low-use sites it can be a large share of the bill.

The supplier didn’t have an actual reading. Send readings regularly or ask about a smart meter to avoid catch-up bills.

An environmental tax on business energy, charged per kWh. Low-use supplies are exempt.

A daily charge on many half-hourly supplies, based on the agreed supply capacity.

Yes. Many business sites now have smart or automated meters that send readings automatically.

For gas, use Find My Supplier. For electricity, your regional network operator can tell you.

Buying energy in stages over time against the wholesale market, to an agreed strategy, instead of fixing everything on one day.

A product where several customers’ volumes are pooled and bought over time by a basket manager to an agreed risk strategy.

A signed document letting an energy expert request your data and prices from suppliers on your behalf.

Yes. Tell us about your process and timescales when you enquire, so the energy expert can work to it.

Settling electricity using consumption for every half-hour. Larger sites already are; the industry is moving all meters to it.

Energy Sorted, and an energy expert partner only if you agree to us passing your enquiry on. We don’t sell your details. See our privacy notice for the full list of recipients.

Only if you tick the separate, optional boxes on the form. Responding to your enquiry is separate from marketing.

Yes. Email info@energysorted.co.uk. It’s free, and we’ll reply within one month.

In secure, access-controlled systems. Uploaded bills are stored privately and never shared through public links.

Up to two years after our last contact with you, then it is deleted. Consent records are kept for three years so we can show you agreed to be contacted.