TL;DR: Key Takeaways
The five steps, in order: 1. Check your contract status - out of contract, mid-contract, or in your renewal window. 2. Sign a Letter of Authority so your consumption data can be pulled from the industry databases. 3. Compare quotes on total annual cost, not the headline unit rate. 4. Review and sign the contract - there is no cooling-off period, so read it before you commit. 5. Complete the switch - the meter transfer takes 5-21 days and your supply never goes off. The full detail of each step is directly below.
The Cost of Doing Nothing: Out-of-contract rates published by major suppliers start at 42p/kWh (October 2026), against the 22p/kWh fixed rate we secured for a client in Q4 2025. A typical small business stands to waste thousands a year by not switching.
The 5-Day Reality: The logistical transfer of your supply takes just 5-21 days. The weeks of back and forth between your broker and you is due to the manual, fossilised process of traditional switching.
The Broker Trap: Traditional brokers embed their fees in your unit rate - Ofgem’s data (opens in new tab) shows about 3p/kWh was typical at some suppliers in 2022-23 - money hidden inside the way the quote is priced. They create anxiety with jargon and pressure you with false deadlines. See what different commission rates actually cost with our free calculator.
Crucial Warning: Unlike your home energy contract, business contracts have NO cooling-off period. The Energy Switch Guarantee doesn’t apply to businesses - once you sign, you are legally locked in.
The New Way: Meet George replaces the broker with AI. Upload a PDF of your bill, and our platform handles the data, the Letter of Authority, and the quote comparison instantly. It takes 20 minutes, and our fee is a transparent, flat 1p/kWh, itemised, never buried. Ready to go? Switch business energy online with Meet George.
How Do I Switch to a Cheaper Business Energy Plan? The 5 Steps
Check when you’re free to switch, get quotes for your real usage, and pick the one that costs least over a whole year - unit rate and standing charge together - on terms you can live with. The five steps below are the same whether you use a broker, go direct to a supplier, or use a self-service platform; what changes is how long each takes and how much of it lands on your desk.
Step 1: Check Your Contract Status
Before you can switch, you must determine your status to avoid penalties.
Scenario A: Out of Contract (Deemed Rates) If your contract has expired, you are free to leave immediately. There are no exit fees. You should switch today to stop overpaying.
Scenario B: Mid-Contract If you have time remaining on your fixed-term contract, leaving early usually triggers a Termination Fee. Warning: Some contracts include “Mark to Market” clauses. This isn’t just a flat fine; it means you must pay the supplier for the energy they bought in advance for you, calculated on the difference between the wholesale price then and now. This can be substantial. We cover whether you can cancel your business energy contract in detail, including how to calculate potential exit costs.
Scenario C: Renewal Window (The “Sweet Spot”) Typically 1-6 months before your contract ends, you enter the renewal window. You can sign a contract now with a new supplier that will go live the day your current contract ends. This locks in today’s rates without incurring exit fees. Warning: Be careful of digital renewal traps - clicking a “confirm” link in a supplier email during this period could lock you into an expensive auto-renewal.
Peak Renewal Periods: April and October are the busiest months for business energy switching. October 2024 saw 475,000 switches - the highest single month of the year - driven by SME contract expiries. If your contract ends in these periods, start the process 60-90 days early to avoid the rush.
The reality of SME behaviour: Research shows the average SME owner only starts engaging with energy renewal approximately 65 days before contract expiry - despite best practice suggesting 90-120 days. This reactive behaviour leaves businesses vulnerable to pressure tactics and limits their negotiating options. Starting early gives you leverage; starting late means you’re at the mercy of whoever happens to call.
How to find your end date: Check your latest bill. If it’s not listed (some suppliers annoyingly omit this), check your original contract. As a last resort, call your supplier to ask.
Step 2: The Letter of Authority (LOA) & Data Gathering
In the traditional process, gathering data is a headache. You might think you need to hunt down your annual consumption (kWh), but you actually just need to grant access.
The Letter of Authority (LOA) is the key. This is a legal document authorising a broker or platform to speak to suppliers and retrieve your consumption data from the central industry database (Xoserve (opens in new tab) for gas, ElectraLink (opens in new tab) for electricity) on your behalf.
Important: Not all LOAs are the same. There are two types: Level 1 (information only) and Level 2 (full authority to sign contracts on your behalf). Level 2 LOAs are used by some brokers to lock you into contracts without your consent. Learn more about LOA types and how to protect yourself.
Traditional Way: The broker emails you a PDF form to print, sign, scan, and email back. Some modern brokers may send a DocuSign link, but they still then have to manually request your data (EAC or AQ).
Meet George Way: You simply upload a PDF of your latest bill. Our AI extracts your MPAN/MPRN and address, automatically generates a digital LOA, and you sign it on-screen. We then pull all your consumption data instantly in the background.
Step 3: Compare Quotes (The Danger Zone)
This is where the process splits into three very different paths - and where most businesses make costly mistakes. Research shows 53% of SMEs chose their supplier simply because it was the cheapest option (rising to 68% among recent switchers), yet only 4% selected based on customer service. This price-above-all mindset is understandable, but it creates a race to the bottom that rewards undisclosed fee structures over genuine value.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of self-service vs broker-assisted switching if you want the full picture. Here’s how they compare at a glance:
Quick Comparison: Your Switching Options
| Method | Time to Switch | Typical Fee | Fee Transparency | Market Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Broker | 1-2 weeks | Varies - about 3p/kWh was typical at some suppliers (Ofgem, 2022-23) | Embedded in contract | Limited (upfront commission-paying suppliers) |
| Comparison Sites | 1-2 weeks | Variable | Embedded in contract | Limited panel |
| Meet George | 20 minutes | 1p/kWh | Shown separately | A range of suppliers |
Path A: The Traditional Broker (Slow & Opaque)
- The Process: You speak to a human energy broker. They take your details, then manually go out to tender.
- The Limited Market: Brokers often favour suppliers who pay them upfront commissions. Commission structures commonly front-load payments, meaning brokers may receive the majority of their fee when you sign. This means you aren’t always seeing the whole market - just the suppliers that pay the broker the best.
- The “Uplift”: Brokers add their fee into your unit rate. While 2024 rules state this must be disclosed on the contract, it is often not made obvious. They might add 3p, 4p, or in extremely predatory scenarios, up to 10p per kWh to your rate. Learn how undisclosed broker commissions work and how to spot them.
- The Pressure: Expect calls claiming “rates expire today.” For SMEs, prices typically update weekly or monthly (unlike more frequent updates for larger energy users), so this is usually just a sales tactic.
Path B: Online Comparison Sites
- The Process: Faster than a broker, but often still requires a phone call to finalise the deal.
- The Limitation: Like brokers, they are limited to the panel of suppliers they have commercial relationships with. What many don’t realise is that most comparison sites use the same underlying broker - creating an illusion of choice. You are often still blocked from completing the full switch online without human intervention.
Path C: Meet George (Transparent & Automated)
- The Process: Instant comparison across a range of suppliers.
- The Cost Advantage: Because we use AI and automate the switching process, our fee is a flat 1p/kWh - Ofgem’s data shows broker fees of about 3p/kWh were typical at some suppliers in 2022-23, three times ours.
- Full Visibility: You see the base wholesale rate and our fee separately. No undisclosed charges.
Step 4: Review and Sign the Contract
Once you select a quote, the supplier generates a contract (usually via DocuSign or PDF).
Traditional Way: The broker sends you the document. If you have questions about complex terms like “take-or-pay clauses,” you have to rely on the broker to explain them.
Meet George Way: You view the contract digitally. Our platform features an AI Contract Assistant. You can ask it limitless questions: “Does this contract have a termination fee?”, “Explain the payment terms,” or “Is this a green tariff?” You get instant, unbiased answers before you sign.
Step 5: The Switch
WARNING: There is NO Cooling-Off Period. Unlike residential energy, business energy contracts do not have a 14-day cooling-off period. Once you sign, you are legally committed for the full term. Ensure you are happy with the rates before signing.
The Timeline: Once the contract is signed, it must be submitted to the supplier. Meet George handles this instantly via API (a secure digital connection to the supplier’s system), whereas traditional brokers may submit the contract paperwork manually.
Once submitted:
- Fast Track Switching: Can be completed in as little as 5 working days.
- Standard Switching: Typically takes 11 to 21 days.
During this time, your new supplier takes over the meter registration logistically. If you are in credit with your old supplier, they will refund the balance to you after the final bill is settled.
The Reality Check: Ofgem research shows 78% of businesses who switched in 2024 found the process easy (up from 60% in 2023). The challenge isn’t the switch itself - it’s making the decision to switch. The biggest barrier? 42% of businesses are locked into existing contracts and can’t switch until their renewal window opens.
What Is Business Energy Switching?
Business energy switching is the process of changing your commercial gas or electricity supplier to secure better rates, improved contract terms, or enhanced service. Unlike residential switching, business energy contracts have no cooling-off period, require a Letter of Authority (LOA) to access your consumption data, and involve negotiating with suppliers who set prices based on your business’s specific usage profile. The process typically involves checking your current contract status, authorising data access, comparing quotes from multiple suppliers, and signing a new contract that triggers an industry meter transfer.
How Does Switching Business Energy Through a Broker Work?
Switching through a broker follows the same switch as doing it yourself, with the broker doing the legwork in the middle: you sign a Letter of Authority so it can see your usage and contract details, it gathers quotes and negotiates with suppliers, you choose one and sign the supplier’s contract, and the new supplier takes over your supply. The broker is usually paid a commission by the supplier you pick, built into the price you pay.
Ofgem describes the broker’s role simply: brokers “can help you find a suitable contract for your business, and then negotiate with your chosen supplier” (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). Step by step:
- Check the broker first. Ofgem says that if a broker is paid by an energy supplier, “they must be a member of an approved redress scheme” - ask which one before you share anything.
- Sign a Letter of Authority. This lets the broker request your meter data and contract end date from your supplier. Check its level before you sign: a Level 1 LOA covers data and quotes only, while a Level 2 LOA lets the broker agree contracts for you (what an LOA allows).
- Get the quotes. The broker asks the suppliers it works with for prices for your meter and usage, and presents the options.
- Check the fee before you agree. Ofgem says most brokers are paid a commission by the supplier you choose. Since 1 October 2024, any broker fee must be shown in your contract’s principal terms (Ofgem (opens in new tab)), so compare quotes on their total annual cost, fee included.
- Sign the supplier’s contract. Read it before you agree: Ofgem warns that “there is no cooling-off period after you agree to your contract”.
- The supplier switches you. From here it is the same as any switch - the new supplier registers your meter and takes over the supply, with no interruption.
Before a broker gets in touch, it helps to know where you stand. Upload your latest bill to Meet George’s free bill check to see when you can switch and how your current price compares.
Can You Switch Business Energy Without a Broker?
Yes. You can switch business energy without a broker - either by going direct to a single supplier, or by using a self-service switching platform that compares a range of suppliers for you. A broker is not required to switch; it is just one (often opaque) route.
Going direct means contacting suppliers yourself, requesting individual quotes, and comparing unit rates and standing charges by hand. It works, but you only see the suppliers you approach, and you carry all the admin.
The self-service path removes that legwork. A platform like Meet George pulls your consumption data, compares the market, and lets you complete the switch online - no sales calls, and the 1p/kWh fee is shown separately rather than buried in your unit rate. You stay in control of the decision at every step.
How Do You Switch Business Gas and Electricity?
How do you switch your business gas supplier?
You switch a business gas supplier the same way as electricity: check your contract end date, compare quotes on annual cost, sign, and the new supplier takes over the supply with no interruption. What you need is your gas meter’s MPRN and your annual gas use, usually shown on your bill or held by the industry as your AQ (Annual Quantity).
Ofgem’s switching guidance covers both fuels: on a fixed-rate contract, “most suppliers will not let you switch before the end of your contract unless you have already agreed a termination clause or pay an exit fee”, while on out-of-contract, deemed or rolling rates “you can switch to a new supplier at any time” (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). Ofgem also notes you will need to give a new supplier “your annual consumption and details of your meter” before signing.
Three gas details are worth checking before you compare:
- Your annual use. Gas use swings with the weather, so check that the figure on your quote matches a full year of bills, not one cold quarter.
- Climate Change Levy. Gas now carries the same 0.801p/kWh CCL as electricity, from April 2026 (GOV.UK (opens in new tab)), so check whether each quote includes it.
- VAT. A business using no more than 145 kWh of gas a day on average is charged VAT at the reduced 5% rate, not 20% - here is how the VAT thresholds work.
Can you switch business gas and electricity at the same time?
Yes. You can switch both at once, either to one supplier on two contracts or to different suppliers, or you can switch each fuel on its own timetable. Gas and electricity are separate supplies with separate meters (MPRN and MPAN), so each has its own contract, end date and switch.
That separation matters in practice:
- The end dates often differ. If your electricity is fixed until next year but your gas has already rolled onto out-of-contract rates, switch the gas now rather than waiting to do both together.
- The cheapest supplier often differs too. Compare each fuel on its own annual cost before accepting a single supplier for both.
- Doing both together saves admin, not usually money. It suits businesses whose two contracts already end around the same date.
Not sure where each contract stands? Upload your latest bill to Meet George’s free bill check. If it is a dual-fuel bill, a person from our team picks it up.
Business Energy Switching: Why It Takes Weeks
Switching business energy suppliers is often described as a “fossilised” process. We’ve written about why business energy switching is so difficult - the short version is that while the logistical transfer of your meter only takes between 5 and 21 days, the administrative nightmare leading up to that moment - dealing with brokers, chasing bills, and decoding complex quotes - can drag on for weeks.
Most SMEs avoid switching because of this friction. They fear the admin spiral of hunting down paperwork and navigating aggressive sales calls.
Meet George changes this. We automate the entire process using AI. Upload a PDF of your bill, and our platform extracts the data, handles the Letter of Authority (LOA) digitally, and lets you switch in 20 minutes.
The five steps above don’t change. What changes is how long each one takes, and how much of it you have to chase.
Why Most Businesses Don’t Switch (But Should)
1. The Cost of Inertia
The numbers are stark: only 33% of UK SMEs switched energy supplier in 2024 (up marginally from 26% in 2023), and a large share of SME owners have never switched at all. Industry data suggests the average SME saves over £1,700 annually by switching - meaning there are potentially billions in unrealised savings across the UK. Perhaps most tellingly, 43% of business owners believe there’s no real competition in the energy market (Ofgem Non-Domestic 2024 Research (opens in new tab)) - a perception problem that keeps businesses trapped on expensive rates.
A significant number of UK SMEs are currently on “deemed rates” or out-of-contract tariffs. Deemed rates are the default price you pay when your contract expires and you haven’t actively renewed. Learn more about deemed rates and why they can cost nearly twice as much.
The out-of-contract electricity rates Drax, EDF and npower published in October 2026 run from 42.30p to 53.38p/kWh, and some deemed rates go higher still - we compare them supplier by supplier. For the other side of the sum we use 22p/kWh: the 3-year fixed rate, including our 1p/kWh fee, that we secured for a London boutique in Q4 2025. Today’s quotes will differ, so treat the figures below as illustrations, not quotes.
Let’s look at the maths for a business using 25,000 kWh annually:
- On Out-of-Contract Rates (42p): £10,500 per year
- On a Fixed Rate (22p): £5,500 per year
- The Loss: £5,000 per year wasted due to inaction (unit rates only, before standing charges)
To run the same sums against your own consumption, see our breakdown of how much you can save switching business energy.
This isn’t hypothetical. Dream Looks Boutique in Marylebone had been on deemed rates for over two years without realising - they saved 46% when they switched. Red Clover Gardens in Cheltenham found their standing charge was 79% above market rate.
2. The “Jargon Friction”
The second reason businesses stay stuck is that the process is abstract and confusing.
SMEs are experts at what they do. If you run a barbershop, you are excellent at being a barber. If you run a nail salon, you are a specialist nail technician. You shouldn’t need to understand complex energy jargon like “standing charges,” “DUoS,” “TNUoS,” or “kVA allowances.”
Traditional brokers speak in “pence per kilowatt hour” - an abstract figure that makes it hard to visualise the impact on your bank balance. This creates anxiety, so business owners put it off.
Meet George removes the abstraction. While we show the unit rates for transparency, we focus on the pound note value: “You pay £500/month now. You will pay £350/month with this switch. You save £1,800/year.” That is concrete, clear, and actionable.
How Do You Switch Commercial Energy in London?
Commercial energy switching in London works the same way as anywhere else in Great Britain: check when your contract ends, compare quotes on what each would cost for a year at your usage, and sign - your new supplier then handles the switch. There are no London-only switching rules; what differs is the network charges built into your price, and what you pay if you do nothing.
Your network operator is UK Power Networks. Whichever supplier you choose, the local network in London is run by UK Power Networks, and its charges are built into every quote. They’re set differently from its neighbouring regions: for 2026/27, its fixed daily distribution charge on the “Non-Domestic Aggregated or CT” tariff is 0.00p in London (opens in new tab), against 10.04p to 22.20p a day in the South East (opens in new tab). London recovers that money through peak-time unit rates instead, with two weekday “red” windows (11am-2pm and 4pm-7pm) rather than one. That’s one reason a quote for a London site can differ from one for the same business elsewhere - see how standing charges vary by region.
Doing nothing costs London businesses too. If your contract ends and you don’t switch or renew, you move onto your supplier’s default rates. For a standard business meter in London:
| Supplier rate | Unit rate | Standing charge | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| npower default (opens in new tab) | 47.22p/kWh | 190.98p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| npower deemed (opens in new tab) | 37.22p/kWh | 152.78p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| EDF deemed (opens in new tab) (Direct Debit) | 55.21p/kWh | 215p/day | 17 August 2026 |
All before VAT; npower’s lowest standing charge band. Compare every supplier’s out-of-contract rates.
What London businesses have saved by switching. Dream Looks Boutique in Marylebone was on deemed rates at 38.60p/kWh. It moved to a 3-year fixed contract at 22.31p/kWh, cutting its annual energy spend from £2,840 to £1,528 - a saving of £1,312, or 46%. At Red Clover Gardens, a 72-unit build-to-rent block in Coulsdon, the communal electricity was also on deemed rates; a 12-month fixed quote would cut it from £5,002 to £3,135 a year, a projected £1,868 (37%).
Renting in a shared building? If you have your own meter and contract, you switch it yourself; if the supply is in your landlord’s name (a landlord supply), you usually can’t, so check your lease first. Landlords switching communal supplies, as Red Clover Gardens did, should see how commercial landlords switch.
Is your London business free to switch? Upload your latest bill and Meet George tells you in seconds whether you’re in your switching window - and when it opens if you’re not. If you use over 100,000 kWh a year or have a half-hourly meter, our team takes it from there.
How Do You Switch Commercial Energy in Liverpool?
Switching commercial energy in Liverpool follows the same steps as anywhere in Great Britain: check when your contract ends, compare quotes on what each would cost for a year at your usage, and sign - your new supplier then handles the switch. What’s different is that Liverpool sits in the Merseyside and North Wales network region, where network charges and suppliers’ default rates are among the highest in the country, so letting a contract lapse costs more there.
Your network operator is SP Energy Networks. Whichever supplier you choose, the local network across Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales is run by SP Energy Networks (under its SP Manweb licence), and its charges are built into every quote. For 2026/27, its fixed daily distribution charge on the “Non-Domestic Aggregated or CT” tariff runs from 26.74p a day in the lowest charging band to 270.24p in the highest - in London it’s 0.00p - and its peak “red” window is 4:30pm to 7:30pm on weekdays (SP Manweb charging statement, April 2026 (opens in new tab)). See how standing charges vary by region.
Doing nothing costs more in Liverpool. If your contract ends and you don’t switch or renew, you move onto your supplier’s default rates. For a standard business meter, Merseyside and North Wales against London:
| Supplier rate | Merseyside and North Wales | London | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| npower default (opens in new tab) | 51.17p/kWh + 227.20p/day | 47.22p/kWh + 190.98p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| npower deemed (opens in new tab) | 41.17p/kWh + 181.76p/day | 37.22p/kWh + 152.78p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| EDF deemed (opens in new tab) (Direct Debit) | 66.36p/kWh + 215p/day | 55.21p/kWh + 215p/day | 17 August 2026 |
All before VAT; npower’s lowest standing charge band. EDF calls the region “North Wales”; it is the highest of EDF’s 14 regional deemed rates, and npower’s default rate there is its third-highest. Compare every supplier’s out-of-contract rates.
On npower’s default rate, a Liverpool business using 20,000 kWh a year would pay £10,234 for the energy plus £829 in standing charges, before VAT and the Climate Change Levy - so the gap between a default rate and a fixed contract is worth checking before your end date, not after.
Renting in a shared building? If you have your own meter and contract, you switch it yourself; if the supply is in your landlord’s name (a landlord supply), you usually can’t, so check your lease first. Landlords switching communal supplies should see how commercial landlords switch.
Is your Liverpool business free to switch? Upload your latest bill and Meet George tells you in seconds whether you’re in your switching window - and when it opens if you’re not. If you use over 100,000 kWh a year or have a half-hourly meter, our team takes it from there.
How Do You Switch Commercial Energy in Lancashire?
Switching commercial energy in Lancashire follows the same steps as anywhere in Great Britain: check when your contract ends, compare quotes on what each would cost for a year at your usage, and sign - your new supplier then handles the switch. What’s different is your network region: Lancashire is in the North West region, run by Electricity North West, and default rates there are higher than in London even though the fixed network charge is the same.
Your network operator is Electricity North West. Whichever supplier you choose, the local network across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria is run by Electricity North West (now trading as SP Electricity North West), and its charges are built into every quote (Electricity North West: Investing in Lancashire (opens in new tab)). For 2026/27, its fixed daily distribution charge on the “Non-Domestic Aggregated or CT” tariff is 0p in all four charging bands - the same as London, and unlike Merseyside next door - and its peak “red” window is 4pm to 7pm on weekdays (Electricity North West schedule of charges, April 2026 (opens in new tab)). See how standing charges vary by region.
Doing nothing still costs more in Lancashire. If your contract ends and you don’t switch or renew, you move onto your supplier’s default rates. For a standard business meter, North West against London:
| Supplier rate | North West | London | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| npower default (opens in new tab) | 50.25p/kWh + 197.77p/day | 47.22p/kWh + 190.98p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| npower deemed (opens in new tab) | 40.25p/kWh + 158.22p/day | 37.22p/kWh + 152.78p/day | 1 October 2026 |
| EDF deemed (opens in new tab) (Direct Debit) | 58.51p/kWh + 215p/day | 55.21p/kWh + 215p/day | 17 August 2026 |
All before VAT; npower’s lowest standing charge band. Compare every supplier’s out-of-contract rates.
On npower’s default rate, a Lancashire business using 20,000 kWh a year would pay £10,051 for the energy plus £722 in standing charges, before VAT and the Climate Change Levy. If you’re on Merseyside rather than in Lancashire, you’re in a different region - see switching in Liverpool.
Renting in a shared building? If you have your own meter and contract, you switch it yourself; if the supply is in your landlord’s name (a landlord supply), you usually can’t, so check your lease first. Landlords switching communal supplies should see how commercial landlords switch.
Is your Lancashire business free to switch? Upload your latest bill and Meet George tells you in seconds whether you’re in your switching window - and when it opens if you’re not. If you use over 100,000 kWh a year or have a half-hourly meter, our team takes it from there.
Energy Switching by Business Type
The five steps above work identically whether you run a pub, a salon, a gym or a portfolio of commercial units. What changes is your consumption profile, your peak usage times, and how willing suppliers are to quote for your sector.
Here is roughly what each sector uses, based on DESNZ ND-NEED data (opens in new tab) and industry benchmarks:
| Business type | Typical annual electricity | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Barber shop | c. 6,000 kWh | Less water heating than a salon |
| Trades premises (workshop, yard, unit) | Up to 15,000 kWh | Sits inside the DESNZ microbusiness band |
| Salon (1-3 chairs) | 10,000-24,000 kWh | 4-8 chairs: 24,000-54,000 kWh |
| Dog grooming salon (2-3 tables) | 18,000-24,000 kWh | Kennels and catteries far higher |
| Cafe or coffee shop | 20,000-40,000 kWh | Concentrated 6am-6pm |
| Pub or restaurant (200m²) | c. 22,000 kWh | Plus c. 48,000 kWh gas |
| Bakery | High refrigeration load | Plus 30,000-50,000 kWh gas for ovens |
| Hotel or B&B | c. 6,000 kWh per room | A 25-room hotel can exceed 150,000 kWh |
| Gym (dry-side) | 60,000-100,000 kWh | Add a pool and total energy can top 250,000 kWh |
Hospitality has the highest median energy intensity of any sector - 111 kWh/m² for electricity and 242 kWh/m² for gas. Below is the sector-specific detail worth checking before you switch.
How do you switch business energy suppliers for a restaurant or pub?
A restaurant or pub switches energy with the same five steps as any business, but usually as two switches: most kitchens cook on gas, so you have an electricity supply (MPAN) and a gas supply (MPRN), each with its own contract and end date. Check both dates, then compare and switch each supply on total annual cost as its window opens.
Get more than one quote. Ofgem warns that “energy suppliers are not obliged to offer businesses a contract and offers may be harder to find”, and that suppliers may ask for a security deposit (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). So ask several suppliers at once rather than one at a time, and check each quote’s contract length, exit fees and any deposit.
Taking over a restaurant? If you start trading without arranging a contract, you’re on a deemed contract, and Ofgem says deemed rates are “usually higher than negotiated contract rates” (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). If you have rolled onto deemed rates, the cost is severe: a restaurant or pub using 22,000 kWh at 42p/kWh pays £9,240 a year against £4,840 at 22p. That is £4,400 wasted on electricity alone, before you look at gas.
Check your size. A restaurant using around 22,000 kWh of electricity and 48,000 kWh of gas a year (the table above) is well inside Ofgem’s microbusiness limits of 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas, which means extra protection at renewal, such as being told your renewal prices before your contract ends.
Tip: Check whether your meter is half-hourly settled. If it is, your pricing reflects when you use energy, not just how much - and evening-heavy trade affects your rates.
Not sure when your restaurant’s contract ends? Upload your latest electricity bill and Meet George tells you in seconds whether you’re in your switching window.
Switching Energy for Salons and Beauty Therapists
Salon usage is predictable and daytime-focused, which makes you an attractive customer, so expect quotes from a wide panel. The risk is inertia: monthly bills feel manageable, so the overpayment never feels urgent. A small salon using 15,000 kWh at an out-of-contract 42p rather than a fixed 22p is throwing away around £250 a month.
Tip: If you rent your premises, check whether energy is included in your lease. If it is billed separately, you have every right to switch - your landlord cannot prevent it.
Switching Energy for Barber Shops
Lower consumption means smaller absolute savings, but barber shops are more likely to be sitting on deemed rates, so the percentage saving is often higher. At c. 6,000 kWh a year, moving from 42p to 22p saves around £1,200 a year - worth twenty minutes for a single-owner shop where admin gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
Tip: You need your MPAN (electricity) and MPRN (gas), both printed on your bill. No recent bill? The number on the meter itself is enough for your supplier to find your account.
Switching Energy for Gyms and Fitness Centres
Gym demand peaks early morning, lunchtime and evening. On a half-hourly meter that shape drives your cost, not just your total, and lots of equipment running at once can push you into higher capacity charges. DESNZ data (opens in new tab) shows wet-side leisure centres use up to ten times more energy per square metre than dry-side sites.
Tip: Larger facilities and converted buildings often have several meters, each a separate supply point. Compare all of them - it is common to find one on a decent contract and another on expensive deemed rates.
How do you switch business energy suppliers for a dog grooming business?
A dog grooming business switches energy the same way as any other small business. Follow the five steps above: check your contract end date, sign a Letter of Authority, compare quotes on annual cost, sign, and your supply moves across in 5-21 days without going off. The checks that matter for groomers come first: is your salon on a business meter, and are you a microbusiness?
Where the energy goes. Water heating for bathing, dryers, climate control and lighting are the main draws, and kennels or catteries run far higher because heating and ventilation never switch off. If your water heater runs on gas, compare gas and electricity as separate switches.
Check your meter is a business supply. Pet businesses often operate from converted premises, so check your supply is registered as a commercial meter rather than a domestic one - that determines which suppliers and tariffs you can access. If you groom from a room or garage at home, Ofgem says “if you work from home you are probably on a domestic energy contract”, so check with your supplier before shopping for business quotes (Ofgem (opens in new tab)).
You are very likely a microbusiness. Under Ofgem’s definition you qualify with fewer than 10 employees and turnover or balance sheet of no more than €2 million (the legal threshold is in euros; Ofgem’s guidance rounds it to £2 million), or with electricity use of up to 100,000 kWh a year. That limit is far above the 18,000-24,000 kWh a 2-3 table salon typically uses (see the table above). Microbusinesses get extra protection, including a supplier’s duty to “provide information about renewal prices before your contract ends” (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). That renewal letter is your cue to compare.
Not sure where your salon’s contract stands? Meet George’s free bill check, linked at the end of this guide, tells you whether you are in your switching window and what to do next.
Tip: If you run a mobile grooming business from a van, this guide doesn’t apply - you would be on domestic rates at your home base. A commercial shopfront or dedicated studio switches like any other business.
Switching Energy for Cafes and Coffee Shops
Cafes attract the same hospitality caution from some suppliers as pubs, but shorter trading hours and lower insolvency rates mean you should still see a decent spread of quotes. If you lease space in a shopping centre or food court, check whether the landlord controls supply through a sub-meter arrangement - if so, you may not be able to switch independently.
Tip: Treat gas and electricity as separate switches. The best electricity deal often comes from a different supplier than the best gas deal.
How do you switch business energy suppliers for a hotel or B&B?
A hotel or B&B switches energy with the same five steps as any business, but meter by meter: most hotels have separate gas and electricity supplies, and larger ones have several electricity meters. List every MPAN and MPRN, check each contract’s end date, then compare and switch each supply as its window opens.
Hotel demand stays relatively flat across the day, unlike businesses that close overnight, which makes you attractive to most suppliers. Larger sites often have multiple meters and a half-hourly meter for electricity, plus heavy gas use for heating, hot water, laundry and kitchens. The risk is scale: every penny per kWh on deemed rates costs you far more in absolute terms.
Tip: If you are seasonal, compare annual costs rather than monthly snapshots. Signing during your low season makes the first few months look cheap, but your peak season is locked in at the same rate.
Check your size too. A B&B may count as a microbusiness and get extra protection at renewal: Ofgem’s thresholds are fewer than 10 employees with turnover or balance sheet no more than £2 million, or use of up to 100,000 kWh of electricity or 293,000 kWh of gas a year (Ofgem (opens in new tab)). A larger hotel often falls outside all three, so the renewal dates are yours to track.
Switching Energy for Bricklayers and Trades with Premises
If you are a bricklayer, plumber, electrician or joiner with a workshop, yard or office unit, you can switch. Trades premises have the simplest energy needs but the lowest engagement with switching: inherit a premises, inherit the contract, and you roll onto deemed rates without noticing. Even at 10,000 kWh a year, the gap between 42p and 22p is £2,000.
Tip: If you mostly work on client sites and the premises is just storage, your savings will be modest - but it still only takes 20 minutes, so the return on your time is excellent.
Switching Energy for Florists and Garden Centres
Flower coolers and display refrigeration run 24/7, supplemental grow lighting adds real consumption through the darker months, and heated greenhouses or polytunnels push gas well above what the floor area suggests. That steady, round-the-clock demand is low risk, which prices well with suppliers.
Tip: Check whether exterior lighting and irrigation pumps sit on the main meter or a separate supply, and compare on annual cost - a contract that looks cheap in January still has to cover your April peak.
Switching Energy for Bakeries
Early-morning baking puts your peak outside standard business hours. That doesn’t change a standard unit rate, but on a half-hourly meter - or once you move to one under MHHS - your time-of-use profile starts to matter. Gas is usually the bigger cost, so compare gas contracts as carefully as electricity.
Tip: Most bakeries have separate gas and electricity meters. Switch them independently: the best gas supplier for your profile may not be the best on electricity.
How do commercial landlords switch business energy suppliers?
A commercial landlord switches the supplies it holds the contract for - usually the communal areas and any space it supplies to tenants through its own meters - using the same five steps as any business, one MPAN or MPRN at a time. Tenants who have their own meters and contracts switch their own supplies, so start by checking each lease to see who holds which contract.
Multi-tenant buildings complicate the metering, not the process. Three things to get right:
- Map the meters. List every MPAN and MPRN you are billed for, what each one serves, and each contract’s end date. It is common to find a communal supply sitting on deemed or out-of-contract rates because nobody owned it.
- Recharging business tenants. Ofgem’s maximum resale price rule “does not apply to gas or electricity resold for use at industrial and commercial premises, e.g. shops and offices” (Ofgem resale guidance (opens in new tab)). Your leases set what you can recharge.
- Recharging anyone living on site. If you resell energy for domestic use - a flat above a shop, for example - the rule does apply: you cannot charge more than you paid, “including any standing charges” (Ofgem resale guidance (opens in new tab)).
Tip: Each property has its own MPAN (electricity) and MPRN (gas). Switch them independently, or negotiate a portfolio deal with a single supplier - though not all suppliers offer this for smaller portfolios.
How Meet George Fixes a Broken Market
Traditional switching is a manual process involving PDFs, phone tag, and abstract jargon. It takes weeks of admin time and often results in businesses overpaying due to limited market access and opaque broker commissions.
Meet George is different:
- Upload your PDF bill: No manual data entry. AI does the work.
- Real Money Logic: We show savings in pounds, not just abstract unit rates.
- Transparent Pricing: We charge a flat 1p/kWh fee, itemised, never buried, and the same whichever supplier you choose.
- True Self-Service: Complete the entire switch - from quote to contract - in 20 minutes online. No sales calls.
The Result: You get the same energy, from the same suppliers, but cheaper, faster, and with zero headaches. See how this works in practice in our case studies - including THIS Workspace, where a forensic analysis uncovered £15,208 in potential annual savings.
Ready to stop overpaying? Check if you can switch: upload your latest bill and Meet George tells you in seconds whether you’re in your switching window and what to do next, with no cold-calling broker involved.
