Monitor the rate. Measure the service. Know when to move.
A practical view of UK business electricity and gas: official price direction, independent supplier-complaints evidence and the contract details that determine what an independent practice really pays.
Business energy contracts are not protected by the household energy price cap. Quotes vary by meter, location, usage, timing, credit and contract terms.
Headline prices are easing, but that is not the whole bill
The latest official averages fell year on year. They are market reference points, not quotes: smaller sites, different consumption bands and contracts signed at different times can pay materially different rates.
These figures are UK averages across the non-domestic market and include Climate Change Levy. SupplyIndex will compare a practice against relevant consumption and contract evidence rather than treating an average as an achievable tariff.
Price without service is not a complete comparison
Citizens Advice publishes a quarterly weighted complaints ratio for non-domestic suppliers. Lower is better. The measure gives extra weight to serious or repeatedly unresolved cases, but it remains one service indicator rather than a complete supplier score.
| Rank | Supplier | Jan–Mar 2026 | Oct–Dec 2025 | Quarter change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecotricity | 0.0 | 43.7 | Improved 43.7 |
| 2 | Crown Gas and Power | 11.2 | 0.0 | Higher 11.2 |
| 3 | E.ON Next | 108.0 | 111.6 | Improved 3.6 |
| 4 | Octopus Energy | 138.4 | 184.2 | Improved 45.8 |
| 5 | Total Gas and Power | 155.2 | 157.2 | Improved 2.0 |
| 6 | British Gas | 175.5 | 196.7 | Improved 21.2 |
| 7 | Ruby Energy | 231.6 | 266.3 | Improved 34.7 |
| 8 | ScottishPower | 301.2 | 242.5 | Higher 58.7 |
| 9 | EDF | 382.6 | 487.5 | Improved 104.9 |
| 10 | SSE | 479.0 | 505.3 | Improved 26.3 |
| 11 | SmartestEnergy Business | 633.3 | 497.4 | Higher 135.9 |
| 12 | Yu Energy | 638.4 | 589.0 | Higher 49.4 |
| 13 | Pozitive Energy | 762.7 | 922.0 | Improved 159.3 |
| 14 | Corona Energy | 976.2 | 1227.0 | Improved 250.8 |
| 15 | Engie | 1272.0 | 1524.3 | Improved 252.3 |
| 16 | Maxen Power | 3281.3 | 2922.9 | Higher 358.4 |
The ratio is weighted complaints per 10,000 customers, not a star rating. Supplier size and the severity of cases are built into the Citizens Advice methodology.
SupplyIndex will add verified practice evidence on billing accuracy, response time, switching and issue resolution before publishing any broader service assessment.
What the monitor will extract from a utility bill
The lowest unit rate is not automatically the lowest total cost. A useful comparison has to include fixed charges, usage, timing, broker fees and the quality of support behind the contract.
Do not let the contract calendar choose for you
Business energy contracts can run for years. Monitoring the end date, notice provisions and quote window is as important as monitoring the market.
If a contract ends without a replacement, a business may move onto rollover, variable or deemed terms. The exact outcome depends on the existing agreement.
12 months before end
Record supplier, meter numbers, consumption, unit rates, fixed charges and every relevant notice date.
6 months before end
Check the contract, request consumption data and make any broker commission or service fee explicit.
3 months before end
Compare complete annual cost, service evidence, switching process and contract terms—not just pence per kWh.
At switch or renewal
Confirm the agreed rates and dates in writing, take meter readings and retain the final and opening bills.
Every public figure links back to its source
The monitor separates official market averages, independent complaints evidence and private practice-submitted bills. It does not turn marketing claims into benchmark data.
DESNZ Quarterly Energy Prices
Accredited official statistics for UK non-domestic electricity and gas prices.
Published: 30 June 2026
DESNZ non-domestic price tables
Quarterly and annual prices by fuel, Climate Change Levy treatment and consumption band.
Published: 30 June 2026
Citizens Advice supplier performance
Quarterly weighted complaints ratios for non-domestic suppliers.
Published: June 2026
Ofgem business energy research
Business affordability, supplier satisfaction and switching research.
Published: 18 May 2026
Ofgem business contract guidance
Contract, broker, service-fee and supplier-performance guidance for businesses.
Published: Current guidance
No supplier pays to alter the benchmark. A future commercial offer will be labelled separately and will not change the market or service evidence shown here.
Business Utilities Monitor FAQs
Put your next renewal on the radar
Upload a bill for a private all-in cost analysis, put every contract date on the radar, compare complete offers and track whether the supplier delivers the support promised.