- Unit rate + standing charge are the two numbers that matter most
- Wholesale energy is only ~60% of your unit rate — the rest is regulated
- Always compare quotes at the same kWh consumption and contract length
- A cheap headline rate can hide expensive pass-through charges
What actually sits on a business energy bill?
Your quarterly bill is built from two headline numbers — a unit rate charged per kWh you consume, and a daily standing charge you pay whether you trade or not. Around 55–65% of the unit rate is wholesale energy; the rest is network use-of-system charges, policy costs, and your supplier's margin.
Why do business energy prices change every quarter?
Wholesale gas and power prices are set day-ahead on European markets and feed into fixed-price offers roughly six to twelve months later. Cold snaps, storage levels and interconnector flows all shift the number a supplier will quote you today.
Fixed or variable business energy: which suits you?
A fixed contract locks your unit rate for 12–36 months, which suits businesses that want predictable budgeting. A variable or pass-through tariff tracks the wholesale market and can be cheaper in falling markets, but it removes budget certainty.
How do you compare business energy quotes fairly?
Ask every supplier to quote the same annual consumption figure (kWh), the same contract length, and to break out unit rate, standing charge and any pass-through elements separately. That is the only way to compare apples with apples.
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