Guides
Guides to business energy, water and waste
Each guide answers one question, shows its sources and says when it was last checked.
Contracts and prices
- Fixed or flexible: a guide for large energy usersFixed or flexible business energy? How fully fixed, pass-through and flexible contracts work for large UK users, and how to choose by risk appetite.
- How energy brokers are paid, explained openlyHow UK business energy brokers are paid: commission built into your rates, fixed fees, what Ofgem requires suppliers to disclose and what to ask.
- How multi-site businesses cut energy costsHow UK multi-site businesses cut energy costs: align contract end dates, buy as one portfolio, check every meter and remove charges you should not pay.
- What a fair business unit rate looks likeWhat is a fair business energy unit rate in the UK? What drives it, why standing charges matter, and how to benchmark your quote against official data.
- When to renew a business energy contractWhen to renew a UK business energy contract: start 6 to 12 months early for larger users, know your notice period and avoid costly out-of-contract rates.
Charges and regulation
- BICS explained: who qualifies for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme and what it could saveBICS exempts eligible GB manufacturers from RO and FiT costs from April 2027 and Capacity Market costs from October 2027. Applications close 30 November 2026.
- Business energy changes in April 2027: what goes up and what comes downFrom 1 April 2027 the RO charge falls, while BSUoS, TNUoS, DUoS and CCL rise. A charge by charge guide with status, sources and a worked multi-site example.
- Climate Change Levy rates 2001 to 2027CCL is 0.801p/kWh on business electricity and gas from 1 April 2026, rising to 0.827p from 1 April 2027. Every main rate since 2001, from HMRC sources.