subject: Find the right energy tariff for business users [print this page] Find the right energy tariff for business users
For all business users it can be hard to know which costs to tackle first in order to attempt to reduce the overall cost burden to your business. One of the easiest to look at is electricity and gas supplies. Although the overall costs of energy are increasing over the long term it's still something that most commercial organisations can help reduce and sometimes just by getting a new quote.
The trouble with most business users is that they keep on the same tariff year after year and much like the energy tariffs in your home if you keep on the same standard tariff then you are definitely paying too much. Although it's slightly different (because home standard tariffs are probably around 10% higher than the best discounted rates) with business users the energy companies have an effectual and easy method to hike prices sometimes as much as 40% on an annual basis.
This is called a rollover contract and if you do not renegotiate then the energy companies can effectively charge what they want and there is nothing you can do about it. Well there is. You need to terminate your contract each year and get a new quote. If you simply contact your current provider without termination you will simply see a price rise. Companies such as British Gas guarantee to beat your current quote by 10% on electricity so right away, just by getting a quote from BG you have saved 10% whether you are currently with them or not.
You do however need to terminate your contract and to do this you need to know when you can terminate it. All contracts are different so you need to check what yours says. There is normally only a limited opportunity to do this each year and if you do not then your current provider will increase your prices. It's something that only takes a few minutes to do and your new online quote only takes 60 seconds or less to enter your premises details and some information about your current consumption.
The switching process to a new provider is also seamless as all the paperwork and invoicing changes are undertaken by the new supplier. You won't lose your electric or gas supply during the process which is completed in a matter of weeks from the time you get your new quote to the time you are saving money with your new contract.
By doing this and introducing some easy to implement energy efficiency measures in any business organisation can actually save up to 70% per year on electricity and gas. So for any business owner in any doubt it's best to do this today.
