Author: James Longley
Cost effective gas and electricity for your business
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68K Businesses Helped
45% Potential Saving
£60m Yearly Customer Spend
Regardless of the sector, you operate in, we appreciate that your businesses gas and electricity bills are likely to be high among the highest outlay.
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Cost effective gas and electricity for your business
Gas prices continually fluctuate but our experts can see where and when price drops are likely and we can tell you when is the best time to sign up to a long term contract. Similarly, we understand that navigating the complicated electricity market can be overwhelming, but our award-winning industry experts will guide your way to lower costs.
Our team searches numerous suppliers from major companies such as British Gas and Scottish Power to smaller brands such as Opus Energy or Total. Our role is to find a company that is best for your business in terms of offering the most competitive price for gas and electricity.
Your water supply can also be supplied from any nationwide water company and so don’t automatically assume you have to remain with your regional water company, we may suggest you swop to a different one in another part of the UK if we think it will benefit your business.
The process for setting you up with a new supplier to business premises is really easy and Utility Bidder will do all the hard work for you. We shop around and find the best price from a supplier we think offers your business the most cost efficient deal. We are with you every step of the way to make the process as painless as possible.
Deemed contract
Once you move in to your new business premises, the current energy suppliers will automatically continue to supply the premises – this is known in the trade as a ‘deemed contract.’ Essentially, this means that until you change supplier the existing contractor already supplying the premises has a contract to continue to do so – unless they are told otherwise.
BUT – and this is important – do not just sit back and automatically continue with the existing provider of your gas and electricity. Ofgem warns that these contracts are, on average, 80% higher than a negotiated contract and suggests business shops around to compare suppliers as significant savings can be made. It is vital therefore that you take action right away in order to avoid some hefty bills for your business’s gas and business electricity.
Meter readings
On the day you move into your new business premises, make sure you read the gas and electricity meter and ideally take a photo of the readings. The readings have to be provided to the company currently supplying the building. If you don’t know who that is, you can find out by contacting the Energy Networks Association(ENA) which represents all the network operators for gas and electricity in the UK. If you are moving into a leased property, the landlord should provide you with these details.
Your supplier will send you a final bill after you have moved. It is also useful for you to leave a note of the final meter reading with the new occupants and/or the landlord. The vast majority of moves go smoothly and energy suppliers are getting better at giving customers refunds if you are owed any money due to a business move. If, however, you do have any reason to complain about the moving out and/or the moving in process when it comes to energy, you can, in the first instance talk to the complaints department of the company involved.
If you feel, you are not getting the desired response, within 8 – 12 weeks, and then you can talk to the energy ombudsman.
Check the term of you tenancy
If you are a tenant in your new premises, make sure you are clear about the terms of your tenancy agreement when it comes to paying gas and electricity bills. You will pay either directly to the energy providers or via the landlord. If it is the latter you have less freedom to choose who your supplier is, as gas and electricity costs will usually be part of the rent.
If, however, the agreement makes you wholly responsible for energy you are free to switch suppliers. As always, check the fine detail of any agreement to make sure you do not fall foul of the rules, but assuming you are free to choose your own utility supplier for your business, make this a priority. Ditch the deemed contract as soon as you can and talk to Utility Bidder about a cost effective provider for your business utilities.
Moving out
When you are leaving an existing business premises there are also numerous things to do to ensure a smooth handover from yourself to a new business owner/and or landlord.
Make sure you inform your existing energy providers that you are leaving – at the very least give two days notice, but ideally a month. Each supplier will have a slightly different way of handling the move, www.eonenergy.com for instance has an online form for you to complete. From your point of view, it is vital to give meter readings on your final day in the premises. You can usually do this online but you can also telephone your supplier to give the reading. Again, in order to avoid any uncertainty – take a photo of the meter reading.
What your energy provider will require
The energy provider may also want proof that you are no longer going to be responsible for bills. EDF for example say, ‘you may be asked to verify the change of responsibility with documentation such as a valid Land Registration, tenancy agreement, management agreement or solicitors letter.’
Be wary of early termination fees, which will be in the small print of your energy contract. These could be waived, especially if you want to use your existing supplier in your new business premises. However, you may not be getting the best price and by speaking to Utility Bidder, you could find savings made from a new energy provider could outweigh the termination fee.
If you pay your bill by direct debit, do not cancel it right away. You will still have a final bill to pay which could be more or less the amount you usually pay. Cancelling may cause problems and more paperwork and so wait until you are advised to do so by your utility provider.
Get the best prices and deals on your utilities
Immediate pricing access to almost all UK suppliers
Business Gas
Immediate pricing access to all major UK gas suppliers. We can save you upto 45% on your business gas prices.
Business Electricity
We manage to 20,000 electric meters for our commercial customers – So you’re in safe hands.
Business Energy
We’ll find the best prices and provide you with a hassle free service for both your business gas and electricity….
Business Water
With our help. You’ll get a better quality service, lower water bills and better value for money.
Paul Kay was fantastic in securing us a great deal and explaining everything in full. Thanks and would wholeheartedly recommended.
Ben Jones
Excellent service from Kenny in the Manchester office, he worked hard to find the best price for me and explained everything along the way.
Will definitely use him again in the future and would recommend.
Jenny Burd
I spoke to Paul Kay this morning who in the space of 30 mins looks to have halved my salon electric bill, he was personable, knowledgeable and honest. The proof will be seeing if the bills actually reduce and if so I will leave another review but so far an excellent service
Julie Gale
I dealt with Utility Bidder over the past couple of days, amazing service and prompt. Paul Kay gave excellent customer service! would highly reccomend.
Alex Mcwilliam
Without a doubt utility bidder has saved my sanity. They have sorted months of going around in circles with a supplier in under a week.
I would highly recommend to everyone I know.
Nichola Morton
Had a lovely phone call from Connor this morning, he was very helpful, explained everything very clearing and all I had to do was agree to everything that was suggested and he done the rest! Very happy with the service
Terie Billson-Rodwell
I have just worked with Alex from Utility Bidder to sort our electricity contract today. He has got us an excellent price for our charity and it has all been sorted in half an hour (possibly less!). He was extremely helpful. THANK YOU
Lorraine Schulze
Had a call from Alex York who within minutes had arranged a new electricity contract with a new supplier. He was extremely courteous, professional and friendly. Highly recommend.
Susan Bateman
Robert Johnson has just completed my renewal contract with my energy supplier. He was very helpful and very efficient. It’s the first time I have used Utility Bidder and I will definitely use them again and highly recommend them. Thank you for making it so easy.
Line Verma
Case studies
We’re dedicated to helping businesses like yours save more on energy. That’s why we’ve put together a selection of case studies showcasing exactly what we have achieved for company’s similar to yours.
Thomson Hayes
2016
Year Joined
£2,000
Total Savings
Thomson Hayes retail has been established for 30 years and specialises in the design and manufacture of high quality furniture, exhibition stands, museum and store fit outs.
Cablecraft Limited
2017
Year Joined
£170,000
Total Savings
Utility Bidder saves thousands of pounds on energy expenditure for Midlands business. Cable craft have been supplying cable identification, termination and management products throughout the world for over 20 years servicing a diverse range of industries.
Sharda Care
2014
Year Joined
£20,000
Total Savings
Sharda Care are contacted frequently by companies within the energy industry, but the desire to work with UB Corporate was motivated by our bill validation service (and that they hadn’t checked their VAT). Our team have an experienced background in working with businesses of this size and will instinctively scrutinise all utilities to investigate potential savings.
Robert Jones
2019
Year Joined
£150
Total Savings
Rob says that thanks to the competitive rates secured by Utility Bidder in his studio, it would actually be cheaper to live there than at home! “We pay about £30 a month for gas during the winter and around £25 a month for electricity – and that’s despite having a lot of energy guzzling equipment such as studio lights and fan heaters. Our energy bills at home are far more expensive!”
HTC
2020
Year Joined
£14000
Total Savings
Founded in 2009, with a range of industry accolades to our name, Hayri recognised that Utility Bidder was a well-established and growing business and our five star Trustpilot reviews along with our size and longevity ensured HTC Europe had peace of mind.
“I was impressed with Utility Bidder from the start,” said Hayri. “Nothing was too much trouble for my account manager Rebecca Lau. Professionals recognise fellow professionals and it’s true that one doesn’t buy from a company, one buys from a person and Rebecca is a credit to Utility Bidder.
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