The subject of energy provision has become a hot topic in England over recent months. It’s no surprise, considering the massive price hikes that are going to be implemented from 1 April 2022. It may be that you’re a small business owner and are wondering what’s the best way forward. In this article, we’ll discuss your options for getting a new energy provider for your company.
Evaluate Your Energy Usage And Needs
Before you decide on an energy provider, it’s important to assess your current and future energy requirements. Look at your recent bills to establish how much power you are currently using and what are your peak hours.
If you’ve been on a contract with an energy supplier for quite some while, it will most likely be in your interest to change. There are many different utility companies you can choose from and each provider will be offering a variety of pricing plans and services. For this reason, it’s important to do plenty of research in order to find the one that best meets your needs.
Use Price Comparison Websites
They are a great free service for customers, and they offer a quick way of finding out how much the price of your current tariff compares with other suppliers on the market. Most of these sites allow you to enter basic details about your business and what type of tariff you have, so they can calculate an accurate cost estimate based on this information. You’ll then receive quotes from different companies offering similar deals at different prices. They will depend on supply-demand levels or other factors such as time-of-use tariffs.
This means that there may not always be one provider who consistently comes up as the cheapest energy provider for every small business. There are price comparison websites for both gas and electricity, so it’s important to compare the tariffs available for your business on both sites. The popularity of www.goswitchenergy.co.uk demonstrates peoples’ desire to compare a huge range of energy suppliers in seconds and to receive quotes within around two minutes. People want to select the tariff that suits them, to switch digitally and to make savings against their current renewal offers.
Consider Exit Fees And Timescales
Some companies may charge you if you switch to another provider before your current contract is up. Before you change suppliers, be sure to check when your price plan expires and whether it’s worth paying the exit fee or not.
Also, find out how long it takes for the new price plan to start. This could be 21 days or less if you’ve signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee – otherwise, it could be longer. The longer the time that passes between signing a new price plan and having it set up, the more potential savings you could be losing.
View Individual Company Websites
Each site will contain information about their plans and rates and they should be studied with care by anyone who is considering signing up with them. The individual sites will also contain phone numbers that can be used in order to ask specific questions. Some companies have online chat options on their websites too. Some providers provide special discounts when you switch your energy provider through their website (and not through a price comparison website), so it’s worth checking this out beforehand. A disadvantage of using individual sites over price comparison websites is that they only contain limited plan/price comparisons. However, if you’re looking for a more specific plan that meets your needs in terms of price and usage this might not be an issue.
Read The Terms and Conditions
This is an important way to find out which deal suits your needs best. It might sound like a boring task but it actually gives you some important information upfront. This could include how much notice must be given before leaving (or joining) the contract and whether there are any exit fees involved (as discussed earlier). Your extra research can help ensure that there will be no surprises down the road, and that you know what to expect from your new provider.
It’s true that the terms and conditions can often be long and complicated documents. However, by taking the time to read them you’ll have a much better understanding of what you’re signing up for – which is especially important if it’s a longer contract.
These have been some of the key things you need to know when seeking a new energy provider for your small business. It’s also worth reading customer reviews and considering renewable energy options (although they can be expensive to set up). Once you’ve done your research and made your choice, you’ll be able to focus on running and growing your business once more. At the same time, you’ll be happy that you are paying the best possible prices for your energy.