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British Gas business energy: at a glance
British Gas supplies gas and electricity to more than 350,000 organisations across Great Britain and offers fixed and flexible plans, so you can find a supply option that’s right for your business.
All business customers get zero-carbon electricity as standard, which is backed by 72% renewable electricity and 28% nuclear generation. For larger businesses, meanwhile, a 100% renewable electricity tariff is available.
British Gas Business Energy
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24/7 customer service?No
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British Gas business energy pros & cons
Pros
- There are several tariffs to suit a range of business needs and sizes.
- There is a range of payment options for businesses to choose from.
- It offers smart meter installation through a third-party service.
- It has Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable electricity generators in Great Britain.
Cons
- It doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service.
- Its renewable energy tariff is only available to businesses of a certain size.
These pros and cons are based on an exclusive survey of UK business owners on what they found important when choosing an energy provider, conducted by NerdWallet in December 2022.
British Gas business energy key features
- Can choose from fixed-rate, 30-day rolling and half-hourly meter tariffs, as well as a dedicated renewable energy tariff if you are a larger business
- Specific tariffs for industrial and commercial businesses
- Supplies business gas and electricity to more organisations than any other provider in Great Britain
British Gas business energy full review
British Gas supplies more than 350,000 businesses with electricity and gas, making it one of Great Britain’s biggest business energy providers.
It offers a range of tariffs and contract lengths, giving you the flexibility to find an energy supply plan that may suit your unique business requirements.
Check out the table below for a current snapshot of everything you need to know about British Gas business energy.
| Electricity contract length | 30 days to five years |
| Gas contract length | 30 days to five years |
| Fuel mix disclosure* | Coal: 2% Natural gas: 20% Nuclear: 28% Renewables: 48% Other: 2% (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022) |
| Customer service number | Number may vary |
| Payment number | N/A |
| Complaints number | 0330 818 6031 (SMEs) 0330 130 5715 (industrial and commercial) |
| General email address | N/A |
| Complaints email address | [email protected] (SMEs) [email protected] (British Gas Lite) [email protected] (industrial and commercial) |
| Trustpilot rating | 3.4 stars (as of 6 February 2023) |
| Smart meter installation | Yes |
| App | Yes (iOS, Android and Huawei) |
| Payment options | Direct Debit Debit or credit card Bank transfer BACS, Faster Payments or CHAPS Over the counter at the Post Office Cheque |
* This is the fuel mix disclosure for British Gas Trading Ltd overall. Specific business energy tariffs have different fuel mixes and may have a higher percentage of renewable energy.
If you want to find out more about British Gas business energy, read on for our full guide.
British Gas business energy features
Below, you can find more information on the features and tariffs available with British Gas business energy.
Customer service
According to NerdWallet’s survey, business owners prioritise 24/7 customer service over everything else when selecting an energy supplier. It is disappointing, then, that British Gas does not offer customer service around the clock.
If you are on a standard business tariff and do want to contact British Gas then from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, you can
- call British Gas’s changing customer service number, found here
- use Live Chat (though this may not be available during periods of high volume)
If you are on British Gas Lite, however, you will only be able to use the online contact options.
Your tariff type also determines how you make a complaint:
- SMEs: Call 0330 818 6031 (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday), or email [email protected]
- Industrial and commercial: Call 0330 130 5715 (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday) or email [email protected]
- British Gas Lite: Log in and use webchat or email [email protected]
You may also be able to message @BritishGas_UKB on Twitter if you need assistance.
Business energy tariffs
British Gas currently offers a range of fixed, flexible and tailored energy plans to suit businesses of all sizes.
This may make British Gas appealing to business owners, as NerdWallet’s survey showed the ability to match their business to a tariff that suits their needs was in the top three most important factors when choosing a supplier.
Fixed Price Energy Plan
The Fixed Price Energy Plan is currently the most popular option offered by British Gas. Your business will pay a fixed unit price for the length of your contract, which can be one, two, or three years.
This means that, while your overall bill may vary in line with your energy usage, how much you are charged for every unit of energy you consume will remain the same.
British Gas Lite
British Gas also offers an online-only fixed energy price plan called British Gas Lite.
To be eligible for British Gas Lite, you must work from a single site with a smart meter for your electricity, and is for businesses spending less than £40,000 a year on energy.
Contracts last up to five years, are paid for through a variable direct debit – which will change each month to reflect your energy bill – and come with the installation of an electricity smart meter for your business.
30-day Rolling Energy Plan
The 30-day Rolling Energy Plan might be a good option for businesses that want a little more flexibility. Unlike the fixed plan, the cost of your energy will fluctuate in line with wholesale energy prices.
You also have the freedom to change suppliers with just 30 days’ notice and can upgrade to the Fixed Price plan whenever you want.
Half-hourly meters – electricity
The Half-hourly meter plan tailors the price around your actual energy usage and on the opening times of your business. You can choose either the nationwide half-hourly meter operator service or pick your own.
Renewable business energy
Only available to businesses that use more than 150,000kWh of gas or electricity, this tariff uses renewable gas and electricity from UK sources backed by guarantee of origin certificates and certified by the Carbon Trust, a not-for-profit consultancy specialising in helping businesses to cut carbon emissions.
Large business energy
Industrial and commercial businesses spending more than £300,000 a year on energy can access fixed and flexible plans to suit their scale.
The fixed-rate energy plan locks in the unit rate and standing charge for up to five years, while the flexible purchasing contract allows your business to buy all or part of your energy before the month you use it.
Deemed and variable rates
If you reach the end of your Fixed Price Energy Plan term and you haven’t agreed a new contract, you’ll automatically go on to the Variable Price Plan, also known as an out-of-contract rate, until you switch to a new plan. This means your unit rates could go up or down at any time, in line with wider wholesale market changes.
Deemed rates occur if you move business premises but don’t agree to a new contract with British Gas. These are usually more expensive than contract rates, but you can search for a cheaper tariff and switch to a new business plan at any time.
Additional fees and charges
It is important to remember that on top of your kWh usage, charged at your unit rate, you will pay:
- a fixed standing charge, which contributes towards maintaining the electricity network
- VAT, either at 20% or the reduced rate of 5% (if your business uses less than 33kWh of electricity or 145kWh of gas a day)
- the Climate Change Levy (CCL), though there are exceptions to this tax
You will also be charged for third-party, non-energy costs that may vary from month to month. These can include:
- energy infrastructure costs
- low carbon generation costs
- National Grid energy-related costs
- security of supply costs
» MORE: Business energy tariffs explained
Payment options
It is clear which payment option business owners care about the most: the ability to pay by direct debit. It is the second most important criteria they look for overall in a business energy supplier.
British Gas takes direct debits and will even discount your bill by 7% on certain tariffs if you use this payment method.
British Gas offers a number of other ways to pay for your business energy, including:
- debit or credit card
- bank transfer
- BACS, Faster Payments or CHAPS
- cheque over the counter at the Post Office
- cheque by post, sent to British Gas Commercial/Business Energy (Area 60), British Gas Business, PO Box 343, Sheffield, S98 1EF
Smart meters
Many business owners know the potential value having a smart meter installed at their premises can bring. That’s why it is in the top five most important factors they look for in an energy supplier.
British Gas uses third party installers to install its smart meters. All you need to do is submit an installation request and wait for British Gas to get back to you.
If you are eligible for a smart meter, your appointment will be arranged for around three weeks from the contact date.
Renewable energy options
As standard, any fixed-term contract with British Gas business comes with zero-carbon electricity, backed by 72% renewable energy sources and 28% nuclear generation.
If you want a 100% renewable electricity tariff alongside carbon-neutral and renewable gas, however, you will need to use more than 150,000kWh of electricity or gas a year. Part of this energy is supplied by a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with local or specified renewable generators.
Although renewable electricity still goes through the National Grid, meaning you will not know whether the energy you receive is ‘green’ or not, a PPA gives renewable generators a direct source of income that allows them to maintain their operations.
Every megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable energy British Gas supplies is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. REGOs are a requirement of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), as part of the fuel mix disclosure regulations.
As for the supplier’s business gas, there are two ‘greener’ options: carbon-neutral gas or renewable gas. The supplier’s carbon-neutral gas is made up of 10% biomethane, backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGO) certificates, and 90% Voluntary Emission Reduction (VER) certified energy from named global carbon-offsetting projects. Its renewable gas tariff, on the other hand, comes from 100% RGGO-backed biomethane generation.
RGGOs are issued for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of biomethane injected into the grid, and contain information about where, when and how the gas was produced.
While REGOs and RGGOs are designed to provide consumers with clarity on how much renewable energy a supplier uses, a stronger sign of commitment to green energy is sourcing it from renewable generators directly.
Customer reviews
As of 7 February 2023, British Gas has an ‘Average’ Trustpilot rating of 3.4 stars out of 5, based on 131,472. Bear in mind that this is for the brand as a whole, not just its business offering.
How can I switch to British Gas business energy?
- First, you will need to make sure you are at the end of your existing contract, and have satisfied any notice period.
- Next, you will need to get a quote from British Gas, and choose your tariff.
- Once your tariff is chosen, review and sign your new business energy contract.
- British Gas will then process your switchover, including contacting your existing supplier. You should make sure you have paid off any existing balance.
- Finally, you will need to give British Gas a meter reading to complete the switch.
» MORE: Switch business energy provider
How to choose a British Gas business energy tariff
When picking a British Gas business energy tariff, you should consider:
- the unit rate quote you are given
- how long you want your contract to last
- whether you want the security of a fixed-rate tariff, or the flexibility of a tariff which could see prices rise and fall
- what level of customer service you want, specifically if you want to speak to someone over the phone
- whether you want 100% renewable energy (if eligible)
- if you want to tailor your tariff around a half-hourly meter
Moving business premises with British Gas business energy
If you’re moving into or out of business premises supplied by British Gas, you just need to follow a few simple steps.
If you’re moving in, call British Gas the day after your move with the following information:
- your move-in date
- your first meter reading
- your business name, address, and phone number
If you’re moving out, log into your online British Gas account and supply the following:
- your moving date
- your business details
- your final meter reading
- your forwarding address
- the new occupier’s details
Review methodology
At NerdWallet UK, we base our reviews and our ‘Best’ pages on the results of surveys we undertook about what was important to people who use these products. This allows us to look at products impartially of any commercial arrangements we have and fairly rate the products on the same set of criteria.
Best means our ‘Best’ and is based only on what products we have aligned to our surveys, which form the basis of our reviews and ratings. This means that there will be other products on the market that we have not included in our ‘Best’ pages. Best does not mean it’s best for you, nor does it mean the ‘cheapest’.
Our reviews may display lenders’ rates. This additional information has not been included in our evaluations but is still very important when choosing a product. Rates offered can depend on circumstances, amount and term. Always check details before proceeding with any financial product.
Product details reflect the information that was available at that time but may have changed since. We strive to give you a review on as many products as possible, but there will be products not included on the market. The review is our opinion, but it does not constitute advice, recommendation or suitability for your financial circumstances.
You can view our full review methodology here.
