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Opus business energy: at a glance
Opus Energy is an electricity and gas supplier, providing energy to more than 225,000 business premises across Great Britain.
For most businesses, the supplier offers two main tariffs: Opus Advance and Opus Advance Plus, both of which are 100% renewable. Larger businesses managing multiple sites, meanwhile, may be able to arrange a tailored tariff.
Opus Business Energy
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24/7 customer service?No
Learn more about how we bring you our review.
Opus business energy pros & cons
Pros
- It has tariffs available to match different businesses sizes and needs.
- A proportion of its electricity comes from its owner’s Drax Power Station. It also has over 2,300 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable generators in Great Britain.
- You can pay bills via direct debit, bank transfer or cheque.
Cons
- It does not offer 24/7 customer service.
These pros and cons are based on a survey of UK business owners on what they found important when selecting a range of business products, conducted by NerdWallet in December 2022.
Opus business energy key features
- Main tariffs include Opus Advance, Opus Advance Plus, and tailored arrangements for larger corporate businesses
- Offers smart meter installation for businesses
- My Smart Energy app allows you to monitor your electricity usage from anywhere, at any time
Opus business energy full review
Established in 2002 and based in Northampton, Opus Energy is an electricity and gas provider specialising in business energy.
In 2016, Opus Energy was bought by Drax Group PLC. It is a renewable energy company that owns, among other ventures, Drax Power Station near Selby, North Yorkshire – the UK’s largest renewable power station.
We’ve put together everything you need to know about Opus Energy at a glance in our table below.
| Electricity contract length | One to four years |
| Gas contract length | One to four years |
| Fuel mix disclosure (for SME customers) | Coal: 4% Natural gas: 32% Nuclear: 3% Renewable: 58%* Other: 3% (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022) |
| Customer service number | 01604 673 100 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |
| Payments number | 01604 797 301 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |
| Complaints number | 0800 630 0841 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |
| General email address | [email protected] |
| Complaints email address | [email protected] |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.5 stars (16 January 2023 ) |
| Smart meter installation | Yes |
| App | Yes (iOS and Android) |
| Payment options | Direct debit BACS transfer Cheque |
*While Opus says that its two main tariffs are from 100% renewable sources, out-of-contract and deemed tariffs may use electricity from non-renewable sources.
If you want to find out more about Opus Energy, read on for our full guide.
Opus business energy features
Below is more information on the features and tariffs available with Opus business energy.
Customer service
Given how costly it can be if something goes wrong with your business energy, it is understandable that business owners said 24/7 customer service was the most important thing when choosing a supplier, according to NerdWallet’s survey. After all, you want to be able to sort out any problems as soon as possible if you encounter a problem.
You can access your My Opus Energy account online at all hours of the day, however Opus doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service. There are also a number of ways you can contact Opus Energy.
For general enquiries, you can call Customer Service from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm on 01604 673 100, or email [email protected].
If you wish to make a payment over the phone, you can call the credit team from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm on 01604 797 301.
Complaints can be submitted via Opus Energy’s online form. Alternatively, you can call 0800 630 0841 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, or email [email protected].
Business energy tariffs
NerdWallet’s survey of UK business owners revealed that the ability to match your tariff to your business needs is in the top three most important factors when considering an energy supplier.
With that in mind, Opus Energy offers three main tariffs: Opus Advance, Opus Advance Plus, and a more bespoke tariff for larger, corporate organisations. This range of tariffs means Opus may be a good supplier for business owners looking to match their tariff to their specific size and needs.
Opus Advance
With Opus Advance, your electricity is supplied using renewable generators from the UK and Europe as standard. This process is audited by EcoAct, an independent sustainability consultant.
Opus Energy typically offers micro and small businesses fixed-term rates for one to four years for both electricity and gas. This means the unit price you pay per kiloWatt hour (kWh) is fixed at the start of your contract and will remain the same until the end of that period.
Opus Advance Plus
Opus Advance Plus is available for larger organisations which consume large amounts of electricity.
With this tariff, your electricity will be supplied exclusively by an independent network of over 2,100 wind, solar and hydro generators in Great Britain.
As with Opus Advance, the Plus tariff is also audited and certified by EcoAct.
Tariffs for larger businesses
If you are a large, corporate business, not only can you access Opus Energy’s fixed-rate gas prices but, unlike smaller businesses, you will also have a choice of fixed and flexible rates for your electricity.
Variable or out-of-contract rates
If you do not sign a new contract with Opus Energy or another provider once your original deal has expired, you will be moved on to a monthly plan that is likely to cost you more than your previous fixed-term contract and may use electricity from non-renewable sources.
Deemed contract rates
If you move into a new business premises where Opus Energy is the provider, you will be put on a deemed contract rate. This is a variable kWh unit rate, and is among the most expensive ways to pay for business energy.
However, a deemed contract has no set end date, so you can change suppliers or negotiate your own contract with Opus Energy at any time to switch to a better deal and a more sustainable tariff.
Additional fees and charges
It is important to remember that on top of your kWh usage, charged at your unit rate, you will pay:
- Your 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
Payment options
You can pay for your Opus Energy usage by direct debit, BACS transfer, or cheque. Both direct debit and BACS transfer can be set up using your My Opus Energy online account.
You can also call the credit team from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm on 01604 797 301 to arrange payments over the phone.
NerdWallet’s survey of business owners found that the ability to pay by direct debit was the second most important criteria when choosing an energy supplier, while paying by bank transfer, debit or credit card was number four.
Smart meters
Depending on where your premises are, and the phone signal at your business location, Opus Energy may be able to install a smart meter for your business.
In order to apply for a smart meter, you will need to fill out a contact form on Opus Energy’s website. Opus will then get in touch if and when you are eligible for one.
Once you have a smart meter installed, or if you have one at your premises already, then you can use the Opus My Smart Energy app. This will allow you to gain insight into how much electricity you are using without needing to be at your business premises.
Considering the benefits a smart meter can bring, it isn’t a surprise that smart meter installation is one of the top five most important criteria for business owners when selecting an energy supplier.
Renewable energy options
Both Opus Advance and Opus Advance Plus use generators to supply a proportion of its renewable electricity. These sources include the Drax Power Station in Selby, which provides more renewable energy than any other location in the UK, as well as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with over 2,300 independent renewable generators across the country.
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 means renewable generators have a direct source of income that allows them to maintain their operations.
Every megawatt hour (MWh) of the renewable source electricity it supplies is backed with 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.
While REGOs aim to give transparency to consumers about the amount of renewable energy that a company has bought, sourcing directly from renewable generators is a stronger sign of a commitment to renewable energy.
Opus Advance uses generators in both the UK and Europe, while Advance Plus uses a network of over 2,100 independent wind, solar and hydro generators based solely in the UK.
Like most suppliers in the UK, its gas is sourced from natural gas, which is non-renewable. However, it says that it hopes to work with producers of biomethane gas, which is renewable, through the Green Gas Certification Scheme, or offset the carbon of its gas consumption in the future.
Customer reviews
Opus Energy has an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on 4,815 reviews (as of 16 January 2023).
How can I switch to Opus Energy?
- First, you will need to determine the details of your contract with Opus Energy. You can do this directly, through a comparison website, or via a business energy broker or consultant.
- Once you have agreed your contract, Opus will start your registration process. This includes sending you the details of your tariff rates, contract length and terms and conditions.
- You will also need to make sure you have ended your contract with your previous supplier and paid off your outstanding balance.
- Once Opus Energy has then registered as your supplier with the industry database, it will ask for a meter reading either just before your transfer date, on the date itself, or just after you have switched.
- All you then need to do is wait for your pre-arranged switchover date, and your business will be powered by Opus Energy.
How to choose an Opus Energy tariff
Which Opus Energy tariff you can access will largely depend on how much electricity you consume as a business. Opus will suggest which tariff is appropriate based on your usage.
Opus Advance is the standard tariff for most micro- and small businesses, while Opus Advance plus is for businesses that consume large amounts of electricity.
Similarly, corporate businesses with multiple sites may be eligible for both fixed and flexible electricity tariffs.
Moving business premises with Opus Energy
Whether you are moving into a property supplied by Opus Energy, moving out of a premises supplied by Opus, or you are a landlord looking to set up a tenant with an Opus Energy account, you will need to follow the same process.
If you are using a business energy broker or consultant, and are moving into premises supplied by Opus, you will also need to make sure they submit a signed Letter of Authority form. This is so your broker can liaise with Opus on your behalf.
If you are moving in, Opus will set up an account in your name. If you are moving out, this process allows Opus to send you your final bill and, once that has been paid, close your account. And if you are a landlord, it means Opus can set up an account on behalf of your tenant.
And that’s it. Opus Energy will be in contact with you if it needs any more details, but other than that your move should require little else.
How to change tenancy with Opus Energy
To move business premises, you need to follow these four steps:
- Select the correct form from the Opus website.
- Submit your filled-out form, alongside a meter reading.
- If using an energy broker, ask them to submit a Letter of Authority.
- If you are moving in, set up and log into your new Opus account. Or pay your final bill if you are moving out.
If you would like more information about moving business premises with Opus Energy, you can email the company at [email protected], or call 01604 673 155.
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.
