| p>Gas and electricity is the same wherever you | | | | help but in a typical example from one of the 'Big |
| buy it from but there are thousands of different | | | | 6', the renewal window opens 60 days before the |
| tariffs for business energy users amazingly it can | | | | contract end date and closes 45 days before the |
| differ in price threefold in the UK. As a result | | | | end date. |
| British businesses are collectively pay £2 | | | | NB Not-for-profit buildings such as churches, |
| billion more than they need to on their energy bills. | | | | community centres, Scout huts etc are all treated |
| That's more than £1,000 for every | | | | as businesses in the eyes of utility companies. |
| business with an electricity meter, simply going to | | | | These are the steps we would recommend any |
| waste. | | | | business takes: |
| A lack of published information makes it almost | | | | 1. Request a copy of the terms & conditions |
| impossible to compare prices. As a result, very | | | | of your contract from your supplier as well as the |
| few businesses manage to get on the best rates | | | | contract end date. |
| and even then they are unlikely to stay on them | | | | 2. Serve notice in the timeframe outlined in the |
| once the initial fixed term has ended. This is | | | | T&Cs with a termination letter sent by |
| because business contracts automatically roll over, | | | | recorded delivery (if the timeframe is unclear, do |
| locking you into a new - and typically far more | | | | this immediately and keep a copy of the letter). |
| costly deal. | | | | 3. Also request a renewal quote from your |
| A million small businesses are on these type of 'roll | | | | supplier if they have not already sent you one. |
| over' contracts which means they automatically | | | | 4. Wait for your renewal window to open and |
| renew themselves - invariably with higher rates - | | | | then compare the renewal price with other |
| unless terminated. In other words... staying with | | | | suppliers by using a price comparison service that |
| the same business energy supplier from one year | | | | searches the whole market. |
| to the next and you are likely to be locked into | | | | 5. If offered cheaper prices, make sure you ask |
| rates much higher than those offered to attract | | | | the questions that Ofgem recommends before |
| 'new customers'. Leave it too late to serve notice | | | | switching. |
| and you could be left stuck paying the roll over | | | | Anyone who is confused by which rates apply to |
| rates for up to two years. | | | | their business, or need some advice on how to |
| Companies are often prevented from switching | | | | become eligible for the best deals in future, should |
| because they are unaware that their contracts | | | | contact one of the few price comparison services |
| automatically renew before their old one expires | | | | that cater for businesses. Make It Cheaper, for |
| and only realise their predicament when they | | | | example, has recently launched a range of free |
| notice their direct debits shooting up - at which | | | | services that include:o Contract Checking to help |
| point it is too late. The only way to avoid the roll | | | | businesses find out their contract status - ie end |
| over trap is to serve notice to your supplier but - | | | | date and termination rules.o Renewal Reminder |
| depending on which one you're with - you may | | | | that logs customer details and automatically |
| have to do this , say, 90 days before the | | | | contacts them as their renewal window opens.o |
| contract expires and in a renewal window that | | | | Template termination letters that customers can |
| lasts just a couple of weeks. Each of the suppliers | | | | use to ensure there is no misunderstanding |
| have different rules of engagement which doesn't | | | | between the customer and the supplier. |