There seems to be a business-specific comparison site for everything these days. Every niche has a peer-to-peer website, from income protection to home insurance. And, of course, there is a business gas comparison site.
Looking for a better business gas deal appears simple. But, it can become a logistical nightmare — or a lengthy and frustrating experience — if you don’t plan.
So how do you get started? What information do you need to make a business gas comparison?
This post will provide the essential information to complete your business gas comparison. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete, and you can shop around to find the best price.
Business name
You first need to find out if your business has been registered for VAT and, if so, what number they gave you. This will tell you which VAT rate (value-added tax) applies to your company and help the comparison site determine if any special conditions apply to your account.
Then, you’ll have to enter your business name into any comparison site so that they can match up the usage for your business with the tariff you choose. But, if you don’t know what tariff you want, then it’s best not to enter any details until you’ve done your research.
You also need your business name, you can find this information on your utility bills, so it should be easy to find. But, if you don’t have a statement yet, or if it doesn’t have your company name on it, use your company trading name instead.
You may also want to include any other names associated with your business – for example, if you run several brands under one umbrella, add those names too.
Current premises postcode (or future – if you’re moving)
The first thing you need is the postcode of the current location where your business is based. You can find this in two ways. You can look at a letter or bill from your current supplier or search online for ‘business postcode’ and copy and paste the correct one into your preferred online comparison tool.
Future premises postcode (if applicable)
If you’re looking for quotes for a new office or warehouse location, it’s essential to know where it is. You must obtain this information from local agents or landlords if it’s vacant land or an empty building.
However, if tenants are already in place, you have to directly obtain this information.
Current supplier’s name
It would be best if you also had your existing supplier’s name and address (the address is essential as it helps narrow down the search).
It doesn’t matter which energy provider you use, but it will make it easier to compare prices if you know what they are charging you now.
Call your utility provider and ask for it if you don’t know it. Or you could get this by calling them directly, visiting their website, or checking your latest bill.
MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number)
The MPRN is a unique identifier for your business gas meter, and you can find this number on your bill or statement from your energy supplier. This is usually an eight or 10-digit number that starts with numbers rather than letters.
You may also find it under the heading “Meter Point Reference” or “MPAN.”
When making a business gas comparison, you need to know this number to ensure that you compare like with like.
If you have more than one meter at your property, you will have more than one MPRN, but they will all be linked together.
If you have a single estate with multiple businesses on the same site, all of these businesses will share the same set of meters and therefore be able to use the same MPRN number.
You should also be aware that some suppliers use different meter numbers for different types of services.
For example, comparing electricity prices, one supplier may use a different number for domestic supplies. Another supplier may use yet another one for commercial supplies.
It’s also worth noting that many suppliers allow you to check your MPRN online via their website or app. This makes completing a business gas comparison easier as you don’t need to worry about getting hold of all your bills and invoices first.
Current gas usage (kWh is best, but annual cost also works)
It would be best if you worked out how much gas you use. You can get a rough idea of this by looking at your yearly bill and multiplying it by 12.
If you use a gas meter, you should be able to find out exactly how much kWh of energy you have consumed since the last time you read the meter. If this isn’t possible, you can use an average figure based on the number of hours the meter has been operating during a typical year.
If you don’t have access to a gas meter, or if your business uses less than 1 million kWh per year, it may be easier to budget for an annual cost rather than calculate actual usage. This will give you a more accurate comparison between different providers and tariffs.
But if you don’t know this, it’s better to get an accurate reading from your energy supplier.
You can ask your supplier for an account statement and check the figure for last year. This will give you an idea of what you’re using now and how much it costs. You can also get an estimate from your supplier based on the current tariff and expected usage.
Contract expiration date
You need to know when your current contract expires because your current agreement won’t automatically renew when it expires. So you’ll need to sign up again with your chosen supplier if you want them to continue supplying your business with gas.
This is the date at the end of your current contract. You can find this date by calling your current supplier and requesting them to send you an email with the details of your renewal date.
Final Thoughts
This article aims to help UK business owners save money by comparing their gas packages.
There is no ‘best’ energy plan for everyone, but energy suppliers offer various deals and tariffs to let you choose the best fit for your business. With so much choice available, it’s only natural to spend hours on research trying to work out which supplier will give you the best deal.
In addition, the UK’s energy market is complex and constantly changing. Government policies regarding certifications are in flux, and there are a lot of murky details that can affect fuel prices.
Thus, comparing the market should be considered an ongoing effort, as today’s best deal may not be the same as tomorrow’s.
You can now compare gas providers for your business with all the above information. So make sure you collect all the information needed. In addition, you must analyze it and use it to compare the different natural gas suppliers.
Only by doing this will you be able to make a profitable decision for your business.