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Business electricity rates – July 2024
We present the current business electricity prices for July 2024. The table below displays the average one-year fixed commercial electricity rates available over the last seven days.
| Size | Annual Consumption kWh | 1 Year fixed elec rate p/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 10,000 to 50,000 | 22.4 |
| Medium | 50,000 to 100,000 | 20.4 |
| Big | 100,000 + | 20.2 |
Important note: The data below is based upon weekly published wholesale electricity data but does not represent live electricity prices. Business electricity rates change daily and are dependent on location. Request electricity prices for your business today.
Source: The above data has been compiled using the following:
- Wholesale electricity rates on the National Grid published by the ICE exchange.
- Three-month rolling average non-commodity rates offered in the commercial electricity market using AquaSwitch quoting data.
Average business electricity rates in 2024
The average business electricity prices in 2024. The table below shows the average one-year fixed business electricity rates offered in 2024 compared to those over the previous three years.
| Size | Annual Consumption kWh | 2021 average rates p/kWh | 2022 average rates p/kWh | 2023 average rates p/kWh | 2024 average rates p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 10,000 - 50,000 | 14.62 | 53.37 | 27.29 | 22.92 |
| Medium | 50,000 - 100,000 | 11.89 | 51.37 | 25.30 | 20.93 |
| Big | 100,000 + | 11.69 | 51.17 | 25.09 | 20.72 |
Data source: The information above is based upon the latest published wholesale electricity rates published on the ICE exchange and average non-commodity costs measured using AquaSwitch quoting data.
Current business electricity rates
Here is a graph with current commercial electricity rates per kWh and how they’ve changed over the last eighteen months. Our experts update this graph weekly based on the latest wholesale electricity prices.
Source: Wholesale electricity rates on the National Grid published by the ICE exchange.
What is a good rate for business electricity per kWh?
Before COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine, a good electricity rate was less than 10p/kWh – about half the price of current business electricity prices.
These low historical prices are no longer achievable due to the continued restriction of Russian gas supply into Europe.
The electricity market is volatile, with prices changing daily. Use our business energy comparison service to request quotes from a range of suppliers and secure the best business electricity rates available today.
💡Government energy prices publications reveal that between 2009 and 2019, the electricity prices paid by British companies ranged from 7 to 10 pence per kWh.
Are business electricity prices falling?
Since the summer of 2023, business electricity prices have remained stubbornly high, at approximately 20 pence per kWh.
Electricity prices remain high due to the national grid’s reliance on expensive natural gas imports. Approximately a third of Britain’s electricity is generated using natural gas imported from:
- European gas – Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has starved Europe of its usual plentiful and cheap supply of natural gas, pushing up prices.
- Liquid natural gas – To compensate for the reduced availability of Russian Gas, the UK has started to import expensive LNG by ship from the USA and Qatar.
Market analysts anticipate that business electricity prices will remain largely unchanged for the remainder of 2024 and into the first half of 2025.
Although business electricity prices are expected to remain stable in 2024, global events, such as escalations in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, could rapidly increase energy prices again.
How can I get cheaper business electricity rates?
The best way to secure cheaper business electricity rates is to avoid out-of-contract prices.
The table below shows that out-of-contract prices are currently between 50% and 80% more expensive than fixed business electricity prices.
| Contract type | Unit charge per kWh | Daily standing charge |
|---|---|---|
| Available fixed contracts | 20 - 25 p/kWh | £0.40 to £1.00 |
| Published deemed rates | 35 - 40 p/kWh | £2.00 to £3.00 |
Source: Published deemed business electricity rates for non-half-hourly non-domestic customers reviewed in July 2024.
If your fixed business electricity rates have expired, we recommend comparing business electricity prices to secure significantly lower rates.
Small business electricity prices
Most small businesses prefer the simplicity of a fixed business electricity tariff, which secures a favourable unit rate per kWh of electricity.
At AquaSwitch, we assist small businesses in finding the most competitive business electricity rate per kWh. Here’s how our straightforward process works:
Enter your business postcode
Enter your postcode, along with a few details about your commercial property, and we’ll search the market for the latest prices.
Compare fixed electricity prices
Compare your renewal quote against the best business electricity prices offered by our panel of suppliers to see how much your business could save.
Complete a simple switch
Our experts will manage a seamless transition of your electricity tariff to your new supplier, ensuring you benefit from lower business electricity rates.
Business electricity prices per kWh
A kWh (kilowatt-hour) of business electricity represents one unit supplied to a commercial property. In business electricity tariffs, there is always a unit charge for each kWh of electricity consumed by a commercial property.
Our latest business electricity prices table above displays the current market rate for 1 kWh of electricity.
Numerous direct and indirect factors influence the unit rate of business electricity per kWh. Below is a summary of the key factors:
- Wholesale Energy Prices – The wholesale cost of business electricity, determined by supply and demand economics, plays a significant role in unit costs. Changes in power generation availability, weather conditions, and the European energy market all impact wholesale energy prices in Britain.
- Distribution and Transmission Costs – These costs refer to the infrastructure required to deliver electricity from power plants to your business premises. They include maintenance, operation, and upgrade expenses for the electricity distribution network and high-voltage transmission lines.
- Network Charges – These charges cover the costs of using the national grid and local distribution networks. Network operators charge fees for the delivery of electricity and the rental of energy meters.
- Environmental and Renewable Obligations – Government-imposed schemes to promote renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions can influence electricity prices. Costs related to initiatives such as the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Contracts for Difference (CfD) are passed on to consumers.
- Supplier Margins – Business energy suppliers incorporate operational costs, customer service expenses, and profit margins into their unit prices per kWh.
- Contract Terms and Length – The terms and length of your electricity supply contract can impact the unit costs. Fixed-rate contracts provide price stability, while variable contracts are subject to market fluctuations.
- Consumption Profile – Your business’s electricity usage pattern, including peak demand, load profile, and consumption volume, can affect unit costs.
- Regional Variances – Business electricity prices can vary across different regions in the UK due to network infrastructure, availability of local generation, and supply-demand dynamics specific to a particular area.
We recommend requesting tailored quotes based on your specific address and energy consumption to get accurate and up-to-date information on business electricity prices. Start by entering your postcode above.
What are business electricity rates?
This section summarises the four types of business electricity rates typically included in a business energy contract.
Unit electricity charge
In all business electricity tariffs, the amount you’ll pay will depend on how much electricity your company consumes. A business energy meter at your property will record how much electricity is used as measured in kWh.
Your unit electricity charge will be the kWh of electricity you’ve used multiplied by the unit cost defined in your tariff.
The unit rate is shown in pence per kilowatt-hour kWh. For example, the unit rate could be 25p per kWh.
Daily standing charge
A standing charge is a fixed daily fee on your electricity bills regardless of your electricity consumption.
A fixed standing charge covers maintaining your connection to the local electricity distribution network and renting your business energy meter.
The standing charge is quoted in pence per day. For instance, 30p/day. For more information, here’s our complete guide to the business energy standing charge.
Capacity charges
Capacity charges are incurred by any business equipped with a half-hourly electricity meter.
These charges are levied by your local electricity distribution network provider to ensure a guaranteed power capacity for your electricity supply, measured in kVA (kilo-volt-amps).
The capacity charge on your business electricity bill will be listed as a fixed daily charge per kVA of maximum import capacity on your business energy connection.
Please refer to our guide on maximum demand meters for further information.
Taxes and Levies
The UK government levies two taxes on top of business electricity charges, as follows:
- VAT at the standard rate – Business electricity rates incur a value-added tax fee of 20% on all electricity charges. Note that most businesses are VAT registered and eventually recover their paid VAT as part of their quarterly VAT returns.
- Climate change levy – Businesses pay an additional tax called the climate change levy (CCL) on top of all electricity bills. The climate change levy is currently charged at 0.775p/kWh.
These additional charges will appear as separate lines on a business electricity bill and are paid directly to your business electricity supplier.
💡In small business energy companies are exempt from the CCL and pay VAT at the reduced rate of 5%.
Business electricity rates calculator
Understanding your business electricity bill can be complicated. On the final page of your bill, your supplier will give you a ‘details of charges’ section showing how each element of your business electricity rates has been calculated.
To help demonstrate how business electricity rates work, our in-house experts have built a handy business electricity rates calculator below. Start by entering a few details about your business electricity supply.
Calculating business electricity charges
Business electricity charges paid to your commercial electricity supplier have five separate elements. Our business electricity rates calculator will assess each based on your inputs.
Click each link for more information:
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How to get the best commercial electricity rates
Commercial electricity rates are unpredictable, changing daily due to constant fluctuations in the wholesale energy markets.
Despite the uncertainty of future prices, one aspect of the commercial electricity market remains consistent: Business electricity suppliers offer their most competitive rates as fixed electricity quotes, aiming to attract new customers.
To secure the best commercial electricity rates, it’s advisable to shop around every time your fixed electricity tariff ends and make a hassle-free switch to the cheapest deal. Start by entering your postcode above to get quotes for your company today.
For more information, check out our article on whether you should fix your energy prices?
Average business electricity usage in the UK
The most significant factor determining business electricity rates is how much energy your company uses—all business electricity tariffs charge for each kWh of electricity consumed as measured by your meter.
As a guide, here are the annual figures for the average business electricity usage, according to recently published government statistics.
| Business Size | Average Annual Electricity Consumption (kWh) |
|---|---|
| Micro | 7,500 |
| Small Business | 20,000 |
| Medium Business | 35,000 |
| Large Business | 90,000 |
| Industrial | 250,000 |
Source: Statistica Business Energy Consumption UK
💡 The average electricity usage of a British home is 2,900 kWh annually.
Do business electricity prices vary by region?
Yes, business electricity prices depend on where your commercial property is located in the country.
Britain has six distribution network operators (DNOs), each operating its own local network of power cables, substations and transformers.
Included within business electricity rates are the distribution costs charged by the local DNO. Some DNOs are more expensive than others, making business electricity prices dependent upon your region.
Business electricity prices and the government discount
In response to the energy crisis in 2022, the UK government launched two schemes that provided automatic discounts on commercial electricity bills:
- Energy Bill Relief Scheme (October 2022 to March 2023) – A generous, unlimited automatic discount scheme that capped the wholesale element of business electricity rates at 21.1p/kWh.
- Energy Bill Discount Scheme (April 2023 to March 2024) – A smaller discount of 2p/kWh applied to business electricity rates when the wholesale element of gas tariffs exceeded 30.2p/kWh.
By April 2024, both schemes had concluded and were not renewed. In the absence of these automatic discounts on business electricity prices, finding the most competitive deal is crucial.
Find a better deal on your business electricity rates today with AquaSwitch.
Business electricity prices – FAQs
Our business energy experts have identified and answered the most common questions surrounding business electricity prices.
What is the average business electricity bill?
The table below presents the average annual business electricity bills in 2024 for businesses of various sizes.
| Business size | Annual elec consumption (kWh) | Average annual electricity bill |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | 7,500 | £3,000 |
| Small Business | 20,000 | £7,800 |
| Medium Business | 35,000 | £10,700 |
| Large Business | 90,000 | £25,500 |
Source: Average business energy bills calculated using government-published 2024 non-domestic energy rates.
Are business electricity rates cheaper?
A typical small business consumes five times as much electricity as the average home. By using more electricity, businesses generally benefit from cheaper unit rates.
However, it’s not all good news for business electricity rates. There are several reasons why business electricity can be more expensive than an equivalent domestic supply:
- Businesses pay VAT at the standard rate for electricity, whereas households pay electricity at the reduced VAT rate of 5%.
- Businesses contribute to the climate change levy on their electricity bills, currently at a rate of £0.775p/kWh.
Additionally, out-of-contract commercial electricity rates are not protected by a business energy price cap, whereas domestic electricity rates are. Deemed contract rates in business electricity are typically much more expensive than the equivalent household rates.
Are business electricity rates cheaper after 6pm in the UK?
Businesses can benefit from cheaper evening off-peak rates if they have one of the following energy meter types that supports measuring electricity consumption at different times of the day:
- Smart electricity meter
- Half-hourly meter
- Two-rate meter (supporting an Economy 7/10 tariff)
- Three-rate meter (Supporting an Evening & Weekend and Night tariff)
It is also necessary to have an off-peak tariff with your business electricity supplier.
What is a kWh?
A kWh is a “Kilowatt-hour”, a measurement unit used by utility companies to monitor how much electricity (or gas) business premises have consumed. A kilowatt (kW) is a universal measure of electricity usage.
kWh is always quoted on your business electricity bills and shows you exactly how much you have used.
Here’s our full article on business electricity consumption.