Small Business on a sub-meter: moving supplier?

Slanes

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong area - it's my first post.

I'm in a Council-owned mill and our electricity is provided on a sub-meter from their supply. I have 4,000 sqft of space and run a 24 x 7 x 365 operation. Our electricity usage is substantial (38k units peak, 27k units off-peak) per year and I think I'm being stitched up on my rates.

I am trying to get alternative quotes from business electricity suppliers but they all require an S-meter number before they'll quote me. I don't have that as I'm on a sub-meter.

I don't know if I'm trapped into buying from the Council - do I have a legal right to bring in my own supply? - or whether the new supplier will be cheaper/more expensive. I can't find any details of business tariff rates anywhere.

The suppliers I've tried so far have given up at the "no S meter number" stage. The only option I have is as a "new supply" customer (i.e. as if I had no existing power supply).

Can anyone help me with a tariff site where I can see if I'm being stitched up?

Can anyone advise me whether, as a sub-metered tenant, do I have the right to bring in my own supply instead of having to buy from the landlord?

I'm losing what little hair I have left over this and I'd be grateful for ANY help!

spiro

The only way to get your own S number is to have you own supply (cable) installed rather than being off a sub-meter. This could well costs £000s.

In terms of what you are paying the council, they are not allowed to make a profit so they must charge what they are charged. You are entitled to see a copy of their bill of which you useage forms a part. Obviously I dont know if you account for 5%-50%-75% of the overall consumption but the higher the percentage the less inclined the council may be to find the best price.

Business tariffs are not normally published like domestic ones are as suppliers tend to negotiate on a customer by customer basis.

Hope this helps.