Business electricity

Lea85

Hi, I'm stuck in a contract with an awful deal that's currently being looked into by ombudsman. Does anyone know if it's possible to say I'm having to leave the business as this one bill is to hight and transfer it to a colleage to then be able to swap to a provider with a more realistic and affordable rate? Getting so stressed out about it all. Ombudsman are looking into it but csntake 6-8 weeks to get it sorted 😭😭😭😭😭😭. Tia

Leanne

[Deleted User]

@lea85
This site is made you of individuals who aren't legally trained and aren't involved in Business Energy supplies generally. It is aimed at the consumer.
UK law generally expects businesses to employ solicitors and treats businesses as "sophisticated" meaning they can protect their own interests. So I don't think this forum will give you the answers you require.
You might be better off going to business forums like the Federation of Small Businesses https://www.fsb.org.uk/

macman

Unless yours is a micro-business, the Energy Ombudsman has no remit to look at your complaint. In any case, you have to go through the supplier's own complaints procedure first and wait 6 weeks for non reply or a deadlock letter.

Robin9

The contract that is in place is between the business and the supplier not yourself - you signed it on behalf of the business.

In a business personnel come and go and it makes no difference to the contract.

What makes the contract so awful ?

Neil_Jones

Business contracts for energy are an entirely different kettle of fish to those for the consumer market.

They are more expensive for a start and one of the more obvious differences is the lack of a cooling off period. The out of contract unit rates and standing charges can be so high as to seem ridiculous.

You can switch provider but don't expect to go directly to uSwitch through the website - they can help but it has to be done by phone.

[Deleted User]

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Business contracts for energy are an entirely different kettle of fish to those for the consumer market.

They are more expensive for a start and one of the more obvious differences is the lack of a cooling off period. The out of contract unit rates and standing charges can be so high as to seem ridiculous.

You can switch provider but don't expect to go directly to uSwitch through the website - they can help but it has to be done by phone.

They are not always more expensive, depends what contract they agreed on
.Higher industrial users can get really good deals because they can offer their contract to various suppliers and get the rates right down. Business rates are negotiable unlike domestic rates. Low users are at a disadvantage though. To end the contract notice has to be given 6 months before it ends. Anyone out of contract is hammered but its their fault for not starting a new one

Mister_G

I manage the electricity for our village hall on a micro business contract.

It was with British Gas and coming to the end. They offered a renewal at 18p/unit for a three year fix.

I then shopped around the various energy brokers and got a four year fix for 14p/unit - ironically also with British Gas!

Neil_Jones

Houbara wrote: »

They are not always more expensive, depends what contract they agreed on
.Higher industrial users can get really good deals because they can offer their contract to various suppliers and get the rates right down. Business rates are negotiable unlike domestic rates. Low users are at a disadvantage though. To end the contract notice has to be given 6 months before it ends. Anyone out of contract is hammered but its their fault for not starting a new one

Not necessarily 6 months, though it may be provider specific. Last time I had to deal with it we could go by giving two months notice at the end of the contract.

I think last time I dealt with it running on out of contract was some ridiculous unit rate for being out of contract, electricity only and something like 21p/kWh and best part of a pound a day standing charge.