20 Ways to Get Cheaper Business Gas and Electricity Bills
Every business whether small or large needs to keep energy costs as low as possible as the prices over the longer term increase so here are tips and advice with resources you can use to lower your bills and consumption.
10 ways on getting the lowest tariff prices as possible
There are two sides to lowering your energy bills. These are getting the per unit price of electricity or gas used expressed in kWh as low as possible from your energy supplier and reducing your overall consumption. Here’s how to lower your prices.
- Keep an eye on your contract so that you are able to terminate this each year and avoid a roll over contract where your prices could be increased without your knowledge
- Tender or get quotes each year from all the main six energy suppliers for both electricity and gas separately and for dual fuel
- Once you have the quotes ask your current supplier to beat the lowest prices
- Pay by fixed monthly direct debit for even lower prices
- Consider hiring an energy broker who knows the industry and the types of contracts being awarded so you know the pricing for your level of business is at least at an average for similar businesses
- Speak with your business colleagues to see who they use for their energy and ask them what they are paying
- Even if you think you have the lowest prices ask again for an additional discount and ask how you would be able to reduce them even further
- Considering pooling your purchasing power with other businesses in your area and approach the energy suppliers as a group to see if you can obtain further discounts
- Once you have the best prices ask for a longer term contract if you believe prices will rise. The longest fixed rate contracts are generally for three years with the prices negotiated today at these prices and will not rise or fall if the wholesale market pricing changes
- Ask to get additional extras such as specialist energy managers to help you reduce your consumption and energy monitors and smart meters to monitor and analyse your data
- Bonus method – choose a green 100% renewable tariff and get exempt from any climate change levy the government introduces – although the prices for these tariffs are generally high your carbon offset requirements will be zero. You may be able to negotiate reasonable prices for renewable fuel contracts; just speak with your energy supplier or broker.
Now you have gone through the negotiation process and have the best prices and tariff contract length for your business circumstances it’s time to put in energy efficiency measures to reduce your usage and consumption which will also lead to lower bills.
10 ways to reduce energy consumption
- Consider investing in renewable energy such as solar panels which will not only see a payment from business feed in tariffs from the government but will mean your reliance on traditional fuels is lower
- Get the best out of the energy companies expert advisers and use them. They all provide access to professionals who can audit your business and suggest ways to reduce energy consumption
- Get a smart meter and data collection system in place. Most businesses are on half hourly meters in any case so get hold of your usage data and analyse it with software such as the google power meter software. This will show you exactly when electricity is being used every hour of each day so you can see for example if you are using too much during the night if your offices are closed
- Consider changing all light bulbs to energy efficient ones. The cost for these has plummeted and the light is as good as traditional bulbs but the energy usage is far less and can save hundreds if not thousands per year
- Get your staff in the habit of turning items off when not in use especially office machinery such as computers and screens as well as lights
- When renewing appliances always go for A graded ones. Most have to be very energy efficient in any case but check the labelling before purchasing to ensure the equipment uses the least energy as possible
- Like in the home ensure that you have double glazing and roof and wall insulation to keep heat in during the winter. Have double doors fitted so when an exit door is opened not all of the heat escapes
- Turn down thermostats by a couple of degrees if possible and ensure that they are working correctly
- Consider changing high energy equipment for low energy ones – eg: ink jet printers use 90% less energy as laser jet printers
- Look at installing timers for heating and colling systems so they are off when there is no one in the premises but come on at the right times.
Many of the energy efficiency measures are a life style change for most people and staff and will be a message needed to be internally communicated. Perhaps the data of energy consumption could be posted each week so everyone is aware and for the business to have targets and perhaps a reward system where some of the savings are passed back to the employees ? Making a few changes on usage and negotiating down prices can have a huge effect on the costs of electricity and gas in every business.
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