Higher-consumption supply
Energy procurement for higher-consumption businesses
Above a certain size, energy stops being a straightforward comparison of unit rates. Purchasing strategy, metering type and risk appetite all start to matter.
Metering
Half-hourly vs non half-hourly
Where your business sits determines how much data a supplier has to price against, and how much visibility you have over your own load.
Half-hourly (HH) metering
Mandatory above certain consumption thresholds, and common in manufacturing, large retail and multi-floor offices. Usage is recorded every 30 minutes, giving suppliers — and you — much more visibility over your load profile.
Non half-hourly (NHH) metering
Usage is estimated between periodic reads. Many mid-sized businesses sit just below the HH threshold and can still benefit from more detailed consumption analysis.
Purchasing strategy
Three ways larger contracts are typically structured
01
Fixed contracts
A single unit rate locked in for the term. Straightforward budgeting, no exposure to wholesale price movement after the deal is agreed.
02
Flexible / risk-managed contracts
Volume is purchased in tranches over time rather than all at once, which can smooth out the effect of buying at a single market moment. Typically suited to larger, more sophisticated consumers.
03
Pass-through contracts
Non-commodity costs are charged as incurred rather than fixed upfront, which shifts some risk but can also remove a margin the supplier would otherwise build in.
What we look at
Factors that shape a large business quote
A rate is never the whole picture. These are the elements we check before recommending a route forward.
- Load factor and how flat or peaky your consumption is across the day
- Capacity charges and whether your agreed supply capacity still matches usage
- Triad avoidance for sites exposed to transmission demand charges
- Climate Change Levy and CCA relief where it applies to your sector
- Budget certainty versus appetite for market exposure
Ongoing management
Support doesn't stop once a rate is agreed
Larger accounts tend to generate more queries — capacity changes, new meters, half-hourly data queries — so ongoing account handling matters more.
A named specialist
You deal with one person who already knows your supply history, not a rotating call queue.
Renewal timing tracked in advance
Larger contracts often price further ahead of expiry — we work to that timetable, not the last-minute one.
Questions
Large business energy, answered
What affects business electricity prices?+
Wholesale market conditions at the time you contract, your annual consumption, your meter profile, how predictable your usage pattern is, contract length, payment terms, your location's distribution charges and non-commodity costs such as network and levy charges. Two businesses on the same street can be offered different rates.
Why are business energy contracts fixed?+
Most commercial supply is bought on a fixed-term basis so the supplier can hedge the energy in advance. In return the business gets a known unit rate for the term. Unlike domestic supply, commercial fixed contracts generally cannot be exited early without agreement, which is why the renewal window matters.
When should I renew my business energy contract?+
Most suppliers will price a renewal from around 6 to 12 months before your end date. Starting early gives you time to review options across different market conditions rather than accepting whatever is available in the final week.
Talk through a large-site or half-hourly supply
Bring us your consumption data and current contract details, and we'll talk through the options.