Obtaining a business energy quote should not mean submitting your contact details and waiting for someone to tell you later what prices may be available.

For an eligible standard business profile, an online quotation journey should allow you to enter your electricity or gas supply details, provide your annual consumption and view relevant commercial energy prices. Businesses with high consumption, complex meters or multiple sites may need a bespoke supplier tender instead.

The quality of your quote depends on the quality of the information you provide. A recent energy bill is usually the best place to start because it contains most of the supply, consumption and contract information needed to produce an accurate business electricity quote or business gas quote.

Tower Utility’s current quotation journey allows businesses to search by address or meter reference, enter their Estimated Annual Consumption or Annual Quantity, or request an estimate using an average monthly bill. It also asks for the required contract start date and relevant business details. Requirements involving multiple sites or contracts that the online form does not cover can be referred for bespoke pricing.

What should an instant business energy quote mean?

An instant business energy quote online should provide useful commercial pricing based on the information entered. It should not simply collect your telephone number and leave you waiting for a later call before showing you any indication of price.

For eligible business profiles, the process should allow you to:

1. Identify your electricity or gas supply.
2. Provide your annual usage or a reasonable estimate.
3. Enter your required contract start date.
4. Review relevant commercial energy prices.
5. Decide whether you want to proceed, without being obliged to accept an offer.

An online quote is not the same as accepting a contract. Before agreeing to any offer, you should still check the supplier, pricing structure, contract length, start date, renewal terms, termination conditions and any fees or commission.

Business energy contracts are different from household energy contracts. Ofgem advises that commercial buyers should understand the contract type, duration, fees, protections, broker commission and what will happen when the contract ends.

Standard online quote or bespoke supplier tender?

Not every business should be placed through the same quotation process.

A small office with one electricity meter and clearly recorded annual consumption may be suitable for an online business energy quote. A manufacturer with several sites, half hourly meter data and a flexible purchasing requirement may need a structured procurement exercise.

Business requirement	Standard online quote may be suitable	Bespoke supplier tender may be more appropriate
One site with a straightforward electricity or gas supply	Yes	Usually not required
Annual consumption is available from a recent bill	Yes	Sometimes
A fixed contract is required	Yes	Yes
Several sites with different contract end dates	Sometimes	Usually
Common contract end dates are required across several sites	Unlikely	Yes
Half hourly electricity data needs to be analysed	Sometimes	Usually
Flexible or structured energy purchasing is required	Unlikely	Yes
The organisation has high or complex consumption	Sometimes	Usually
A detailed supplier tender and evaluation process is required	No	Yes

Ofgem describes flexible contracts as arrangements that are generally suitable for larger organisations using significant amounts of energy. Instead of buying all required energy at one fixed point, the organisation may purchase energy in portions as part of a structured strategy.

Businesses requiring wider procurement support should review Tower Utility’s business energy services, including the bespoke route for complex requirements.

What information do you need for a business energy quote?

You can make the quotation process faster and more accurate by gathering the following information before you start.

Information	Why it is needed	Where to find it
Business supply address	Identifies the commercial premises being quoted	Energy bill, lease or company records
Postcode	Helps locate the correct electricity or gas supply	Energy bill or business records
MPAN	Identifies the electricity supply point	Electricity bill, often shown in the supply number or “S” box
MPRN	Identifies the gas supply point	Gas bill
EAC	Shows estimated annual electricity consumption in kWh	Electricity bill or renewal document
AQ	Shows estimated annual gas consumption in kWh	Gas bill or renewal document
Average monthly bill	Can be used to estimate usage if annual kWh is unavailable	Recent invoices or accounts records
Current supplier	Helps confirm the existing supply arrangement	Energy bill or contract
Contract end date	Helps determine when a new supply contract can begin	Contract, renewal letter or supplier portal
Required start date	Ensures the quote is based on the correct delivery period	Existing contract or premises move date
Business name and type	Helps suppliers assess eligibility and contract requirements	Companies House records or internal records
Decision maker’s details	Identifies the person authorised to review or approve the contract	Internal procurement or finance records

Ofgem confirms that an MPAN identifies an electricity supply and an MPRN identifies a gas supply. These numbers are normally available on the relevant energy bill.

What is an MPAN?

An MPAN, or Meter Point Administration Number, identifies a specific electricity supply point.

It is not the same as the electricity meter’s serial number. A meter can be replaced while the MPAN remains associated with the supply point.

Your MPAN is usually shown on your electricity bill. Tower Utility’s quotation form also allows an electricity supply to be searched using the business address when the MPAN is not immediately available.

What is an MPRN?

An MPRN, or Meter Point Reference Number, identifies a gas supply point.

It is normally shown on the business gas bill. As with an MPAN, it identifies the supply rather than merely identifying the physical meter.

Tower Utility’s online gas quotation journey allows a business to search using either its address or its MPRN.

What are EAC and AQ?

EAC means Estimated Annual Consumption. It is an estimate of how much electricity a supply point uses over a year, expressed in kilowatt hours.

AQ means Annual Quantity. It estimates how much gas a meter point will use over a year under normal seasonal weather conditions.

These figures help suppliers calculate a commercial quote based on the expected volume of energy they will need to supply.

For the most accurate result, use the EAC or AQ shown on a recent bill or renewal letter. If your organisation’s operating hours, equipment or occupancy have changed significantly, tell the quotation provider because historic consumption may no longer represent expected future use.

Can you get a quote without knowing your annual consumption?

Yes. Tower Utility’s quotation journey can estimate annual usage from your average monthly electricity or gas bill. However, an estimate based on monthly spend may be less precise than an EAC or AQ taken from a recent bill.

Your monthly bill is measured in pounds, while your energy consumption is measured in kilowatt hours. The two figures are not interchangeable.

For example, suppose a business pays an average of £1,200 per month for electricity:

£1,200 × 12 months = approximately £14,400 annual spend

This does not mean that the business uses 14,400 kWh of electricity. The invoice amount can include:

• The electricity unit charge
• The daily standing charge
• Taxes and applicable levies
• Supplier or intermediary charges
• Adjustments or credits
• Charges relating to previous meter readings
• Other contract-specific items

The monthly bill can provide a useful starting point, but annual consumption in kWh normally gives suppliers a more reliable basis for pricing.

Use a representative monthly figure

Do not use one unusually high winter invoice or one unusually low summer invoice as your average.

Where possible:

1. Review 12 months of invoices.
2. Add the total amount paid.
3. Divide the total by 12.
4. Check whether any invoice contains a correction, credit or historic balance.
5. Compare the result with the EAC or AQ shown on the bill.

Seasonal businesses, including hotels, restaurants, agricultural operations and leisure facilities, should take particular care when using a monthly average.

What should you compare in a business energy quote?

The lowest unit rate is not always the lowest-cost offer.

A commercial gas or electricity quote should be assessed using the complete pricing structure and the principal contract terms.

Unit rate

The unit rate is the amount charged for each kilowatt hour of gas or electricity consumed.

It is normally displayed in pence per kWh.

A lower unit rate can be valuable for a business with high consumption, but it should not be assessed without considering the standing charge and other applicable costs.

Standing charge

The standing charge is a fixed daily amount charged for maintaining the supply, regardless of how much energy the business uses.

A business with relatively low consumption may find that the standing charge has a significant effect on its annual cost.

Estimated annual cost

The estimated annual cost combines the expected consumption with the quoted rates.

A simplified calculation is:

Estimated annual energy charge = annual consumption × unit rate + 365 × daily standing charge

The actual amount payable may also include VAT, the Climate Change Levy, metering charges, pass-through costs, intermediary commission or other contract-specific charges. Check exactly what the quotation includes.

A simple comparison example

Assume that a business uses 60,000 kWh of electricity per year.

Quote	Unit rate	Daily standing charge	Illustrative annual cost
Offer A	24.00p per kWh	90p per day	£14,728.50
Offer B	23.80p per kWh	£1.40 per day	£14,791.00

The calculations are:

Offer A

60,000 × £0.24 = £14,400
365 × £0.90 = £328.50
Illustrative annual cost = £14,728.50

Offer B

60,000 × £0.238 = £14,280
365 × £1.40 = £511
Illustrative annual cost = £14,791

Offer B has the lower unit rate, but Offer A has the lower illustrative annual cost because its standing charge is lower.

These figures are examples only and are not current market prices. They exclude VAT, the Climate Change Levy and any additional contract-specific charges.

Contract terms you should compare

Price is important, but it is not the only factor that should influence a commercial energy decision.

Before selecting an offer, compare:

Contract duration

Check whether the quote is for 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months, or another agreed period.

A longer contract may provide greater budget certainty, but it may also keep the organisation committed to the agreed pricing structure for longer.

Fixed or variable pricing

A fixed contract generally provides greater certainty over the agreed unit rate and standing charge. A variable contract may change during the contract period.

Some large business contracts contain pass-through or flexible elements. Always confirm which components are fixed and which can change.

Contract start date

The start date should align with the end of the existing contract or the date on which the organisation becomes responsible for the premises.

Starting too early may conflict with an existing contract. Starting too late may leave the business exposed to out-of-contract or deemed rates.

Renewal arrangements

Check what happens when the contract ends.

Find out whether:

• The contract renews automatically
• The business moves to an out-of-contract rate
• A termination notice is required
• The supplier will send a renewal offer
• The organisation can switch during a defined window

Ofgem recommends checking the existing contract to understand when the business can switch, how much notice must be given and whether an exit fee applies.

Termination and early exit conditions

Most fixed business energy contracts cannot simply be cancelled because the organisation later finds a lower price.

Check the termination conditions, any early exit charges and the circumstances in which the supplier can object to a switch.

Supplier and service coverage

Confirm which supplier is providing the energy and what support is included.

Depending on the organisation’s requirements, relevant services may include:

• Account management
• Invoice validation
• Renewal tracking
• Support with supplier queries
• Multiple site administration
• Consumption reporting
• Energy procurement advice

Fees and commission

You should understand how any intermediary, consultant or comparison service is paid.

Ofgem’s current good practice guidance says customers should be told whether all suppliers or only selected suppliers were searched. It also says the intermediary should explain its commission or fee arrangements, including how much it receives and how the customer pays.

Tower Utility states that its commission is added to the unit rate and paid by the selected supplier.

Why can a commercial energy quote change or expire?

Business energy quotes are often time-sensitive.

A quoted offer may change because of:

• Changes in supplier pricing
• Changes in wholesale market conditions
• The date on which the contract will start
• Updated annual consumption
• Incorrect or incomplete meter information
• Supplier eligibility or credit requirements
• A change in the business’s legal or financial circumstances
• The expiry of the supplier’s quotation validity period

Ofgem’s good practice guidance says that offers should be up to date and accurately presented. Some suppliers may also require a security deposit after assessing the financial risk associated with the account.

Before relying on a quote, ask:

1. How long is the offer valid?
2. Is the price subject to a supplier credit check?
3. Does the price assume a particular start date?
4. Which information could cause the price to change?
5. Are all charges and commission included?
6. What must happen before the contract is confirmed?

If a material detail changes, request an updated quote rather than assuming the original price still applies.

Checks to complete before accepting a business energy contract

A business energy contract can create a substantial financial commitment. The person approving it should understand exactly what the organisation is accepting.

Before agreeing, confirm the following:

1. The correct business and premises

Check the legal business name, supply address, MPAN or MPRN and every site included in the offer.

2. The correct fuel and expected consumption

Confirm whether the offer covers electricity, gas or both, and verify the EAC or AQ used in the calculation.

3. The complete price

Review the unit rate, standing charge, estimated annual cost, taxes, levies, pass-through items, fees and commission.

4. The contract period

Confirm the start date, end date and full contract duration.

5. The pricing structure

Check whether the offer is fixed, variable, flexible or partially pass-through.

6. Renewal and termination terms

Understand the notice period, switching window, automatic renewal terms and early exit conditions.

7. The supplier and intermediary roles

Confirm who will supply the energy, who arranged the contract and which organisation will provide ongoing support.

8. Written principal terms

Obtain the important contract terms in writing before agreeing.

Ofgem identifies pricing, contract length, start date, renewal arrangements, termination conditions and early exit fees as principal terms that should be clearly presented before a customer accepts a contract.

9. No cooling off period

Unlike many household purchases, a business energy contract generally does not have a cooling off period after it has been agreed.

Do not accept an offer until the authorised decision maker has reviewed the complete terms. If the contract is discussed by telephone, ask for the terms in writing before agreeing.

What should businesses with high consumption or multiple sites prepare?

A business with several premises should prepare information for each supply point rather than combining everything into one total.

The procurement pack should ideally contain:

• A full site list
• The address of each site
• The MPAN for each electricity supply
• The MPRN for each gas supply
• Annual consumption for each meter
• Half hourly data where applicable
• The current supplier for each site
• The contract end date for each supply
• Copies of recent invoices
• Required contract start dates
• Any requirement for common contract end dates
• The organisation’s preferred contract structure
• Sustainability or renewable electricity requirements
• Credit or payment requirements

For a larger organisation, the relevant decision makers may include the finance director, procurement manager, facilities director, estates team, energy manager or sustainability lead.

A bespoke tender can help these teams compare suppliers using more than price alone. It can consider portfolio structure, billing capability, account management, contract flexibility, risk tolerance and operational requirements.

How to start an instant business energy quote online

Use the following process:

1. Find a recent electricity or gas bill.
2. Confirm the business supply address.
3. Locate the MPAN or MPRN.
4. Find the EAC or AQ in kWh.
5. Check the current contract end date.
6. Decide the required start date.
7. Confirm the organisation’s legal name and business type.
8. Enter the details into the quotation journey.
9. Compare the estimated annual cost and contract terms.
10. Request bespoke support if the business has multiple sites, high consumption or complex procurement requirements.

Having accurate information ready can reduce delays, improve the relevance of the prices shown and make it easier for the decision maker to compare offers properly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a small business energy quote without an energy bill?

You may be able to search for the supply by address and provide an average monthly bill. However, a recent bill usually produces a more reliable quote because it includes the meter reference and annual consumption.

Do I need both an MPAN and an MPRN?

You need an MPAN for an electricity quote and an MPRN for a gas quote. A business using both fuels will normally have both references.

Can I compare business gas and electricity at the same time?

You can obtain prices for both fuels, but the gas and electricity contracts may have different suppliers, rates, start dates and end dates. Compare each offer on its own commercial terms.

Does obtaining a quote commit the business to switching?

Requesting or viewing a quote does not, by itself, require the business to accept the offer. However, once a business energy contract is agreed, there is generally no cooling off period. Review the complete principal terms before accepting.

What if I do not know my contract end date?

Check the existing contract, renewal letter, supplier portal or a recent bill. You can also contact the current supplier. Do not guess, because an incorrect date may affect the quote or create a conflict with the existing agreement.

What if the business is moving to new premises?

Arrange the new contract as early as possible. Ofgem explains that a business using energy at new premises before agreeing a formal contract may be placed on a deemed contract, which is usually more expensive than a negotiated contract.

Start your business energy quote

Prepare a recent bill, confirm your annual consumption and check your current contract end date.

You can then start an instant business gas or electricity quote and compare the available commercial options.

Businesses with high consumption, multiple sites or more complex procurement requirements can request bespoke support from Tower Utility’s energy team.