The UK's lowest cost business gas
Purely Energy is a whole-of-market business energy broker. We tender every quote across our panel of tier-1 UK gas suppliers, show you the wholesale price, non-commodity costs, supplier margin and our margin separately, and stay with your account for the full length of the contract. B-Corp certified, ISO 9001 accredited, no hidden fees.
Market pulseRefreshed 14 May 2026
Wholesale gas pulse
What is moving NBP day-ahead and the forward curve right now, and what it means for your next gas tender.
UK gas at 117 p/therm on 14 May, up 13% in a month as a cool NW Europe extends heating demand
NBP front-month settled near 117 p/therm on 14 May. Temperatures across NW Europe ran 3 to 6 degrees below seasonal norm, supporting prompt demand into the period when residential call would normally taper.
Read at Trading EconomicsNBP at multi-week highs as Hormuz closure concerns lift the LNG risk premium
Near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted around a fifth of global LNG supply, embedding a risk premium in NBP day-ahead and front-month contracts well above the early-spring lows.
Read at Kore EnergyOfgem network-charge schedule lifts business bills by around £40 from April 2026, funds grid and gas-network upgrades
Annual reset of network charges raises business and domestic bills by approximately £40 this year, with further increases programmed. The increment flows directly into standing charges on every NBP-priced contract.
Read at OfgemWhat are the latest indicative business gas rates?
Last updated: April 2026. Refreshed monthly by our trading desk.
To give you a rough idea of what your business should be paying, here are our indicative business gas rates as at April 2026. These averages reflect the wholesale market at the time of the last refresh and are meant as a guide only. Wholesale gas at the National Balancing Point (NBP) moves every trading day, so by the time you read this the live price will already have shifted. For a binding quote based on your meter, postcode and consumption, run an instant tender.
These figures are awaiting their May 2026 refresh. Get a binding quote at /get-a-quote (SME) or /online-quote (mid-market and I&C).
| Type of Business | Indicative Unit Rate (p/kWh) | Indicative Standing Charge (p/Day) | Typical Annual Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro Business | 4.1p | 25.8p | 5,000 to 15,000 kWh |
| Small Business | 3.8p | 55.5p | 15,000 to 30,000 kWh |
| Medium Business | 3.3p | 70.1p | 30,000 to 65,000 kWh |
| Large Business | 3.1p | 150.3p | 65,000+ kWh |
Illustrative only. Wholesale gas moves daily, so the figures above will drift between monthly refreshes. Your own rate also varies by meter type, location, credit rating and consumption profile. Contact Purely Energy for a binding quote.
Energy prices change daily, driven by movements in the wholesale gas market at the National Balancing Point (NBP), currency fluctuations, and policy levies set by Ofgem and DESNZ. Every business consumes energy differently, so these figures should serve only as a baseline when estimating your rates. For precise savings and the best contract options, speak to a member of our team on 0161 521 3400 or visit our Purely Insights product to monitor your consumption in real time.
What might a business gas bill look like at current rates?
Last updated: April 2026. Refreshed monthly alongside the rate table above.
The cost of your business gas bills will depend on your contract type, the rates you are paying, and how much gas your business uses. Based on the indicative rates above, here is a rough estimate of what businesses of different sizes might expect to pay annually. Because the underlying unit rates drift with the wholesale market, treat these as a planning aid, not a forecast.
| Business Size | Annual Usage (kWh) | Indicative Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Micro Business | 5,000 to 15,000 kWh | £504 (based on 10,000 kWh) |
| Small Business | 15,000 to 30,000 kWh | £1,058 (based on 22,500 kWh) |
| Medium Business | 30,000 to 65,000 kWh | £1,823 (based on 47,500 kWh) |
| Large Business | 65,000+ kWh | £2,564 (based on 65,000 kWh) |
These figures reflect the average rates and standing charges on the Purely Energy panel for different business sizes. Your unit rate and overall bill may vary depending on your meter type, business location and credit rating. Businesses in rural areas or supplied through an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) typically see higher standing charges. Businesses consuming more than 65,000 kWh of gas per year usually qualify for bespoke I&C pricing and should speak to our large business team directly.
Who supplies my business gas?
It is easy to lose track of your business gas supplier, especially if you are on a long-term fixed contract. The simplest way to find out who supplies your gas is to check your most recent bill or email correspondence. Your supplier's details will be listed on the first page, alongside your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), your contract end date and your unit rate.
If you do not have a bill to hand, you have two other options. Call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524 and quote your postcode and first line of address, and they will tell you your MPRN and current gas supplier. Alternatively, use the Find My Supplier website run by the gas transporters, enter your postcode, and the tool will look up your supply point.
Your MPRN is a unique 6 to 11 digit number identifying your gas meter. It is required for any change of supply or meter exchange. The MPRN sits under the "Details of charges" section on most bills. If you have ever switched with Purely Energy, we hold your MPRN on file, so feel free to call our Warrington office on 0161 521 3400 and we will confirm your current supplier for you.
Our business gas supplier panel
At Purely Energy, we tender every business gas quote across our whole-of-market panel. Our panel includes Drax, EDF, British Gas, SSE, Total, Crown Gas & Power, Pozitive Energy, Corona Energy, SEFE (formerly Gazprom Energy UK) and Yu Energy. We are not owned by a supplier and we disclose our commission in writing before you sign. For businesses consuming more than 65,000 kWh per year, pricing is handled through our I&C desk and may involve bespoke contract structures, including flex and basket arrangements.
How to switch business gas supplier
Switching business gas supplier should take no more than a few working days once paperwork is in place. Here is our step-by-step process.
1. Pull your latest bill
We need your company name, annual gas consumption in kWh, contract end date, MPRN and current supplier. All of these are on your most recent bill. If you cannot find it, call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524.
2. Request a whole-of-market comparison
Run an instant comparison at /online-quote or call 0161 521 3400. We tender across our panel the same day and return a like-for-like comparison, with every quote showing wholesale price, non-commodity costs, supplier margin and our margin separately.
3. Pick a contract and sign
Choose the rate and term that suits your budget cycle and risk appetite. Most clients select a 1 to 5 year fixed contract via Purely Fixed. Larger consumers may prefer a flex arrangement through Purely Flex. Contracts are signed digitally and returned to the supplier within 24 hours.
4. Confirm your switch date
Your new supplier will register your supply at the Central Switching Service. Most business switches complete in 5 working days under the Ofgem Faster Switching Programme, though some legacy meters and blocked transfers can take 4 to 6 weeks.
5. Final meter read and handover
On the day of supply start, submit a meter read so both suppliers can close out the old account and open the new one cleanly. This prevents estimated bills and avoids the most common source of billing disputes.
6. Ongoing contract support
Once switched, Purely Energy validates every bill you receive, handles supplier queries on your behalf, and flags your next renewal window at least 12 months ahead of the contract end date. Unlike most brokers, we stay with the account for the full contract term.
What affects your business gas rate
Your business gas unit rate is the sum of several components. Understanding what drives each one helps you time your contract renewal and avoid the most expensive windows of the year.
Wholesale commodity cost
The bulk of your unit rate reflects the wholesale price of gas on the UK National Balancing Point (NBP) market, published daily by ICE Futures Europe. Wholesale gas is priced in pence per therm and converted to p/kWh before suppliers apply their margin. The wholesale cost typically accounts for 40 to 60% of your total bill.
Non-commodity costs
These are the regulated charges that fund the gas transportation network, meter operations, and policy levies. They include National Transmission System (NTS) exit charges, Local Distribution Zone (LDZ) charges, the gas meter reading charge, and any Independent Gas Transporter surcharge. Non-commodity costs are typically 20 to 30% of a business gas bill and are set by the gas transporters and Ofgem. Our non-commodity costs explainer walks through each charge in detail.
Standing charges
A daily fixed fee, charged in pence per day regardless of usage, covering the fixed cost of connecting your premises to the gas network. Standing charges are higher on IGT networks and on large Daily Metered (DM) sites where gas is read each day. Standing charges have risen steadily since 2021 as network operators have recovered the cost of the supplier failures during the 2021 to 2022 energy crisis.
Credit rating and payment profile
Suppliers price for credit risk. A business with a strong balance sheet, clean payment history and a long trading record will secure a lower unit rate than a business with CCJs, late payments or a short filing history. Companies House accounts and Experian commercial credit scores are the main references used. Deposit requirements and monthly direct debit terms are also driven by credit rating.
Consumption profile and contract length
The pattern of your gas use matters as much as the volume. A hotel with a flat load profile secures better rates than a school with peaky winter demand. Longer contracts (3 to 5 years) usually price lower per kWh than a 12 month deal because suppliers price in less near-term wholesale risk. The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is also charged on business gas at a rate published by HMRC each April.
Why use Purely Energy as your business gas broker
We are a B-Corp certified, ISO 9001 accredited business energy consultancy based in Warrington. We manage over 2,000 sites and £100M+ of annual energy spend for 500+ UK businesses. Here is what sets us apart from a typical third-party intermediary.
Whole-of-market panel
Every quote is tendered across our full panel, including Drax, EDF, British Gas, SSE, Total, Crown Gas & Power, Pozitive Energy, Corona Energy, SEFE and Yu Energy. We are not owned by a supplier and we do not tie ourselves to any single wholesaler.
Transparent commissions
Every quote shows the wholesale price, non-commodity costs, supplier margin and our margin separately, disclosed in writing before you sign. No hidden loadings, no inflated standing charges to pad broker income.
B-Corp and ISO 9001 certified
We are independently verified for social and environmental performance (B-Corp) and for the quality of our procurement and account management processes (ISO 9001).
Full contract support, not just procurement
Once you switch, our client services team validates every bill, handles supplier queries, and flags your next renewal at least 12 months ahead. Most brokers book the contract and disappear. We stay.
Frequently asked questions
The ten most common questions UK businesses ask about gas procurement, pricing and switching, answered by our Warrington procurement team.
- What is the average business gas rate?
- As at April 2026, indicative business gas unit rates sit in the region of 3 to 4p/kWh for large businesses up to 4 to 5p/kWh for micro businesses, with daily standing charges between roughly 25p and 150p. Wholesale gas trades daily on the NBP, so any single point figure goes stale within weeks. The figures here are wholesale-led averages across the Purely Energy panel, refreshed monthly, and are offered as a guide only. Your own rate depends on your meter type, postcode, annual consumption, credit rating and contract length. For a binding quote, run a tender at /online-quote (mid-market and I&C) or /get-a-quote (SME) and we will tender your consumption across every supplier on our panel.
- How do I compare business gas suppliers?
- Pull your most recent bill, note your annual kWh consumption, contract end date and MPRN (the 6 to 11 digit Meter Point Reference Number). Give those details to a broker like Purely Energy and we will run a whole-of-market comparison across our panel, which includes Drax, EDF, British Gas, SSE, Total, Crown, Pozitive, Corona, SEFE and Yu Energy. We present every quote with the wholesale price, non-commodity costs, supplier margin and our margin shown separately, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
- Do I pay VAT on business gas?
- Most businesses pay the standard 20% VAT rate on gas. You can qualify for the reduced 5% rate if you are a registered charity or not-for-profit, or if your premises uses less than 4,397 kWh of gas per month (roughly 52,764 kWh per year). If you think you qualify, ask your supplier for a VAT declaration form. HMRC publishes the full eligibility rules in VAT Notice 701/19. The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is also charged on business gas at a rate set by HMRC each April.
- What are deemed or out-of-contract rates?
- If your fixed contract ends and you do nothing, your supplier moves you onto deemed or out-of-contract rates. These rates are typically 2 to 3 times the rate you were paying under your fixed deal. Ofgem requires suppliers to publish deemed rates on their websites and on your bill. The only way to avoid them is to either sign a new contract or switch supplier before your end date. Purely Energy flags every client renewal at least 12 months ahead of the end date.
- Can I switch business gas supplier mid-contract?
- Generally no. Business gas contracts are legally binding for the full term you sign for, and exiting early usually triggers termination charges that wipe out any saving. The window to switch is after you receive your renewal notice, typically 6 to 12 months before your contract end date. Micro businesses have protections under the Ofgem Microbusiness Strategic Review, including simpler contract terms and a cooling-off period on telephone sales.
- How long is a typical business gas contract?
- Business gas fixed-price contracts typically run for 1 to 5 years. Shorter terms (1 to 2 years) let you retender more often if wholesale prices fall; longer terms (3 to 5 years) lock in certainty and usually secure a lower unit rate because suppliers price in less near-term risk. Our trading desk typically recommends 2 to 3 year fixes for mid-market clients. You can read more about term selection in our guide on fixed-price energy tariffs.
- Does my meter type affect my gas rate?
- Yes. Premises with an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) meter usually pay a higher standing charge, because IGT costs are not always included in comparison quotes until contract stage. Sites supplied through the main National Gas Transmission network typically see lower standing charges. Daily metered (DM) sites above 73,200 kWh annually are also charged differently and require a daily read. Always check which network your MPRN sits on before comparing quotes.
- Do smart meters change my business gas rate?
- A smart meter does not change your unit rate or standing charge directly, but it does remove estimated bills by sending half-hourly or daily reads to your supplier. SMETS2 smart meters work across all suppliers, while older SMETS1 meters can lose smart functionality when you switch, reverting to manual reads until the national DCC upgrade completes. The government target is for the bulk of the SMETS1 migration to be finished by end of 2026.
- What happens if I pay a gas bill late?
- Most business gas suppliers charge late payment interest from the day after the bill due date, and can issue a disconnection warning after 28 days. Interest rates vary by supplier but typically sit at 8% above Bank of England base rate for statutory late commercial payments. Repeat late payment also damages your credit rating with energy suppliers, which will push up the rate you are quoted at renewal. If you are struggling, contact your supplier early; most will agree a payment plan.
- Can I cancel a business gas contract?
- Once signed, a business gas contract is legally binding for the full term. Micro businesses have a 14 day cooling-off period on contracts sold over the phone, introduced under the Ofgem Microbusiness Strategic Review. Outside that window, cancellation before the end date almost always triggers termination charges. The right to cancel applies only at the contract end date, during the switching window your supplier is required to confirm in your renewal notice.
Explore more
Tools, guides and case studies that go with this page
Whether you are doing a desk-tender comparison, mapping your non-commodity costs, or just checking what the wholesale market is doing this week, here is the rest of the toolkit our team builds on every day.
Tendering the other fuel too?
Compare business electricity rates
Most of our clients tender both fuels at the same time. The electricity page mirrors this one.
Run the numbers yourself
- Live wholesale pricesDay-ahead, forward curves, and AI commentary, refreshed daily.
- Every UK energy charge, explainedDUoS, TNUoS, BSUoS, CCL and 100+ more, with current rates and forecasts.
- NCC calculatorForecast your full non-commodity cost stack a year ahead.
- DNO + GDN postcode lookupFind your distribution network and regional charges in one go.
Read the briefings our team uses
- Understanding the UK's energy marketWholesale, NCC and retail layers, and how they meet on a business bill.
- Fixed-price gas tariffs explainedWhen a 1, 2, 3 or 5 year fix is the right call.
- Why timing your renewal mattersHow to read the wholesale curve before you sign.
- Auto-renewals: how to avoid the trapThe deemed-rate window and your right to switch.
- VAT and CCL on business energy billsWhen the reduced rate applies and how to claim it.
- Browse the full Energy Hub
How we deliver
Recent case studies
- Good Taste Bakery19% reduction vs rolled-over deemed rate, food production.
- Watford Grammar School£22,668 saved across electricity and gas, education sector.
Beyond procurement
- Flexibility tradingFor mid-market and I&C buyers who want to time the curve.
- Carbon complianceSECR, ESOS, and audit-ready reporting for UK businesses.
- Metering and data servicesMOP, DC and DA under our Elexon NHH accreditation.
Ready to tender your business gas?
Send us your most recent bill and we will run a whole-of-market comparison the same day. No obligation, no fee until you sign. Learn more about our fixed, flex, green and insights products, or read our guide on half-hourly metering and the impact of VAT and the Climate Change Levy on business energy bills.