Business gas and electricity meters

You probably don’t think about your business gas and electricity meters much thought, maybe now and again when it’s time to give a meter reading.

However, it’s worth paying it them bit more attention. The kind of meter you have can have an impact on your bills, and giving regular meter readings can make a real difference to your cash flow.

Read on to find out more and see how uSwitchforBusiness can help.

The different kinds of business electricity meter

There are 12 different kinds of business electricity meter:

• standard
• economy 7 (two rate)
• evening and weekend (two rate)
• evening, weekend and night (three rate)
• maximum demand (one rate)
• maximum demand (two rate)
• seasonal time of day (STOD)
• half hourly
• off peak
• catering
• three-phase
• restricted hours.

Our team of expert business advisors have experience of all the different kinds of meter, so whatever one you have, they can advise you on how to get the best tariff.

If you currently have a domestic electricity meter we can help you switch to a business meter if we think that you will benefit from business electricity rates. There’s no charge and no disruption if you want to do this - it’s just a simple change, made remotely, to your existing meter.

If you think that you might not be on the right kind of business electricity meter, our advisors can help you work out which type will be right for your business and tell you about what you need to do to switch.

Any of these kinds of meter is available as a smart meter. Smart meters automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier. There are two main kinds: automated meter readers (AMRs) and the more sophisticated internet smart meters. If you’re interested in a smart meter, we can help with that too.

The different kinds of business gas meter

While there are a lot of different kinds of business electricity meter, there is only one standard type of business gas meter. However, these meters are serviced in different ways.

Most are fed by Transco, however, some are serviced by independent gas transporters (IGTs) instead. Many new buildings are served by IGTs, because they charge less to connect new properties, which can save the property developer money.

If you get your gas via an IGT you may find that you pay more for it because the gas supplier will have to pay the IGT a fee to use their pipes. If you’re served by an IGT, your choice of gas supplier is limited - only Opus and British Gas Business can support IGTs. Our energy advisors can help you work out which of these two suppliers is the best for you.

Why you need to take regular meter readings

If you don’t give meter readings regularly and rely on estimates then you could be paying too much - or too little - for your business gas and electricity which can have a negative effect on your business’s cashflow.

Plus, by taking meter readings you can get a good idea of how much energy you’ve been using and how you can be more energy-efficient. If you’re keen to find ways to cut your energy usage, an internet smart meter could be a good choice, because it’ll give you lots of data about how much electricity you’re using and when you’re using it.

Not sure what kind of meter you have, or if you’re got the right meter for your business? Give us a call on 0800 688 8568 or leave us your details and we'll call you - we’ll be happy to help. Plus, our expert team can compare business gas and electricity prices for you so you can be sure you’re getting a good deal.