If you are moving into a new building premises or just starting a business in an unknown area you might be a little lost in knowing who your utility provider is.
It is important to know who your utility provider is so that you are able to make your payments and if needed change to a different supplier if you feel that you want to save costs or just have the option of looking to a different utility company.
How to Find Your Energy Provider?
To find your current business energy provider you can do the following, you can use the Energy Network Association Website and then use the Association Search Tool to find your network operator using your postcode and once you have the postcode to contact your operator with to get your supplier’s details.
How to Find Your Gas Provider?
To find your business gas provider you can make contact with the Meter Point Administration Service by either calling them at 0870 608 1524, this number charges calls at 7p per minute added to your company’s access charge, or you can use their online supplier search tool to help you locate your business gas provider.
You can also get your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) which will give your energy supplier information about where your metre is and who your gas supply number is.
How to Find Your Water Supplier?
To find who your current business water supplier is you can check a most recent water bill and the supplier’s name should reflect on it.
However, if you have moved into a new building and don’t have a previous water bill you can contact any water supplier and have them look into the business property using the metre number and area.
How to Switch Your Business Utility Providers
Once you have established which utility company is providing which utility service for your business, you can make the switch to any other business energy suppliers.
This is a simple and quick process that can be sorted out in a matter of minutes.
After identifying who is your utility provider, you have to find out when you can make the switch to another business utility provider. This is all dependent on the contract that you have signed with your current utilities provider.
- A fixed-term contract
This means that you will have to wait until the contract expires before you can make the switch. Aside from waiting, you also need to check the contract to make sure if it has a notice period which could be between 30 to 120 days.
On a fixed-term contract the utility provider will reach out at least three months before the current contract expires to offer a new rate for the renewal. Since you are planning to change utility providers it is best to issue a notice that you will be making a switch instead of renewing the current contract.
- Be put in an out-of-contract rate
This is expensive and happens when you haven’t given your utility provider notice that you will be switching to another utility provider or you haven’t renewed your contract and by default you are moved to an out-of-contract rate where you are still being supplied to but at a higher cost.
- On a deemed-rate
This happens when you move into a new premises and have been placed under the last tenants utility provider automatically.
Now after finding out what type of contract you have with your current supplier you should start gathering the important information that is needed to make the switch to a new business utility supplier.
The following information should be kept on hand.
- The name of your current business energy supplier/utility provider.
- All the important details of your current contract such as the end date and if you have a notice period.
- Postcode of your business premises.
Start comparing utility providers by looking for ones that fit into your budget and provide extra services for cheaper rates. Once you find a utility provider that meets your needs, you can go ahead and make the switch.
After signing the new contract, you then have to set up a payment plan and provide all your necessary details before notifying your current supplier of the switch and giving them notice.
Conclusion
It helps to know how to find your utility provider and how to make a switch to a different one should the need for it arise.
Follow the above easy steps to avoid struggling or paying high rates when you can save your business some money. Some utility companies offer discounts if they provide more than one of your utility needs which could work in your favour when looking into only having to pay one company for all your business utility service needs.
