Gas looks cheap per unit next to electricity — which is exactly why businesses stop scrutinising it. But gas standing charges vary more than any other line on a business energy bill, and the gap between a sharp gas contract and a lazy renewal is wider than most owners expect. Here is where the market actually sits.
What you get
The table below is what businesses are really paying this quarter. If your renewal quote sits above it, that is a conversation worth having.
Averages gathered from supplier panels and market data during July 2026. Use them to sanity-check a renewal quote — your region, consumption and meter details will move the numbers.
| Business size | Annual usage (approx.) | Unit rate (p/kWh) | Standing charge (p/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro business | Up to 10,000 kWh | 7–8p | 25–35p |
| Small business | 10,000–25,000 kWh | 6–7p | 30–45p |
| Medium business | 25,000–75,000 kWh | 5.5–6.5p | 40–80p |
| Large / high usage | 75,000+ kWh | 5–6p | 80–150p |
Indicative averages only, based on July 2026 market data. Actual prices vary by region, meter size (AQ band), credit profile, contract length and market timing, and are confirmed on quotation. Prices exclude VAT and the Climate Change Levy.
Gas standing charges scale with your meter’s annual quantity band and vary enormously between suppliers — from pennies to well over £1 a day. For low-usage sites, the standing charge can outweigh the gas itself, meaning the “cheapest unit rate” quote loses on total cost. We compare the full annual figure, always.
Gas prices carry a seasonal shape: winter demand prices differently from summer. Renewing a gas contract in a calm shoulder season regularly beats renewing in a cold snap, even for identical consumption. If your contract end date lands awkwardly, we can plan the approach rather than accept the timing.
Suppliers classify gas meters by Annual Quantity. Sitting just above a band threshold can change how you are priced and which suppliers want your business at all. We check your AQ against actual consumption — sites that have reduced usage are often still priced in the wrong band.
Bundling gas and electricity with one supplier is convenient, but the sharpest gas supplier is frequently not the sharpest on electricity. We price the fuels separately and together, and recommend whichever combination genuinely costs less — sometimes that is one supplier, often it is two.
Our fee is agreed upfront and disclosed in writing before you sign. It may be paid directly or collected via the supplier as a transparent p/kWh uplift. The exact amount depends on consumption, contract length, and service scope.
As a guide, our fee is typically 1–2p per kWh on electricity and approximately 1p per kWh on gas.
One adviser reviews your situation, checks the market, and gives you a straight answer. No portals. No pressure. No tariff confetti.
As of July 2026, most businesses are quoted between roughly 5p and 8p per kWh, with daily standing charges from about 25p for small meters to £1.50+ for large ones. Larger consumers pay less per unit; standing charges rise with meter size. Actual prices depend on region, AQ band and contract timing.
Gas is a primary fuel, while electricity carries generation, network and policy costs on top of the energy itself. That is also why gas bills are more sensitive to standing charges and consumption changes than to headline unit-rate differences.
Quoted rates normally exclude both. Most businesses pay 20% VAT plus the Climate Change Levy on gas. Low-usage sites (under 4,397 kWh per month on average) qualify for 5% VAT and CCL exemption — a saving suppliers rarely point out.
Send us a recent gas bill. With your MPRN, annual consumption and contract end date we can price the market properly — including checking your AQ band and whether your standing charge is competitive for your meter size.