Small business energy price comparison tool launched

An energy price comparison tool specifically for small businesses has been launched.

uSwitchforbusiness, an independent business energy broker, revealed the service this week. It is the first of its kind for small businesses and aims to offer a similar level of price transparency as currently enjoyed by consumers.

It functions in a similar way to household comparison sites. Users enter their information, including their average annual gas and electricity consumption, and they are given a quote in return. This will include details of all of the current deals on offer from the UK’s big six energy suppliers, along with a number of smaller energy suppliers.

James Constant, director of the business comparison site, commented: "Britain's small businesses have unknowingly been facing a lottery when it comes to the price they are going to pay for their energy. They have told us that they want to be treated the same as consumers - enjoying a transparent, fair and independent comparison service.”

He added that acquiring an energy contract for your business is “by no means the same as getting a competitive deal at home - the market is structured very differently and prices change every day”.

However, Mr Constant noted, “Small businesses are fed up with the minefield they enter each time they need a new contract and want to see as much simplicity and transparency as possible.”

Research from the site found that 37 per cent believe the business energy market is more complicated than the home market, while 29 per cent stated that they find it more bureaucratic.