General learning resources for people working in small and medium-sized organisations. Some introductory guides cover both households and businesses; read the business sections and scope notes carefully.
Understanding consumption, bills and meters
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
Learn how to measure consumption, distinguish kW from kWh and compare energy use over time.
How to read a UK energy bill
Understand the main components of a bill and the additional points business customers should check.
What is a standing charge?
Explore daily charges and the differences between household and business arrangements.
What is a smart meter and how does it work?
An introduction to smart metering, including its relevance to small businesses and monitoring consumption.
Customer protections and supplier failure
Supplier insolvency: SoLR and credit balances
Understand supplier transfers, account records and why business credit balances differ from household balances.
Back-billing protection for qualifying microbusinesses
An introductory guide covering household rules and the position of qualifying microbusinesses. Larger businesses should not assume the same protection applies.
Energy use and efficiency
Why winter energy bills are usually higher
Understand seasonal demand, including the section explaining higher winter consumption in business premises.
Business energy shutdown checklist for holiday closures
A general checklist for reducing unnecessary consumption during closures while keeping essential systems operating.
Taxes and environmental policy
Climate Change Levy explained
Learn what CCL is, where it appears on bills and how it relates to energy use and policy.