In short
Business energy comparison means putting quotes from several suppliers side by side and judging the whole contract, not just the unit rate. Forever Communications works as an agent of Fidelity Energy, which compares a panel of 24+ UK suppliers. We collect your details once and lay the quotes out side by side so you can choose with confidence.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you need to achieve and we will point you to the right option.
How business energy comparison works here
Business energy is not sold like household energy. There is no single published tariff for everyone: each supplier prices your business individually, based on how much energy you use, when you use it, your meters, your credit position and how long you want to fix for. Comparing properly means asking several suppliers for a price on the same basis and then reading the terms behind each one.
This site is run by Forever Communications, part of Forever Group. Forever Communications works as an agent of Fidelity Energy. Fidelity Energy is a business energy consultancy and broker based in Newbury that has worked with business customers since 2014. It describes itself as an independent energy consultancy. Here is how the pieces fit together:
- You tell us what you have. A recent bill for each supply, your annual consumption and when your current contract ends. Our guide to business energy quotes lists exactly what helps.
- Fidelity Energy prices your supplies across its panel. Fidelity Energy compares a network of 24+ suppliers, so one request puts a wide choice of quotes in front of you.
- We go through the options with you. Unit rates, standing charges, contract length, green options and what happens at the end of the term, laid out like-for-like.
- You choose, and the switch is arranged. Once you pick a quote and the supplier confirms it, Fidelity Energy organises the contract and the switch.
- You can keep coming back to us. Forever Communications introduced you, so you can still ask us questions about your energy, alongside any other Forever Group services you use.
You can read more about this arrangement, and what Fidelity Energy also offers, on our business energy broker page.
What a business energy comparison looks at
| What is compared | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unit rate (pence per kWh) | The price for each unit of electricity or gas you use. Higher users feel small differences most. |
| Standing charge (pence per day) | A fixed daily charge whatever you use. For low users it can matter more than the unit rate. |
| Contract length | Longer fixes give budget certainty for longer but tie you in; shorter ones bring the next renewal sooner. |
| Fixed or flexible pricing | A fixed contract sets your unit rates and standing charges for the term. Ofgem says flexible contracts suit large businesses that use a lot of energy; see fixed vs flexible business energy. |
| Terms and exit | Termination clauses, exit fees, notice periods and what happens when the term ends. |
| Green options | Whether electricity is backed by REGO certificates and how much of the supply is covered. |
| Broker commission | Whether broker costs are included in the rates. Suppliers must show them in the contract's principal terms. |
| VAT and Climate Change Levy | Which VAT rate applies to your use and whether the Climate Change Levy is charged. See VAT and Climate Change Levy. |
Separate guides cover business electricity comparison and business gas comparison, including half-hourly electricity supplies for larger sites. For plain-English explanations of tariffs, meters and bills, see our sister site Business Gas and Electric.
Not sure which option suits you? Ask us
Tell us about your premises and usage and we will explain the options that fit.
Who business energy comparison suits
Comparison through Fidelity Energy's panel can help most kinds of UK business energy buyer:
- Micro and small businesses: shops, offices, trades and sole traders with one or two supplies. Ofgem gives microbusinesses extra protections; see our small business energy comparison guide
- Multi-site businesses: groups with several premises who want contract end dates and terms lined up so renewals are easier to manage
- Larger and half-hourly sites: higher users whose price depends on when they use energy as well as how much; see half-hourly business electricity
- Businesses moving premises: anyone taking on new premises who may be on deemed rates until a contract is agreed; see change of tenancy
- Sector buyers: charities, hospitality and farms each have their own VAT, Climate Change Levy and usage questions; see business energy by sector
Switching, renewals and the contract types to avoid drifting onto
Ofgem says fixed-rate business contracts include a switching window that opens a few months before the end of the contract, and that you can sometimes switch during it without paying a fee. Comparing inside that window gives you the most choice. If you miss it, some contracts renew automatically for a further fixed term (Ofgem says usually 12 months), possibly at a higher rate, and some suppliers move you onto out-of-contract rates, which Ofgem says are usually more expensive than a fixed-term contract.
Our guides walk through each step:
- How to switch business energy supplier, step by step
- Business energy contract renewal: timing your renewal and what happens if you do nothing
- How to get out of a business energy contract: exit fees, termination clauses and rollover
- Deemed rates and out-of-contract rates: the two defaults Ofgem says usually cost more
- Business energy contracts explained: fixed, variable, rollover and flexible contracts in one place
Want this looked at for your premises?
Tell us your sites, meters and renewal dates and we will reply by email with options.
Clear commission and a registered broker
There is no separate bill for the comparison. Fidelity Energy is normally paid commission by the supplier you choose, set as an uplift on the unit rate and/or daily standing charge, so it is included in the rates you are quoted; if you prefer, you can opt at the start to pay it a fee by invoice instead. Suppliers show broker costs in your contract's principal terms, and Forever Communications is paid by Fidelity Energy out of its commission. Our energy broker fees page explains how the estimate is worked out.
Ofgem says a broker paid by an energy supplier must be a member of an approved redress scheme. Fidelity Energy Ltd is listed on the Energy Ombudsman's broker register as an active member since 1 December 2022, so you are dealing with a registered broker. See energy broker ombudsman and complaints.
What we check with you before you sign
We go through every quote with you before you decide, covering the points Ofgem suggests checking:
- What type of contract it is (fixed, variable or flexible) and how long the term is
- Any fees, including exit fees or charges set out in special clauses
- What protections you have, especially if you are a microbusiness (microbusiness energy rules)
- Whether broker commission is included, and how much the principal terms say it is
- What happens at the end of the term: automatic renewal, out-of-contract rates or deemed rates
- That the business name, sites, meters and start date are right
If anything in a contract is unclear, ask us: that is what we are here for.
Green business energy
Many businesses want renewable electricity or green gas as part of their contract, for example for carbon reporting or tender requirements. Fidelity Energy says green energy is not all or nothing: you can choose how much of your electricity comes with renewable certificates (REGOs) and blend biomethane (green gas) into your gas at the level that suits you, with each option priced side by side. Our green business energy guide explains what to ask so you know what any premium pays for.
How Forever Communications helps
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group, which also looks after business phone lines, connectivity and business mobile. Adding energy means one familiar point of contact for more of your business's running costs.
The right contract depends on your usage, your timing and the terms you want. We collect your details once, have Fidelity Energy price them across its panel of 24+ suppliers, and help you weigh up the options so you can choose the contract that suits your business.
Contact us with your current contract end date and we will take it from there.
More business energy guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare business energy prices?
Ask several suppliers to quote on the same basis (same sites, consumption, start date and contract length), then compare unit rates, standing charges, terms, exit fees and what happens at the end of the term. A broker such as Fidelity Energy can request the quotes from its panel for you.
How many suppliers do you compare?
Fidelity Energy compares a panel of 24+ UK business energy suppliers, so a single request can bring you quotes from a wide range of suppliers. If there is a supplier you particularly want priced, tell us when you ask for quotes.
Is business energy comparison free?
There is no separate fee for the comparison in the normal case. Fidelity Energy is paid commission by the supplier you choose, included in your unit rate and/or standing charge and shown in your contract's principal terms. If you prefer, you can opt at the start to pay a fee by invoice instead.
Who is Fidelity Energy?
Fidelity Energy is a business energy consultancy and broker based in Newbury that has worked with business customers since 2014. It describes itself as an independent energy consultancy, and Fidelity Energy Ltd is listed on the Energy Ombudsman's broker register. Forever Communications works as an agent of Fidelity Energy.
When should I compare business energy?
Before your current contract ends, ideally once your switching window opens, which for most fixed contracts is a few months before the end date. If you are on deemed or out-of-contract rates, or on a rolling contract, you can usually switch at any time.
Can you compare my current supplier's renewal offer?
Yes. Ofgem notes the best option may be your current supplier, so we put your renewal offer alongside the quotes from Fidelity Energy's panel on the same basis, and you choose whichever suits you best.
Still have a question about business energy comparison?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.