Ecotricity vs EDF: comparing commercial tariffs and features to help you choose for your business

Ecotricity and EDF both supply electricity and gas to British businesses, but their commercial energy propositions are very different.

Ecotricity is a comparatively small, renewable-focused supplier. Its business electricity is described as 100% renewable, while money earned through energy supply is reinvested in new wind, solar and green-gas projects through its “Bills into Mills” model.

EDF is one of Britain’s largest energy companies and the country’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity. It supplies small companies, large organisations and major industrial users, offering fixed contracts, flexible wholesale purchasing, renewable electricity, nuclear-backed zero-carbon electricity, metering, commercial solar, electric vehicle charging and Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

For a small company seeking a straightforward renewable electricity contract, Ecotricity may provide the clearer environmental proposition. For a large or complex energy user, EDF offers a much broader selection of procurement, data, infrastructure and net-zero services.

Price cannot be determined from the supplier names alone. Both companies calculate negotiated business rates according to the meter, location, consumption, credit profile and proposed contract. The only reliable way to identify the cheaper supplier is to obtain comparable written quotations.

Ecotricity vs EDF at a glance

Feature	Ecotricity Business	EDF Business
Small-business electricity	Yes	Yes
Small-business gas	Yes	Yes
Large-business supply	Yes	Yes
Standard negotiated prices published	No	No
Fixed small-business contracts	Available by quotation	One, two, three or four years
Large-business fixed contracts	Yes	Yes
Flexible wholesale procurement	Bespoke arrangements	Extensive flexible purchasing options
Standard business electricity proposition	100% renewable	Standard fuel mix unless a renewable or zero-carbon product is selected
Renewable electricity option	Included in the business proposition	Fixed Renewable and large-business renewable products
Nuclear-backed electricity option	No	Zero Carbon for Business
Supplier fuel mix	100% renewable electricity	54.8% nuclear, 18.2% renewable, 21% gas, 4.2% coal and 1.8% other
Time-matched renewable reporting	Real Time REGOs	Renewable products, fuel labels and CPPA reporting
Business gas	Carbon-neutralised gas	Conventional gas, with carbon-offsetting services available for larger users
Commercial solar	On-site generation support	Small-business and large-business solar services
Battery storage	Bespoke energy solutions	Available through EDF group partners
Small-business solar export	No equivalent prominent 15p tariff	15p/kWh fixed for 12 months for eligible EDF supply customers
Commercial PPAs	Yes	Yes
Publicly promoted Ecotricity PPA threshold	Generation above 250kW	SEG available up to 5MW; larger PPA arrangements are bespoke
EV charging services	Limited compared with EDF	Commercial and public-sector EV charging services
Energy flexibility services	Bespoke	Extensive large-business flexibility services
Best suited to	Renewable-led SMEs and environmentally focused organisations	Businesses wanting scale, long fixes, procurement flexibility and net-zero infrastructure

Which businesses can apply?

Both suppliers accept small-business and large-business customers, although they classify customers differently.

Ecotricity eligibility

Ecotricity directs a business to its large-business service if it uses more than:

• 200,000kWh of electricity annually; or
• 200,000kWh of gas annually.

Its SME service also covers businesses with no more than five meter points.

This means Ecotricity can potentially supply:

• independent shops;
• offices;
• cafés and restaurants;
• hotels;
• workshops;
• charities;
• schools;
• care homes;
• warehouses;
• manufacturers; and
• national multi-site organisations.

EDF eligibility

EDF’s online quotation route directs businesses consuming more than:

• 100MWh of electricity, equivalent to 100,000kWh; or
• 300MWh of gas, equivalent to 300,000kWh,

to its large-business service.

Businesses below those levels can generally use EDF’s small-business quotation service, subject to meter type, credit checks and other eligibility conditions.

The different thresholds create an area of overlap. For example, a company consuming 150,000kWh of electricity may be treated as an SME by Ecotricity but directed to EDF’s large-business team.

Eligibility examples

Example organisation	Annual electricity	Annual gas	Likely quotation route
Small shop	12,000kWh	10,000kWh	Small-business service from both
Office	60,000kWh	80,000kWh	Small-business service from both
Restaurant	120,000kWh	250,000kWh	Ecotricity SME; EDF large-business electricity route
Hotel	350,000kWh	1,000,000kWh	Large-business service from both
Manufacturer	2,000,000kWh	4,000,000kWh	Large-business service from both
National retail chain	15,000,000kWh	5,000,000kWh	Large-business and multi-site teams

The supplier may still refuse to quote or request a security deposit following a credit assessment.

Which supplier is cheaper?

Neither Ecotricity nor EDF has one national negotiated business rate.

A quotation can change according to:

• the electricity MPAN or gas MPRN;
• postcode and distribution region;
• meter profile;
• half-hourly consumption pattern;
• annual electricity and gas use;
• agreed electricity capacity;
• number of premises;
• credit history;
• contract length;
• contract start date;
• payment method;
• renewable product selection; and
• wholesale prices when the quote is prepared.

EDF says it reviews its small-business tariff prices weekly. Ecotricity also produces site-specific quotations rather than one permanent national price.

The correct comparison is:

• Annual consumption × unit rate
• daily standing charge × 365
• meter and data charges
• capacity charges
• network and policy costs
• renewable or zero-carbon premiums
• VAT and Climate Change Levy where applicable
  − export income or contractual credits

A supplier with a lower unit rate can still cost more if it has a higher standing charge or additional pass-through costs.

How much does a rate difference matter?

Annual consumption	Value of 1p/kWh	Value of 3p/kWh	Value of 5p/kWh
10,000kWh	£100	£300	£500
25,000kWh	£250	£750	£1,250
50,000kWh	£500	£1,500	£2,500
100,000kWh	£1,000	£3,000	£5,000
250,000kWh	£2,500	£7,500	£12,500
1,000,000kWh	£10,000	£30,000	£50,000
10,000,000kWh	£100,000	£300,000	£500,000

A 1p/kWh difference may be relatively modest for a small office but worth £100,000 a year to a company consuming 10GWh.

Comparing small-business deemed electricity rates

Deemed tariffs apply when a business consumes energy without having agreed a contract. This often happens when a company moves into premises already supplied by the provider.

They are normally more expensive than negotiated contracts and should not be used as representative new-customer quotes.

EDF’s small-business deemed prices effective from 1 June 2026 include the following charges for a standard meter paid by Direct Debit:

EDF small-business deemed electricity	Published rate
Lowest regional unit rate	47.07p/kWh
Highest regional unit rate	56.57p/kWh
Daily standing charge	215p
Annual standing charge	£784.75

Cash or cheque customers pay unit rates 1p/kWh higher and a standing charge of 225p per day.

Ecotricity’s non-half-hourly commercial deemed rates from 1 April 2026 include:

Ecotricity category	Unit rate	Daily standing-charge range
No Residual	33p/kWh	51.13p–77.87p
Band 1	35p/kWh	51.13p–77.87p
Band 2	35p/kWh	86.20p–135.96p
Band 3	35p/kWh	152.21p–250.10p
Band 4	35p/kWh	375.75p–645.99p

The classifications are not directly equivalent. EDF’s table is based on meter type and region, while Ecotricity uses distribution residual bands.

However, Ecotricity’s published commercial deemed unit rate is currently below EDF’s small-business deemed range.

Illustrative small-business deemed electricity costs

The following examples compare EDF’s regional standard-meter range with Ecotricity’s Band 1 rate.

Annual electricity use	EDF small-business range	Ecotricity Band 1 range
10,000kWh	£5,491.75–£6,441.75	£3,686.62–£3,784.23
25,000kWh	£12,552.25–£14,927.25	£8,936.62–£9,034.23
50,000kWh	£24,319.75–£29,069.75	£17,686.62–£17,784.23
100,000kWh	£47,854.75–£57,354.75	£35,186.62–£35,284.23

These calculations exclude VAT, Climate Change Levy and other applicable charges.

They compare deemed tariffs only. A negotiated EDF fixed tariff could be considerably cheaper than EDF’s deemed rate.

Economy 7 and time-based deemed rates

EDF publishes separate deemed prices for businesses with Economy 7, evening and weekend, and off-peak meters.

From 1 June 2026, its Direct Debit Economy 7 prices include:

EDF Economy 7 deemed charge	Published regional range
Day rate	48.09p–57.79p/kWh
Night rate	43.16p–51.87p/kWh
Daily standing charge	215p

The night rate is cheaper than the day rate, but remains above Ecotricity’s 35p/kWh standard commercial deemed rate.

A business should not select an Economy 7 contract solely because it has a cheaper night price. The weighted average depends on the proportion of consumption that occurs overnight.

For example, if the day rate is 50p and the night rate is 44p:

Night-time share	Weighted average unit price
10%	49.4p/kWh
25%	48.5p/kWh
50%	47p/kWh
75%	45.5p/kWh

A substantial amount of consumption must occur during the cheaper period before the night rate materially reduces the annual average.

Comparing large-business deemed electricity rates

EDF publishes separate deemed schedules for larger non-half-hourly and half-hourly supplies.

From 1 June 2026, EDF’s non-half-hourly large-business deemed electricity rate is:

EDF large-business charge	Published amount
Unit rate	38.298p/kWh
No Residual standing charge	333.71p–360.66p per day
Band 1 standing charge	356.06p–389.14p per day
Band 2 standing charge	399.11p–460.68p per day
Band 3 standing charge	480.16p–601.28p per day
Band 4 standing charge	754.65p–1,089p per day

The approximate annual standing charges are:

Band	EDF annual standing-charge range	Ecotricity annual range
No Residual	£1,218–£1,316	£186.62–£284.23
Band 1	£1,300–£1,420	£186.62–£284.23
Band 2	£1,457–£1,681	£314.63–£496.25
Band 3	£1,753–£2,195	£555.57–£912.87
Band 4	£2,754–£3,975	£1,371–£2,358

Ecotricity’s published non-half-hourly rate of 35p/kWh is also 3.298p/kWh below EDF’s 38.298p/kWh large-business rate.

At 500,000kWh, that unit-rate difference is worth £16,490 before standing charges.

Again, this is a comparison of deemed prices rather than negotiated fixed tariffs.

Half-hourly deemed electricity

EDF’s half-hourly deemed prices vary by region and voltage.

For low-voltage supplies from 1 June 2026:

EDF half-hourly component	Published range
All Other Times rate	37.206p–40.203p/kWh
Night rate	34.649p–35.421p/kWh
Capacity charge	£0.0382–£0.1383 per kVA per day

EDF also applies monthly TCR standing charges based on the site’s residual band.

Ecotricity publishes several half-hourly rate structures. Depending on voltage, capacity arrangements and residual band, its current deemed unit rates include 31p, 33p or 35p/kWh.

Ecotricity’s half-hourly published rates exclude:

• DUoS capacity charges;
• excess-capacity charges;
• reactive-power charges;
• meter-maintenance costs;
• data-collection costs;
• VAT;
• Climate Change Levy; and
• government-imposed taxes.

EDF’s prices similarly exclude VAT, CCL, metering, reactive power and excess-capacity charges.

A business with a half-hourly meter should request a full cost model based on at least 12 months of interval data. Comparing one unit-rate figure can conceal substantial capacity, standing and network charges.

Comparing small-business deemed gas rates

EDF’s small-business deemed gas prices effective from 1 June 2026 are:

EDF small-business deemed gas	Published range
Direct Debit unit rate	15.27p–16.24p/kWh
Direct Debit standing charge	250p per day
Annual standing charge	£912.50
Cash or cheque unit rate	16.27p–17.24p/kWh
Cash or cheque standing charge	260p per day

Ecotricity’s published deemed business gas price is:

Ecotricity deemed gas	Published rate
Unit rate	10p/kWh
Standing charge	100p per day
Annual standing charge	£365

Ecotricity is therefore cheaper on both the published unit rate and standing charge.

Illustrative small-business deemed gas costs

Annual gas use	EDF Direct Debit range	Ecotricity
25,000kWh	£4,730–£4,972.50	£2,865
50,000kWh	£8,547.50–£9,032.50	£5,365
100,000kWh	£16,182.50–£17,152.50	£10,365
250,000kWh	£39,087.50–£41,512.50	£25,365

The figures exclude VAT, CCL and any additional charges.

The comparison strongly favours Ecotricity’s current deemed gas tariff, but an EDF negotiated fixed contract may produce a different result.

EDF large-business deemed gas

EDF’s large-business deemed gas rate from 1 June 2026 is:

Charge	EDF large business	Ecotricity
Unit rate	9.996p/kWh	10p/kWh
Daily standing charge	909.04p	100p
Annual standing charge	Approximately £3,318	£365

The unit rates are almost identical, but EDF’s published daily charge is substantially higher.

Annual gas use	EDF large-business deemed cost	Ecotricity deemed cost
100,000kWh	£13,314	£10,365
250,000kWh	£28,308	£25,365
500,000kWh	£53,298	£50,365
1,000,000kWh	£103,278	£100,365

At high consumption levels, the effect of the standing-charge difference becomes less significant relative to the total bill.

EDF small-business fixed tariffs

EDF offers fixed small-business contracts lasting:

• one year;
• two years;
• three years; or
• four years.

The unit rate and standing charge are fixed for the selected contract period, subject to the specific contract terms.

Fixed contracts may suit a company that wants:

• protection from wholesale price increases;
• predictable monthly expenditure;
• simpler budgeting;
• fewer procurement decisions; and
• certainty over the contract end date.

The disadvantage is that the company may not benefit if market prices fall. An early termination fee can also apply if the business leaves before the end of the agreement.

EDF’s online fixed product generally requires:

• online account management;
• electronic bills;
• payment by the specified Direct Debit or PAYG method;
• a valid email address; and
• agreement to install a compatible smart meter where required.

Businesses wanting telephone account management should check that they are not selecting an online-only tariff.

EDF Fixed Renewable tariff

EDF launched a Fixed Renewable electricity tariff for small businesses in April 2026.

The product provides:

• fixed prices for one, two, three or four years;
• electricity matched with UK Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin;
• renewable sources including wind, solar and hydro;
• payment by Direct Debit; and
• market-based zero-emission reporting for purchased electricity.

For every megawatt-hour used, EDF matches the consumption with one UK REGO.

The tariff does not mean that a separate physical cable connects the premises to a wind or solar farm. Electricity is delivered through the national grid, while the certificates evidence that an equivalent quantity of renewable generation has been allocated to the customer.

EDF large-business fixed contracts

EDF offers tailored fixed-price electricity, gas and dual-fuel contracts for larger organisations.

A large-business agreement can fix:

• the wholesale energy component;
• some non-energy charges;
• all eligible charges; or
• a selected combination of fixed and pass-through elements.

A company should establish exactly what “fixed” means in the proposed contract.

Non-energy costs can include:

• Distribution Use of System charges;
• Transmission Network Use of System charges;
• Balancing Services Use of System charges;
• Contracts for Difference;
• Capacity Market costs;
• Renewables Obligation charges;
• meter operation;
• data collection;
• transmission and distribution losses; and
• changes in law or regulation.

Two contracts carrying the same wholesale price can produce different total costs if one fixes more non-energy charges.

EDF flexible contracts

EDF has a clear advantage where a large organisation wants to purchase energy in stages rather than fixing the whole forecast on one day.

Its flexible contracts allow the company to choose:

• when energy is purchased;
• how much is purchased at each trade;
• whether some volume remains exposed to market prices;
• the degree of procurement support; and
• whether zero-carbon electricity is added.

A flexible strategy can spread market-timing risk.

For example, a business expecting to use 10GWh might buy:

• 25% when the contract is signed;
• 25% six months later;
• 25% when a price target is reached; and
• the final 25% closer to delivery.

If the four purchases average 18p/kWh instead of a possible 20p fixed price, the saving would be:

10,000,000kWh × 2p = £200,000

If the average rises to 22p/kWh, the company would instead pay £200,000 more.

Flexible procurement can reduce the risk of fixing everything at an unfavourable time, but it does not guarantee a saving.

Ecotricity fixed business tariffs

Ecotricity offers quoted business contracts for SMEs and fixed pricing for larger users.

Its SME proposition emphasises:

• straightforward pricing;
• 100% renewable electricity;
• carbon-neutralised gas;
• no hidden fees;
• assistance with switching; and
• reinvestment in new green energy.

Large companies can request made-to-measure pricing, half-hourly billing and more complex renewable arrangements.

Ecotricity publishes less information about standardised flexible wholesale-trading products than EDF. It is therefore more likely to appeal to a business seeking a straightforward renewable supply agreement than to a large organisation wanting an active hedging programme.

Comparing renewable electricity

The largest environmental distinction is that Ecotricity makes renewable electricity its standard business proposition, while EDF gives customers a choice between standard, renewable and nuclear-backed zero-carbon products.

Ecotricity electricity

Ecotricity’s published electricity mix is:

Source	Ecotricity
Renewables	100%
Nuclear	0%
Gas	0%
Coal	0%
Other	0%
Reported carbon emissions	0g/kWh
Reported radioactive waste	0g/kWh

Ecotricity obtains electricity through its own wind and solar generation, Power Purchase Agreements and renewable certification.

Its environmental proposition also includes Bills into Mills. Rather than distributing excess profits as dividends, Ecotricity says it invests them in new wind, solar and green-gas infrastructure.

EDF’s general electricity mix

EDF’s published licence-wide fuel mix for April 2024 to March 2025 was:

Source	EDF	UK average
Coal	4.2%	5.9%
Gas	21%	33.3%
Nuclear	54.8%	16.2%
Renewables	18.2%	42.1%
Other	1.8%	2.5%
Reported carbon emissions	135g/kWh	154g/kWh
Radioactive waste	0.0038g/kWh	0.0011g/kWh

This supplier-wide mix does not apply to a customer who specifically buys EDF’s renewable or zero-carbon product.

EDF’s overall carbon intensity is below the stated UK average, principally because more than half of its mix is nuclear.

Renewable versus zero-carbon electricity

EDF gives large businesses a choice of different electricity sources.

EDF Renewable for Business

This product is backed by renewable generation such as:

• wind;
• solar; and
• hydroelectricity.

It can be combined with fixed or flexible procurement and can support market-based zero-emission reporting.

EDF Zero Carbon for Business

Zero Carbon for Business is backed principally by nuclear generation.

Nuclear electricity produces no carbon dioxide at the point of generation, but it is not renewable and produces radioactive waste.

A company may therefore choose:

• Ecotricity for renewable-only electricity;
• EDF Renewable for a renewable EDF product; or
• EDF Zero Carbon for nuclear-backed low-carbon electricity.

The appropriate option depends on the company’s environmental policy. Some organisations accept nuclear power as part of their net-zero strategy, while others require electricity sourced exclusively from renewable technologies.

Real Time REGOs and detailed reporting

Ecotricity offers Real Time REGOs for businesses seeking a closer match between when electricity is used and when renewable energy is generated.

Traditional renewable tariffs normally match consumption and renewable certificates over an annual period. This does not necessarily mean that renewable electricity was generated during the same hour in which the business consumed energy.

Ecotricity’s service can combine:

• half-hourly consumption data;
• renewable generation data;
• REGOs;
• Ecotricity PPAs; and
• a customer’s sleeved PPA.

This may suit companies pursuing:

• 24/7 carbon-free energy;
• detailed Scope 2 reporting;
• sustainability audits;
• science-based targets;
• supply-chain disclosure requirements; or
• stronger evidence against greenwashing accusations.

EDF can also provide renewable reporting, fuel labels and CPPA structures. However, Ecotricity places more public emphasis on time-matched REGOs as a standalone business product.

Comparing business gas

Neither supplier should be assumed to deliver entirely renewable physical gas.

Ecotricity gas

Ecotricity describes its business gas as carbon neutralised.

The supplier says approximately 1% of the gas it supplies currently comes from green gas mills, with the remainder being fossil gas.

It is developing gasmills that create biomethane from grass through anaerobic digestion. Ecotricity is also moving away from conventional international carbon-avoidance credits in favour of British carbon-removal and nature-recovery projects.

These include:

• rewilding;
• enhanced rock weathering; and
• projects intended to remove carbon directly from the atmosphere.

Its proposed Reading green gasmill is intended to produce the equivalent annual gas consumption of approximately 3,500 homes and save up to 3,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

EDF gas

EDF’s ordinary business gas remains conventional network gas.

For larger organisations, EDF offers access to carbon-offsetting services using credits from a portfolio of projects. These can be used for residual emissions while a company develops longer-term physical reduction plans.

Businesses should distinguish between:

• fossil gas;
• biomethane;
• renewable gas certificates;
• carbon avoidance;
• carbon offsetting;
• carbon removal; and
• reducing gas consumption.

Gas burned at the premises normally creates direct Scope 1 emissions regardless of the supplier. Offsets or removal credits address the reported impact but do not stop combustion emissions occurring at the site.

Commercial solar and batteries

EDF offers a broader publicly advertised commercial solar service.

EDF small-business solar

EDF directs small businesses towards solar panel and battery solutions through Contact Solar, which is part of the EDF family.

A system may include:

• roof-mounted solar panels;
• battery storage;
• monitoring;
• commercial EV charging; and
• an export tariff.

The value of solar depends on:

• installation size;
• roof direction;
• shading;
• daytime demand;
• capital cost;
• finance;
• export rate;
• maintenance;
• panel degradation; and
• how long the business occupies the premises.

EDF large-business solar

EDF Group company SAS Energy delivers commercial and public-sector solar projects.

EDF can combine solar with:

• battery storage;
• energy supply;
• EV charging;
• flexibility services;
• export purchasing; and
• wider decarbonisation planning.

Ecotricity on-site generation

Ecotricity can help businesses develop on-site wind and solar generation and can discuss purchasing surplus output through a PPA.

Its public proposition is less focused on a standard turnkey rooftop solar package and more on bespoke generation, supply and export arrangements.

For a typical SME wanting one provider to arrange panels, batteries, supply and export, EDF currently has the clearer route.

Export tariffs and PPAs

EDF small-business export tariff

EDF’s Export 12M Small Business tariff currently pays eligible existing EDF electricity customers:

Feature	EDF Export 12M Small Business
Export rate	15p/kWh
Price structure	Fixed
Contract length	12 months
Exit fee	None
Maximum eligible generation	Up to 5MW, or 50kW for micro-CHP
Eligible technologies	Solar, wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion and micro-CHP

At 15p/kWh, annual export income would be:

Electricity exported	Annual income
5,000kWh	£750
10,000kWh	£1,500
25,000kWh	£3,750
50,000kWh	£7,500
100,000kWh	£15,000

EDF also offers a variable small-business export tariff paying 5.6p/kWh to eligible EDF electricity customers.

Ecotricity PPAs

Ecotricity publicly promotes PPAs for companies generating more than 250kW on site.

A PPA can provide:

• a route to market;
• an agreed export price;
• renewable certificate treatment;
• payment arrangements;
• balancing support; and
• longer-term revenue certainty.

Ecotricity can also combine a PPA with business supply and Real Time REGOs.

Which is better for exports?

EDF is likely to be more accessible for an ordinary SME solar installation because it publishes a 15p/kWh tariff and supports eligible generation up to 5MW.

Ecotricity may be more relevant for larger bespoke installations, particularly where the company wants to combine the generator, supply contract and hourly renewable reporting.

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements

Both suppliers can help major organisations establish Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

A CPPA links a business more directly with a renewable generator. It can support the financing of a new project and provide stronger traceability than a conventional annual REGO-backed tariff.

EDF has substantial experience supporting CPPAs for major companies and public-sector organisations. It can integrate the arrangement into a wider fixed or flexible supply contract.

Ecotricity can provide sleeving, supply and certificate matching alongside renewable generation.

Companies should assess:

• contract duration;
• fixed or indexed pricing;
• minimum volume;
• generation profile;
• sleeving charges;
• imbalance costs;
• credit requirements;
• REGO ownership;
• additionality;
• change-of-law provisions; and
• termination liabilities.

A long-term PPA should not be signed solely because its initial price appears lower. The company must consider what happens if wholesale prices fall, generation underperforms or its own demand changes.

EV charging and energy flexibility

EDF has the stronger commercial proposition for electric vehicle infrastructure and flexible demand.

Its business services include:

• workplace EV charging;
• fleet charging;
• public-sector charging;
• solar-compatible chargers;
• battery storage;
• managed charging;
• demand-response services; and
• energy flexibility.

EDF can optimise when electric vehicles or batteries charge so that the business avoids expensive periods or participates in flexibility markets.

Ecotricity has substantial historical links with electric transport and developed the Electric Highway charging network, which was sold to GRIDSERVE in 2021. Its current business energy proposition does not advertise a directly comparable package of fleet infrastructure and optimisation services.

A fleet operator, logistics company or public-sector organisation is therefore more likely to favour EDF for charging infrastructure.

Metering, data and account management

EDF provides separate small-business and large-business account platforms.

Its large-business services include:

• end-to-end metering;
• half-hourly data;
• Energy View;
• market insight;
• procurement support;
• meter connections;
• portfolio reporting; and
• flexibility monitoring.

Ecotricity offers half-hourly metering, accurate billing and in-depth consumption information to large users. It can also produce renewable matching reports through Real Time REGOs.

EDF is likely to have the advantage for a complex national portfolio requiring extensive metering, wholesale trading and infrastructure services.

Ecotricity may be preferable where the principal reporting requirement is demonstrating renewable energy sourcing.

Contract terms and early termination

Business energy contracts do not have the same protections as domestic tariffs.

They are not covered by the domestic price cap and there is generally no automatic 14-day cooling-off period.

EDF’s small-business terms state that the contract becomes legally binding when EDF accepts a signed or verbal agreement. An early termination fee may be based on:

• market energy prices;
• expected consumption; and
• the time remaining on the contract.

EDF says it will write to the customer at least 60 days before the end of a fixed small-business contract. If the customer does not select a new arrangement, it may move onto a variable Freedom tariff.

Ecotricity’s fixed agreements can also impose early termination costs and consumption-related provisions. The exact terms should be checked in the Business Supply Agreement.

Before accepting either quotation, review:

• contract start date;
• contract end date;
• unit and standing charges;
• pass-through components;
• early termination formula;
• volume tolerance;
• meter charges;
• capacity charges;
• security deposits;
• renewal procedure;
• payment method;
• broker commission;
• environmental claims; and
• post-contract rates.

Ecotricity advantages and disadvantages

EDF advantages and disadvantages

Which supplier is best for different companies?

Type of business or requirement	Likely better fit	Reason
Small sustainability-led retailer	Ecotricity	Renewable electricity is central to the standard proposition
Small company wanting a four-year fix	EDF	Published fixed terms of up to four years
Business on a deemed tariff	Ecotricity currently looks stronger	Lower published rates in many comparable categories
Company seeking renewable-only electricity	Ecotricity or EDF Renewable	Both can provide renewable-backed supply
Company accepting nuclear electricity	EDF	Zero Carbon for Business is nuclear backed
Large manufacturer	EDF may have an advantage	Fixed, flexible, metering and risk-management services
Major user wanting simple renewable supply	Ecotricity	Clearer renewable-first proposition
Business with rooftop solar	EDF	Turnkey solar and a published 15p export tariff
Generator above 250kW	Compare both	Both can structure PPAs
Company seeking hourly REGO matching	Ecotricity	Real Time REGOs are a prominent product
Company seeking a complex CPPA	Compare both	Both offer supply and sleeving services
EV fleet operator	EDF	Commercial charging and optimisation services
Multi-site public-sector organisation	EDF may have an advantage	Scale, metering and infrastructure services
Vegan or animal-free business	Ecotricity	Vegan-certified energy proposition
Company seeking direct British carbon removal	Ecotricity	Carbon Bank projects focus on British removal
Business prioritising supplier scale	EDF	Larger customer, generation and service operation

Final verdict: EDF vs Ecotricity

Ecotricity is likely to be the stronger choice for a company whose principal objective is purchasing renewable electricity from a supplier focused entirely on the green energy transition.

Its advantages include:

• 100% renewable electricity as the standard business proposition;
• no nuclear generation in its disclosed mix;
• investment in additional wind, solar and green-gas projects;
• Real Time REGOs;
• British carbon removal; and
• currently competitive published deemed rates.

EDF is likely to be the better choice for a business requiring a wider energy-management package.

Its strengths include:

• fixed small-business contracts lasting up to four years;
• a dedicated small-business renewable tariff;
• fixed and flexible large-business procurement;
• nuclear-backed zero-carbon electricity;
• solar, batteries and EV charging;
• a 15p/kWh small-business export tariff;
• CPPAs;
• extensive metering; and
• wholesale market and flexibility services.

The pricing evidence from current deemed tariffs broadly favours Ecotricity. Ecotricity’s published commercial electricity rate is 35p/kWh, compared with EDF’s 47.07p–56.57p small-business range and 38.298p large-business non-half-hourly rate. Ecotricity also publishes materially lower deemed gas and standing charges.

Those figures do not prove that Ecotricity will provide the cheaper negotiated contract. EDF’s fixed tariffs can be priced substantially below its deemed rates, while individual Ecotricity quotes can vary by region, meter and contract.

The most reliable approach is to request both quotes using identical information and compare:

1. projected annual cost;
2. unit rates;
3. standing charges;
4. fixed and pass-through costs;
5. contract duration;
6. termination fees;
7. renewable or zero-carbon evidence;
8. metering costs;
9. capacity charges;
10. export income;
11. online and account-management support; and
12. post-contract prices.

For most businesses, the decision can be summarised as follows:

• choose Ecotricity for a renewable-first supplier and a direct link between energy bills and new green infrastructure;
• choose EDF for longer fixed terms, flexible procurement, commercial solar, export, EV charging and complex energy management;
• compare Ecotricity with EDF Fixed Renewable where both price and renewable credentials matter; and
• avoid remaining on either supplier’s deemed tariff once a negotiated contract can be arranged.

FAQ

Research notes

EDF’s small-business quotation service offers fixed contracts of up to four years and directs electricity users above 100MWh, or gas users above 300MWh, to its large-business service. Its renewable SME tariff is available for one to four years and matches each megawatt-hour with a UK REGO.

EDF’s small-business deemed schedule effective from 1 June 2026 contains standard electricity rates of 47.07p–56.57p/kWh for Direct Debit customers, a 215p daily electricity standing charge, gas rates of 15.27p–16.24p/kWh and a 250p daily gas charge.

EDF’s large-business schedules effective from 1 June 2026 give a non-half-hourly electricity rate of 38.298p/kWh, regional TCR standing charges, half-hourly regional rates and a deemed gas rate of 9.996p/kWh with a 909.04p daily charge.

Ecotricity’s deemed schedule from 1 April 2026 sets most non-half-hourly commercial electricity at 35p/kWh, No Residual supplies at 33p/kWh and gas at 10p/kWh with a 100p daily standing charge. The electricity standing charge varies by region and residual band.

Ecotricity directs businesses using more than 200,000kWh of electricity or gas to its large-business team. It advertises renewable electricity, carbon-neutralised gas, fixed large-user pricing and half-hourly metering.

EDF’s licence-wide 2024/25 fuel mix was 54.8% nuclear, 18.2% renewable, 21% gas, 4.2% coal and 1.8% other, with reported carbon emissions of 135g/kWh. Customers can instead select renewable or nuclear-backed zero-carbon business products.

EDF offers fixed and flexible large-business contracts, metering, CPPAs, commercial solar, EV charging, energy flexibility and carbon-offsetting services.

EDF’s small-business SEG proposition includes a fixed 15p/kWh Export 12M tariff for eligible existing EDF electricity customers, alongside a 5.6p/kWh variable option. Eligible technologies can have capacity up to 5MW, except micro-CHP, which is limited to 50kW.

Ecotricity states that about 1% of the gas it supplies currently comes from green gas mills and that the remainder is fossil gas. It is replacing traditional avoidance credits with British carbon-removal and nature-recovery projects.