ScottishPower vs British Gas: comparing commercial tariffs and features to help you choose for your business

ScottishPower and British Gas are two of the UK’s largest and most established commercial energy suppliers. Both offer gas and electricity contracts to small businesses, support larger multi-site organisations and provide additional services such as smart meters, commercial solar panels and electric vehicle charging.

Their business propositions nevertheless differ in several important respects.

ScottishPower’s current SME electricity products are backed by 100% renewable electricity generated by ScottishPower’s UK renewable assets. Its For Business tariffs are available for one, two or three years and divide the price into a fixed energy component and variable industry charges reviewed every quarter.

British Gas offers a broader selection of contract structures. These include conventional fixed plans, British Gas Lite, a 30-day rolling contract, multi-site arrangements and flexible wholesale purchasing for companies consuming more than 1GWh annually. Its qualifying fixed electricity plans are zero carbon, using a combination of renewable and nuclear-backed electricity, while customers can opt into a renewable-only product.

ScottishPower may therefore appeal to companies that want renewable electricity included within a straightforward SME tariff. British Gas may be more suitable where the business wants greater contract choice, large-user procurement tools, renewable gas or advanced consumption reporting.

Neither supplier can be declared universally cheaper. Business energy prices depend on the individual meter, postcode, consumption, credit profile and proposed contract.

ScottishPower vs British Gas at a glance

Feature	ScottishPower Business	British Gas Business
Small-business electricity	Yes	Yes
Small-business gas	Yes	Yes
Large-business supply	Yes	Yes
Standard contracted prices published	No, individual quotation required	Maximum microbusiness prices published
Main fixed terms	One, two or three years	Normally one, two or three years; some maximum-price tables include four years
Fully fixed tariff	No: energy fixed but industry costs can change quarterly	Fixed-price plans available, subject to contractual non-energy provisions
Short rolling tariff	Standard Variable tariff with no fixed term	30-day Rolling Energy Plan
Online-only small-business service	Online account and app	British Gas Lite
Flexible wholesale purchasing	No equivalent standard SME product	Flex Advantage above 1GWh and Full Flex above 10GWh
SME electricity from March 2026	100% renewable-backed	Zero carbon on qualifying fixed plans
Renewable-only product	Renewable For Business	Natural Renewable Electricity
Nuclear-backed electricity	Not included in Renewable For Business	Included in standard zero-carbon fixed plans
Business gas	Conventional business gas	Conventional, Carbon Neutral and Renewable Gas options
Smart-meter data	App and online consumption tools	Energy360 DataView with half-hourly information
Commercial solar	Nationwide solar and battery installation	Commercial solar through specialist partners
Published solar export rates	6p, 12p or 15p/kWh, subject to eligibility	8p/kWh for eligible business supply customers
Fleet EV charging	Depot, home and public charging options	Communal and commercial charging services
Public charger hosting	Fully funded option for suitable sites	Commercial and communal solutions
Heat pumps	Bespoke commercial heat solutions	Available through wider Centrica services
Best suited to	SMEs wanting UK renewable-backed electricity and green technology	Companies wanting wider tariff choice, procurement tools and renewable gas

Which companies can apply?

Both suppliers serve SMEs as well as larger commercial organisations.

ScottishPower does not restrict its business quotation service to one narrow consumption band. It says that its tariffs are available to small, medium-sized and large businesses. Companies can request an online quote or speak to its business sales team.

British Gas also supplies organisations of every size. Its standard business service covers SMEs, half-hourly meters, multi-site estates and larger corporate users.

British Gas Lite is designed specifically for smaller businesses that want:

• a fixed-price contract;
• online-only account management;
• monthly Direct Debit;
• automatic smart-meter readings; and
• support through webchat rather than a conventional telephone service.

British Gas’s more advanced flexible contracts are intended for higher consumption levels.

British Gas product	Typical minimum annual consumption
Flex Advantage	More than 1GWh
Full Flex	More than 10GWh

One gigawatt-hour is equal to one million kilowatt-hours.

Example suitability by business size

Example business	Annual electricity consumption	Potential options
Independent shop	12,000kWh	ScottishPower For Business, British Gas or British Gas Lite
Small office	40,000kWh	Fixed quote from either supplier
Restaurant	100,000kWh	Single-rate or multi-rate contract from either
Hotel	350,000kWh	Bespoke or multi-site quotation
Manufacturer	2GWh	Both suppliers; British Gas Flex Advantage may be relevant
National retailer	12GWh	Multi-site service from either; British Gas Full Flex may be considered
EV fleet depot	1GWh	ScottishPower fleet charging or wider British Gas/Centrica services
Business with rooftop solar	Any suitable level	Solar, batteries and export tariffs from either supplier

The supplier may assess the company’s credit history, meter type, premises use and payment record before offering a contract.

Which supplier is cheaper?

There is no national ScottishPower-versus-British Gas business price.

The quotation can depend on:

• electricity MPAN or gas MPRN;
• postcode and distribution region;
• annual consumption;
• meter profile;
• half-hourly usage pattern;
• agreed supply capacity;
• number of sites;
• contract start date;
• contract duration;
• payment method;
• creditworthiness;
• renewable product selection; and
• wholesale market prices.

The most useful comparison is the complete projected annual cost:

• Annual consumption × unit rate
• daily standing charge × 365
• meter and data charges
• capacity charges
• network and policy costs
• environmental product charges
• VAT and Climate Change Levy where applicable
  − export income and contractual credits

A lower unit rate does not automatically produce a cheaper tariff if it is accompanied by a higher standing charge.

How small price differences affect annual costs

Annual consumption	Value of 1p/kWh difference	Value of 3p/kWh difference	Value of 5p/kWh difference
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
1GWh	£10,000	£30,000	£50,000
10GWh	£100,000	£300,000	£500,000

Standing charges can be particularly important for low-use meters and multi-site businesses.

Daily standing-charge difference	Annual difference per meter	Difference across ten meters
25p	£91.25	£912.50
50p	£182.50	£1,825
£1	£365	£3,650
£2	£730	£7,300
£5	£1,825	£18,250

ScottishPower business tariff structure

ScottishPower’s main contracted products are its For Business tariffs.

The supplier offers one-, two- and three-year contracts. However, these should not be interpreted as fully fixed tariffs in which every charge remains unchanged.

ScottishPower divides the price into two parts.

Fixed energy component

The energy component reflects the cost of purchasing gas or electricity. ScottishPower locks this part in for the duration of the contract.

This protects the customer against increases in the wholesale energy component during the agreed term.

Variable industry-cost component

The second part covers charges that ScottishPower passes through from networks, government policies and other industry bodies.

These can include:

• Renewables Obligation costs;
• Capacity Market charges;
• Balancing Services Use of System charges;
• Distribution Use of System charges;
• Transmission Network Use of System charges;
• smart-meter industry costs;
• the Nuclear Regulated Asset Base levy;
• the Network Charging Compensation Scheme;
• gas transportation costs; and
• the Green Gas Levy.

ScottishPower reviews these elements quarterly. Changes can take effect on:

• 1 January;
• 1 April;
• 1 July; and
• 1 October.

This structure provides protection against wholesale market movements but does not guarantee a completely unchanged unit rate or standing charge.

ScottishPower’s April 2026 industry-cost changes

The exact adjustment varies according to region, meter type and residual charging band.

Examples from ScottishPower’s published April 2026 regional schedules include:

Region and meter example	Change to day unit costs	Change to night unit costs	Change to standing charge
Eastern Economy 7	+1.30p/kWh	−0.16p/kWh	+9.49p to +141.69p per day
East Midlands Economy 7	+1.72p/kWh	−0.10p/kWh	+6.84p to +137.32p per day
London Economy 7	+3.62p/kWh	+0.52p/kWh	+2.56p to +133.27p per day
South East Economy 7	+1.83p/kWh	+0.40p/kWh	+10.46p to +150.52p per day
South Scotland evening and weekend	+1.86p/kWh daytime	+0.14p/kWh evening/weekend	+10.90p to +162.78p per day

The wide standing-charge ranges largely reflect the customer’s assigned network residual band.

These are movements in the variable component, not the complete tariff price. They demonstrate why a ScottishPower contract can change during its fixed term even though the wholesale energy element remains protected.

ScottishPower default business prices

ScottishPower places a company on a deemed tariff when it moves into premises already supplied by ScottishPower without agreeing a contract.

Its Standard Variable tariff can apply after a fixed contract expires if the customer does not renew or change supplier.

The supplier warns that both are normally more expensive than an agreed For Business tariff.

The most recent full deemed rate sheets linked from ScottishPower’s current business terms page are marked as effective from 1 January 2025. Businesses should therefore confirm the latest rate directly before relying on them.

The linked electricity schedule shows the following regional ranges:

ScottishPower deemed electricity charge	Published range
Standard unit rate	33.72p–36.11p/kWh
Standard standing charge	203.78p–270.70p per day
Economy 7 day rate	33.90p–36.12p/kWh
Economy 7 night rate	29.55p–30.59p/kWh
Evening and weekend day rate	34.79p–37.20p/kWh
Evening and weekend rate	30.68p–32.73p/kWh
Off-peak rate	26.16p–27.44p/kWh
Off-peak standing charge	17p per day

The corresponding gas schedule shows:

ScottishPower deemed gas charge	Published range
Gas unit rate	10.27p–10.65p/kWh
Standing charge	225p per day
Annual standing charge	£821.25

The electricity figures exclude VAT and Climate Change Levy. The gas schedule excludes VAT.

Because the schedules carry a January 2025 effective date, they should be treated as public reference data rather than confirmed June 2026 prices.

Illustrative ScottishPower deemed costs

Using the regional ranges in the linked schedules, a standard electricity meter would produce the following approximate costs:

Annual electricity consumption	Lowest regional total	Highest regional total
10,000kWh	£4,115.80	£4,598.06
25,000kWh	£9,173.80	£10,014.56
50,000kWh	£17,603.80	£19,042.06
100,000kWh	£34,463.80	£37,097.06

The calculations include the published standing charge but exclude VAT, CCL and subsequent industry-cost changes.

For gas:

Annual gas use	Lowest regional total	Highest regional total
25,000kWh	£3,388.75	£3,483.75
50,000kWh	£5,956.25	£6,146.25
100,000kWh	£11,091.25	£11,471.25
250,000kWh	£26,496.25	£27,446.25

A negotiated contract may be materially cheaper than a deemed rate.

British Gas maximum microbusiness prices

British Gas publishes the maximum rates that a microbusiness may pay when entering a Fixed Price Energy Plan.

These figures are maximum ceilings, not average prices. Individual quotations may be lower.

The rates were shown as current on 27 May 2026 and exclude VAT, Climate Change Levy and other applicable charges.

Single-rate electricity

Contract term	Maximum unit rate	Maximum standing charge	Published contract cost
One year	38.41p/kWh	334p per day	£9,285
Two years	37.81p/kWh	379.96p per day	£18,654
Three years	38.04p/kWh	428.43p per day	£28,657
Four years	38.04p/kWh	462.23p per day	£38,702

The estimated contract costs assume annual consumption of 21,000kWh.

Term	Approximate average annual cost
One year	£9,285
Two years	£9,327
Three years	£9,552
Four years	£9,676

Although the two-year option has the lowest maximum unit rate, its higher standing charge means the one-year option has the lowest estimated annual cost in the published example.

Day-and-night electricity

Contract term	Maximum day rate	Maximum night rate	Standing charge
One year	40p/kWh	31.76p/kWh	334p per day
Two years	39.37p/kWh	31.17p/kWh	379.96p per day
Three years	39.61p/kWh	31.42p/kWh	428.43p per day
Four years	39.61p/kWh	31.42p/kWh	462.23p per day

Using the two-year rates:

Electricity used at night	Weighted average rate
10%	38.55p/kWh
25%	37.32p/kWh
50%	35.27p/kWh
75%	33.22p/kWh

The daily standing charge must still be added.

Evening-and-weekend electricity

Contract term	Evening and weekend rate	Weekday daytime rate	Standing charge
One year	31.66p/kWh	42.27p/kWh	334p per day
Two years	31.17p/kWh	41.20p/kWh	379.96p per day
Three years	31.48p/kWh	40.80p/kWh	428.43p per day
Four years	31.48p/kWh	40.80p/kWh	462.23p per day

This structure may suit hospitality, leisure and entertainment businesses that consume much of their electricity outside conventional weekday working hours.

Maximum gas prices

Contract term	Maximum gas unit rate	Maximum standing charge	Published contract cost
One year	12.54p/kWh	1,710.28p per day	£10,005
Two years	11.44p/kWh	1,784.47p per day	£19,891
Three years	10.92p/kWh	1,862.57p per day	£30,223
Four years	11.07p/kWh	1,975.41p per day	£42,125

The gas examples assume annual consumption of 30,000kWh.

The maximum standing charges are unusually high and should not be treated as typical British Gas quotations.

Can the published prices be directly compared?

No.

The ScottishPower table contains linked deemed rates with an effective date of January 2025. The British Gas table contains maximum fixed-contract prices current in May 2026.

The two sets of figures differ in several ways:

Difference	ScottishPower figures	British Gas figures
Tariff type	Deemed	Fixed contract maximum
Effective date	January 2025, before later quarterly adjustments	May 2026
Purpose	Default price without an agreed contract	Maximum permitted microbusiness contract price
Regional variation	Yes	Maximum national schedule
Industry-cost treatment	Later quarterly changes may apply	Depends on fixed-contract terms
Typical customer price	Not representative	Not representative

A company should obtain same-day quotations from both suppliers before deciding.

ScottishPower renewable electricity

From 10 March 2026, ScottishPower began supplying 100% renewable-backed electricity as standard across its SME electricity products.

Its Renewable For Business product provides:

• electricity matched entirely with renewable generation;
• Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin;
• generation from ScottishPower’s own UK renewable assets;
• one-, two- or three-year contracts; and
• GHG Protocol Scope 2-compliant evidence.

ScottishPower reports that it has 38 onshore wind farm sites containing 1,157 turbines, with combined capacity of 1,948MW.

This makes ScottishPower’s current SME proposition relatively straightforward: an electricity customer receives renewable-backed supply rather than having to select a nuclear-containing zero-carbon product.

ScottishPower’s wider fuel mix

ScottishPower’s 2024/25 total supplier fuel mix was:

Source	ScottishPower total mix	UK mix
Renewables	7%	42%
Gas	70%	33%
Coal	14%	6%
Nuclear	4%	16%
Other	5%	3%

This historic supplier-wide mix should not be confused with the current Renewable For Business product.

The total mix covers electricity allocated across ScottishPower’s wider supply portfolio during 2024/25. Its renewable business contracts use REGOs from ScottishPower’s own UK generation to match the customer’s electricity consumption.

British Gas renewable and zero-carbon electricity

British Gas takes a different approach.

Its qualifying fixed-price and fixed-term electricity contracts are zero carbon as standard. The current product description states that the backing consists of:

• 72% renewable electricity; and
• 28% nuclear electricity.

This can support market-based zero-emission reporting, but it is not renewable-only because nuclear power is included.

Natural Renewable Electricity

British Gas customers can opt into Natural Renewable Electricity.

Under this product:

• 100% of consumption is matched with UK REGOs;
• eligible generation includes wind, solar and hydro;
• the product is available at the same price as standard zero-carbon electricity for eligible customers; and
• renewable evidence can support corporate reporting.

British Gas Lite and non-contracted customers may be excluded.

British Gas’s wider fuel mix

British Gas’s supplier-wide 2024/25 fuel mix was:

Source	British Gas	UK average published alongside it
Renewables	35%	42%
Nuclear	55%	16%
Gas	8%	33%
Coal	1%	6%
Other	1%	3%
Reported carbon emissions	53g/kWh	205g/kWh

The supplier-wide mix has a higher renewable proportion and lower fossil-fuel proportion than ScottishPower’s historic total mix.

However, a customer choosing ScottishPower Renewable For Business or British Gas Natural Renewable Electricity receives a separately matched renewable product rather than the supplier-wide mix.

Which has greener electricity?

The answer depends on which products are compared.

Comparison	Likely conclusion
ScottishPower Renewable For Business vs British Gas standard fixed electricity	ScottishPower is renewable-only; British Gas includes nuclear
ScottishPower Renewable For Business vs British Gas Natural Renewable Electricity	Both are 100% renewable-backed
Supplier-wide 2024/25 fuel mix	British Gas had the higher renewable and lower fossil-fuel share
Direct link to supplier-owned renewables	ScottishPower emphasises matching with its own UK generation
Choice between renewable and nuclear	British Gas provides more options
Company excluding nuclear power	ScottishPower or British Gas Natural Renewable
Company accepting all zero-carbon generation	Either may be suitable

ScottishPower offers the simpler default SME environmental proposition. British Gas provides greater choice but requires the business to distinguish carefully between zero-carbon and renewable-only electricity.

Comparing business gas

ScottishPower’s For Business gas tariffs are conventional gas supply products. Its public business pages do not advertise a renewable gas option equivalent to British Gas Renewable Gas.

A ScottishPower gas quotation should therefore be assessed as ordinary network gas unless the written terms state otherwise.

British Gas provides three levels of gas supply.

Conventional business gas

This is standard network gas without an automatic renewable or carbon-neutral claim.

Carbon Neutral Gas

British Gas’s Carbon Neutral Gas product is supported by:

Environmental mechanism	Proportion
UK Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin	10%
Independently verified carbon offsets	90%

The certificates and offsets address the reported environmental impact, but burning gas at the premises still produces direct emissions.

Renewable Gas

British Gas offers a Renewable Gas product to businesses using more than 150MWh of gas each year.

Under this arrangement, 100% of consumption is matched with RGGOs from UK biomethane production.

The physical gas delivered through the network remains mixed with gas from other sources. The certificates demonstrate that an equivalent volume of biomethane was placed into the grid.

British Gas is therefore the stronger choice where a business specifically requires renewable-gas certificates.

British Gas contract options

British Gas has the broader selection of supply structures.

Fixed Price Energy Plan

The principal fixed plan normally offers terms of one, two or three years.

Benefits include:

• known unit and standing charges;
• protection from wholesale price increases;
• Direct Debit discounts;
• online account management; and
• renewal notifications.

The maximum-price table also contains four-year options, although availability should be confirmed in the quotation.

British Gas Lite

Lite is designed for small businesses comfortable managing the account online.

It provides:

• fixed-price gas and electricity;
• automatic smart-meter readings;
• Direct Debit;
• online account management; and
• dedicated webchat.

It does not provide normal telephone account support.

Thirty-day rolling contract

British Gas also offers a rolling plan that does not lock the company into a multi-year agreement.

This may suit businesses that:

• expect to move;
• plan to close or sell;
• have uncertain future consumption; or
• do not want a long commitment.

Prices can rise or fall, so it provides less budget certainty.

Flexible procurement

British Gas Flex Advantage is available to companies using more than 1GWh annually. It allows purchases in 20% tranches through an online portal.

Full Flex is intended for larger organisations using more than 10GWh and offers greater freedom over trade timing, fixing and unfixing.

For a 10GWh consumer, a price difference of 1p/kWh is worth £100,000 annually.

Average purchased unit price	Annual commodity cost at 10GWh
18p/kWh	£1.8 million
19p/kWh	£1.9 million
20p/kWh	£2 million
21p/kWh	£2.1 million
22p/kWh	£2.2 million

Flexible purchasing can spread market-timing risk but does not guarantee savings.

Which provides greater price certainty?

The answer depends on the definition of “fixed”.

ScottishPower fixes the energy component but reviews variable industry costs every quarter. This means the bill can change because of network and policy charges even during a one-, two- or three-year agreement.

British Gas describes its main product as a Fixed Price Energy Plan. However, companies should still check whether the contract permits changes relating to:

• legislation;
• taxes;
• meter charges;
• capacity;
• third-party costs;
• changes in consumption; or
• regulatory schemes.

A business should ask each supplier to identify every element that can change during the term.

Smart meters and consumption data

Both suppliers offer free smart-meter installation to eligible businesses.

ScottishPower

ScottishPower’s app and online account allow customers to:

• monitor consumption;
• submit readings;
• view bills;
• make payments; and
• manage account information.

A smart meter also supports the installation of solar panels, batteries and EV charging services.

British Gas Energy360 DataView

British Gas offers Energy360 DataView to eligible existing customers with working smart meters.

The platform provides:

• half-hourly consumption graphs;
• daily updates;
• downloadable historical data;
• out-of-hours reporting;
• usage trend analysis; and
• information that can be compared across operating periods.

This may help a business identify:

• overnight baseload;
• inefficient heating schedules;
• equipment left running;
• unusual weekend consumption;
• avoidable demand peaks; and
• changes between sites.

British Gas has the stronger publicly described data-analysis platform. ScottishPower provides a simpler account and app-based management service.

Commercial solar panels

Both suppliers provide end-to-end commercial solar services.

ScottishPower solar

ScottishPower’s commercial solar package can include:

• solar panels;
• battery storage;
• a preliminary proposal;
• site survey;
• tailored system design;
• nationwide installation;
• Distribution Network Operator approval;
• export registration; and
• access to Smart Export Guarantee payments.

Its typical installation package includes:

• a 24-month installer warranty;
• a 12-year panel manufacturer warranty;
• an inverter warranty starting from five years; and
• a 25-year performance warranty.

ScottishPower says commercial panels commonly have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years.

British Gas solar

British Gas works with specialist partners to design and deliver commercial solar projects.

Its proposition includes:

• rooftop and ground-mounted systems;
• tailored project assessment;
• commercial installation;
• export support;
• reduced grid dependence; and
• integration with wider energy services.

British Gas says suitable projects may achieve returns in as little as three years. Its larger commercial service has also advertised possible electricity-cost reductions of up to 30%.

These figures are not guarantees. Payback depends on the installation cost, roof size, self-consumption, financing and electricity price assumptions.

Comparing solar export rates

ScottishPower currently publishes three Smart Export Guarantee rates that are available to eligible people and businesses.

ScottishPower export tariff	Rate	Principal eligibility
SmartGen	6p/kWh	Eligible generator
SmartGen Premium	12p/kWh	ScottishPower supplies electricity at the same address
SmartGen Premium Plus	15p/kWh	ScottishPower supplies the site and installed the solar panels or battery

The rates are variable and payments are made every 90 days.

British Gas publishes an 8p/kWh rate for eligible business electricity customers with low- or high-capacity systems.

Annual export	ScottishPower at 6p	British Gas at 8p	ScottishPower at 12p	ScottishPower at 15p
5,000kWh	£300	£400	£600	£750
10,000kWh	£600	£800	£1,200	£1,500
25,000kWh	£1,500	£2,000	£3,000	£3,750
50,000kWh	£3,000	£4,000	£6,000	£7,500
100,000kWh	£6,000	£8,000	£12,000	£15,000

ScottishPower provides the higher published rate where the company meets Premium or Premium Plus eligibility.

British Gas may be preferable where its supply and export conditions fit the business better, or where solar forms part of a broader Centrica commercial project.

Electric vehicle charging

ScottishPower has a particularly broad public EV charging proposition.

Its services include:

• workplace charging;
• depot charging;
• employee home chargers;
• fast chargers;
• rapid chargers;
• ultra-rapid chargers;
• fleet access to public chargers;
• shared charging;
• public charger hosting; and
• a back-office system for access and billing.

ScottishPower states that its business chargers include a three-year maintenance plan and warranty.

Suitable businesses may also qualify for Workplace Charging Scheme support of up to £350 per socket, covering up to 40 sockets and a potential maximum grant of £14,000, subject to government eligibility.

Fully funded public charging

ScottishPower offers to install, own, operate and maintain public chargers at qualifying sites.

The host can receive a share of charger revenue.

A suitable location normally requires:

• a site available for a ten-year lease;
• unrestricted public access;
• a high-traffic location;
• nearby shops or amenities; and
• sufficient electrical capacity.

British Gas provides commercial and communal EV charging, particularly for landlords and shared parking. Its services can combine charging equipment, billing and an energy tariff.

ScottishPower currently has the more detailed public proposition for fleet, workplace and publicly accessible charging. British Gas may be attractive where chargers form part of a larger commercial landlord or Centrica energy solution.

Heat pumps and heating

ScottishPower offers commercial air-source and ground-source heat-pump solutions.

Its service can include:

• site-specific heating design;
• heating, cooling and hot-water systems;
• installation;
• system testing;
• access to a nationwide installer network; and
• guidance on grants or green finance.

British Gas and Centrica can also support commercial heating and decarbonisation, although British Gas’s main business energy website places more emphasis on supply, solar, metering and energy management.

ScottishPower may therefore be the more obvious first contact where a business specifically wants a packaged heat-pump project.

Multi-site management

Both suppliers can serve organisations with several premises.

ScottishPower provides business account management through its app and online service. Its green technology teams can also design solar or EV solutions across suitable sites.

British Gas offers:

• multi-site supply plans;
• Energy360 DataView;
• smart and half-hourly meters;
• commercial landlord tariffs;
• tailored connections;
• wholesale procurement;
• group billing; and
• specialised large-business support.

British Gas is likely to have an advantage for a complex national estate requiring detailed procurement and metering services.

ScottishPower may suit a multi-site SME that wants renewable-backed electricity combined with solar and EV infrastructure.

Contract expiry and default rates

ScottishPower moves customers onto its Standard Variable tariff if they continue taking energy after a contract expires without choosing a new plan or changing supplier.

A deemed tariff applies when the company moves into ScottishPower-supplied premises without agreeing a contract.

British Gas similarly applies deemed rates after a change of tenancy and can move an expired customer onto its Variable Price Plan.

Default and out-of-contract prices are normally higher than negotiated rates. Businesses should begin reviewing renewal options several months before the existing contract ends.

Contract risks to check

Business energy agreements are not protected by the domestic price cap. They also normally have no automatic 14-day cooling-off period.

Before accepting a ScottishPower or British Gas offer, check:

• contract start and end dates;
• unit rates;
• standing charges;
• fixed and variable elements;
• quarterly industry-cost adjustments;
• Direct Debit requirements;
• early termination charges;
• consumption tolerances;
• capacity charges;
• meter and data costs;
• renewable evidence;
• broker commission;
• security deposits;
• renewal notice periods; and
• post-contract rates.

A verbal agreement can be binding, so the company should obtain and review the principal terms before accepting the contract.

ScottishPower advantages and disadvantages

British Gas advantages and disadvantages

Which supplier is better for different companies?

Business type or requirement	Likely better fit	Reason
Small company wanting renewable electricity	ScottishPower	Renewable backing is standard across current SME electricity products
Business wanting a fully understood fixed budget	Compare contracts carefully	ScottishPower passes through quarterly cost changes
Online-only microbusiness	British Gas Lite	Dedicated digital product
Business wanting a rolling contract	British Gas	Published 30-day option
Company using more than 1GWh	British Gas may have an advantage	Flex Advantage
Company using more than 10GWh	British Gas may have an advantage	Full Flex
Company excluding nuclear power	ScottishPower or British Gas Natural Renewable	ScottishPower’s renewable tariff contains no nuclear backing
Business accepting nuclear-backed zero carbon	British Gas	Standard fixed plans combine renewable and nuclear generation
Company requiring renewable gas	British Gas	100% RGGO-backed gas option
Company wanting solar and a battery	Compare both	Both provide end-to-end installation
Existing ScottishPower solar customer	ScottishPower	Export rate can reach 15p/kWh
Existing British Gas solar customer	Compare export terms	Published business supply rate is 8p/kWh
EV fleet with depot and home charging	ScottishPower	Detailed fleet proposition
Retail site wanting public chargers	ScottishPower	Fully funded hosting may create revenue
Commercial landlord	British Gas or ScottishPower	British Gas has landlord tariffs; ScottishPower has shared charging
Business needing half-hourly analytics	British Gas	Energy360 DataView
Company seeking a commercial heat pump	ScottishPower	Prominent turnkey business service
National multi-site portfolio	British Gas may have an advantage	Procurement, data and metering breadth

Final verdict: ScottishPower vs British Gas

ScottishPower and British Gas are both credible business energy suppliers, but their strongest features suit different types of company.

ScottishPower is likely to be the better fit where the business wants:

• renewable-backed SME electricity as standard;
• electricity matched with ScottishPower’s own UK renewable generation;
• a one-, two- or three-year contract;
• commercial solar and battery installation;
• a potentially higher export rate;
• comprehensive EV fleet charging;
• public charge-point hosting; or
• a packaged commercial heat-pump solution.

British Gas is likely to be stronger where the company wants:

• a wider choice of contract structures;
• British Gas Lite;
• a 30-day rolling plan;
• large-user wholesale purchasing;
• half-hourly consumption analytics;
• renewable or carbon-neutral gas;
• multi-site procurement;
• complex metering; or
• the option to choose between renewable-only and nuclear-backed zero-carbon electricity.

The most important tariff distinction is that ScottishPower’s For Business contract is only partly fixed. Wholesale energy costs are locked in, but industry charges can change every quarter.

A ScottishPower headline quote may therefore appear competitive while still carrying more future non-energy-cost uncertainty than another tariff. Conversely, a British Gas plan described as fixed must also be checked for contractual exclusions and permitted regulatory adjustments.

Businesses should request quotes from both suppliers using identical information and compare:

1. annual projected cost;
2. unit rates;
3. standing charges;
4. fixed and variable components;
5. quarterly adjustment mechanisms;
6. contract length;
7. early termination fees;
8. renewable and nuclear content;
9. gas environmental credentials;
10. metering and data charges;
11. solar export income;
12. customer-service channels; and
13. rates after the contract ends.

For most companies, the conclusion is:

• choose ScottishPower for standard renewable-backed SME electricity and a broad package of solar, EV and heat technology;
• choose British Gas for wider tariff choice, advanced procurement, energy data and renewable gas;
• compare ScottishPower Renewable For Business with British Gas Natural Renewable Electricity where renewable-only credentials are essential; and
• select the supplier offering the lowest realistic total cost after allowing for every variable and pass-through charge.

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