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

Npower and British Gas are two familiar names in the UK business energy market, but they now target different types of customer.

The current npower operation trades as npower Business Solutions, usually abbreviated to nBS. It does not provide new energy contracts to households or smaller businesses. Its services are aimed at large organisations requiring fixed, flexible, multi-site or more technically sophisticated energy contracts. Smaller companies are directed towards E.ON Next.

British Gas has a much broader customer base. It offers fixed and variable contracts to small businesses, provides the online-only British Gas Lite service, supports half-hourly and multi-site customers and offers flexible wholesale purchasing to companies consuming more than 1GWh annually.

This means British Gas is the only practical option of the two for many shops, offices, restaurants and other small firms. Npower becomes a realistic competitor where the organisation has substantial consumption, at least ten employees, turnover of £2 million or more and more complex energy procurement requirements.

Neither supplier is universally cheaper. Large-business contracts are individually priced according to consumption, market conditions, meter type, location, credit risk and the treatment of network and government charges.

Npower vs British Gas at a glance

Feature	npower Business Solutions	British Gas Business
Small-business electricity	No; directs smaller businesses to E.ON Next	Yes
Small-business gas	No; directs smaller businesses to E.ON Next	Yes
Large-business electricity	Yes	Yes
Large-business gas	Yes	Yes
Published target electricity consumption	At least 100,000kWh annually	No single minimum across all plans
Published target gas consumption	At least 293,000kWh annually	No single minimum across all plans
Employee criterion	At least ten employees in published target profile	Product-dependent
Turnover criterion	At least £2 million in published target profile	Product-dependent
Standard contract prices published	No	Maximum microbusiness prices published
Main fixed-contract length	Up to five years	Usually one to three years; some products extend further
Fully fixed option	Fixed Certainty	Fixed Price Energy Plan, subject to detailed terms
Partly fixed options	Fixed Commodity and Fixed Choice	Tailored fixed or pass-through arrangements
Short market-linked product	Market Tracker	Variable and 30-day rolling plans
Entry-level flexible procurement	MultiPurchase	Flex Advantage above 1GWh
Advanced flexible procurement	Flex Streamline, Fast Flex and Flex Innovate	Full Flex above 10GWh
Renewable-only electricity	UK Business Renewable, Pure and Pure Plus	Natural Renewable Electricity
Standard supplier fuel mix renewable share	34.6%	35%
Supplier-wide carbon intensity	315g/kWh	53g/kWh
Renewable-product carbon intensity	0g/kWh	0g/kWh
Green business gas	Carbon-offsetting options	Carbon Neutral Gas and 100% RGGO-backed Renewable Gas
Energy-management platform	Dashboard and My Energy Coach	Energy360 DataView
Wholesale trading support	Risk Navigator and Optimisation Desk	Purchasing Portal, Energy.Hub and energy specialists
Commercial solar and batteries	Available with E.ON group support	Available through British Gas and Centrica partners
PPAs and generator services	Extensive PPA and generator proposition	Available through British Gas and Centrica
EV charging	Available through E.ON group services	Commercial and communal charging
Best suited to	Large, industrial and complex multi-site organisations	SMEs through to large corporate energy users

What happened to the old Npower business operation?

The current npower Business Solutions should not be confused with the former npower household and small business energy supplier.

The business now operates through Npower Commercial Gas Limited and is part of the E.ON group. Domestic customers and smaller former npower business customers were transferred to E.ON Next.

Npower Business Solutions remains an active supplier, but its focus is now:

• large businesses;
• corporate energy users;
• industrial organisations;
• multi-site portfolios;
• half-hourly meters;
• complex gas and electricity contracts;
• energy consultants;
• renewable generators; and
• organisations requiring flexible wholesale purchasing.

A small business searching for “npower business energy” will therefore normally be directed towards E.ON Next rather than receiving an nBS quotation.

Which companies qualify for npower Business Solutions?

Npower’s published quotation criteria state that its large-business target profile includes:

• annual electricity consumption of at least 100,000kWh;
• annual gas consumption of at least 293,000kWh;
• ten or more employees; and
• estimated annual turnover of at least £2 million.

The precise application of the electricity and gas thresholds will depend on which fuels the organisation wants to purchase. A business seeking electricity only would not ordinarily need an existing gas supply merely to request an electricity quotation.

Businesses below the published profile are directed towards E.ON Next.

Which companies can use British Gas?

British Gas supplies a much wider range of organisations, including:

• sole traders;
• small shops;
• offices;
• restaurants;
• landlords;
• hotels;
• schools;
• charities;
• workshops;
• warehouses;
• manufacturers;
• public-sector bodies;
• national retailers; and
• major industrial users.

British Gas Lite is primarily aimed at smaller companies willing to:

• manage their account online;
• pay by monthly Direct Debit;
• use electronic billing;
• have a compatible smart meter; and
• receive support through webchat.

Larger businesses can use British Gas’s standard, tailored, half-hourly and flexible products.

Example suitability by company size

Example business	Annual electricity use	Likely suitable supplier
Small shop	15,000kWh	British Gas or E.ON Next, not nBS
Office	60,000kWh	British Gas or E.ON Next
Restaurant	120,000kWh	British Gas; nBS only if wider business criteria are met
Hotel	400,000kWh	Either supplier may be suitable
Manufacturer	2GWh	Both suppliers
National retail group	10GWh	Both suppliers
Industrial company with active trading team	50GWh	Both, with advanced flexible procurement
Renewable generator	Project-dependent	Npower may be particularly attractive
Commercial landlord with many small meters	British Gas may be easier	Broader SME and landlord proposition

Npower is therefore not simply a more expensive or more sophisticated alternative for every business. Many companies are outside its chosen customer segment altogether.

Which supplier is cheaper?

There is no universal answer.

Npower and British Gas calculate negotiated rates using factors such as:

• electricity MPAN;
• gas MPRN;
• distribution region;
• annual consumption;
• half-hourly demand profile;
• maximum import capacity;
• residual charging band;
• number of sites;
• contract start date;
• contract duration;
• payment method;
• credit rating;
• wholesale market prices;
• renewable-product selection; and
• treatment of non-commodity costs.

A complete annual comparison should include:

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

A company should not compare only the headline unit rate.

How rate differences affect annual costs

Annual consumption	Value of 0.5p/kWh	Value of 1p/kWh	Value of 3p/kWh	Value of 5p/kWh
100,000kWh	£500	£1,000	£3,000	£5,000
250,000kWh	£1,250	£2,500	£7,500	£12,500
500,000kWh	£2,500	£5,000	£15,000	£25,000
1GWh	£5,000	£10,000	£30,000	£50,000
5GWh	£25,000	£50,000	£150,000	£250,000
10GWh	£50,000	£100,000	£300,000	£500,000
50GWh	£250,000	£500,000	£1.5 million	£2.5 million

A difference of only 1p/kWh is worth £100,000 annually to a company using 10GWh.

Npower fixed business contracts

Npower offers several fixed-contract structures lasting up to five years.

Fixed Certainty

Fixed Certainty provides the greatest level of price predictability.

For electricity, it can fix:

• commodity costs;
• network charges;
• environmental charges and levies; and
• other eligible contracted components.

For gas, it can fix:

• commodity costs;
• transportation charges; and
• metering charges.

It is designed for businesses that prioritise:

• budget certainty;
• straightforward forecasting;
• less exposure to changing industry costs; and
• simpler internal approval.

Fixed Certainty can also include a mid-term review. This gives the customer an opportunity to request new prices before the contract midpoint if wholesale markets have fallen.

If new prices are not accepted, the original agreement continues.

Fixed Commodity

Fixed Commodity locks in the wholesale energy element but passes through certain non-commodity costs.

For electricity, network and environmental costs can therefore change.

For gas, transportation and metering costs may be passed through.

This may suit a business that wants protection from wholesale price movements but is willing to accept changes in regulated and third-party charges.

Fixed Choice

Fixed Choice is an electricity product that offers greater control over how non-commodity charges are treated.

The customer can select which eligible elements are fixed and which are passed through.

This provides a middle ground between:

• paying a premium for full certainty; and
• accepting complete exposure to changing industry charges.

Npower MultiPurchase

MultiPurchase allows a business to divide its expected consumption into several separate purchases.

Instead of fixing the entire contract volume on one date, the company might purchase:

• 25% when signing;
• 25% six months later;
• 25% when a target price is reached; and
• 25% closer to delivery.

This spreads market-timing risk.

For a company using 10GWh, the difference between an average purchase price of 18p/kWh and 20p/kWh would be:

10,000,000kWh × 2p = £200,000

The same strategy could cost £200,000 more if the average purchase price rose to 22p/kWh.

MultiPurchase therefore reduces reliance on one fixing date but does not guarantee a saving.

Npower Market Tracker

Market Tracker provides a market-reflective monthly energy rate.

The price follows wholesale market movements rather than remaining fixed throughout the term.

It can suit an organisation that:

• wants a shorter commitment;
• expects wholesale prices to fall;
• can tolerate monthly price changes;
• plans to move onto a fixed contract later; or
• does not want to choose individual trading dates.

The risk is that costs rise quickly when wholesale markets increase.

Npower allows Market Tracker customers to move towards fixed or MultiPurchase arrangements where their strategy changes.

Npower advanced flexible contracts

Npower provides several advanced products for large and corporate users.

Flex Streamline

Flex Streamline supports flexible gas and electricity buying with help from the supplier’s Optimisation Desk.

It uses pre-agreed shape premiums to manage consumption outside normal wholesale trading blocks.

A forecast invoice rate is set, followed by monthly reconciliation.

Fast Flex

Fast Flex provides similar trading flexibility but removes the forecast invoice rate and monthly reconciliation structure.

Monthly invoices instead reflect the energy transactions made for the relevant period.

Flex Innovate

Flex Innovate uses market indices to settle the customer’s demand shape.

It can support:

• limit orders;
• unset functionality;
• renewable-energy options;
• sleeving;
• consortium structures; and
• more detailed wholesale-market participation.

Npower generally indicates minimum annual volumes above 1GWh for its principal advanced flexible contracts.

British Gas fixed contracts

British Gas’s principal Fixed Price Energy Plan normally offers contracts lasting one, two or three years.

Its features include:

• fixed unit rates;
• fixed standing charges, subject to the detailed terms;
• Direct Debit discounts;
• smart-meter installation where eligible;
• online account management;
• renewal reminders; and
• zero-carbon electricity on qualifying plans.

British Gas’s published maximum-price schedule also includes four-year options, although the availability of a four-year tariff should be confirmed in the individual quotation.

British Gas Lite

British Gas Lite is a digital-first fixed service for small companies.

It includes:

• online account management;
• monthly Direct Debit;
• electronic billing;
• automatic smart-meter readings;
• a free smart meter where eligible; and
• support through webchat.

Lite is not a direct competitor to npower Business Solutions because nBS does not target businesses of this size.

The more relevant alternative for a small former npower customer is likely to be E.ON Next rather than nBS.

British Gas 30-day plan

British Gas offers a short rolling contract that provides greater flexibility than a multi-year fixed agreement.

It may suit a company that:

• expects to move premises;
• is being sold;
• plans to close;
• has uncertain future consumption;
• is waiting for a property transaction; or
• wants to avoid a long commitment.

Rates can rise or fall, so the tariff provides less budget certainty.

Npower Market Tracker offers market-linked flexibility to large organisations, but it is not designed as a direct small-business equivalent to the British Gas rolling plan.

British Gas Flex Advantage

Flex Advantage is aimed at organisations consuming more than 1GWh annually.

It allows the customer to:

• buy energy in 20% tranches;
• fix up to 100% of the forecast volume;
• leave unfixed energy exposed to day-ahead pricing;
• view market prices online;
• monitor its trading position; and
• authorise more than one user to make purchases.

Non-commodity charges can be fixed for up to three years.

Flex Advantage is likely to be the closest British Gas equivalent to npower MultiPurchase or an entry-level nBS flexible contract.

British Gas Full Flex

Full Flex is designed for organisations consuming more than 10GWh annually.

It allows the company to:

• buy and sell energy in blocks;
• trade in response to market movements;
• view portfolio forecasts;
• monitor purchased positions;
• access an Optimisation Desk;
• receive market reports; and
• enter contracts lasting up to five years.

This is a more direct competitor to npower Flex Streamline, Fast Flex and Flex Innovate.

Comparing fixed and flexible products

Requirement	Npower option	British Gas option
Maximum budget certainty	Fixed Certainty	Fixed Price Energy Plan
Fix wholesale but pass through other costs	Fixed Commodity	Bespoke pass-through arrangement
Choose treatment of non-commodity costs	Fixed Choice	Tailored large-business contract
Split purchasing into stages	MultiPurchase	Flex Advantage
Market-reflective monthly rate	Market Tracker	Variable or rolling contract
Advanced trading above 1GWh	Flex Streamline or Flex Innovate	Flex Advantage
Advanced trading above 10GWh	Flexible portfolio products	Full Flex
Wholesale trading support	Optimisation Desk and Risk Navigator	Optimisation Desk and Energy.Hub
Contract term up to five years	Yes	Yes for Full Flex

Npower provides a larger number of named contract structures, while British Gas presents a simpler progression from fixed supply to Flex Advantage and Full Flex.

Npower published deemed electricity rates

Deemed rates apply where npower supplies premises without an agreed contract. This commonly happens after a business moves into an nBS-supplied property.

The following prices took effect on 1 April 2026 and exclude VAT.

Non-half-hourly electricity

Charge	Published regional range
All-time unit rate	32.524p–37.254p/kWh
Band 1 standing charge	107.296p–134.036p per day
Band 2 standing charge	143.122p–192.882p per day
Band 3 standing charge	210.569p–308.459p per day
Band 4 standing charge	438.981p–709.221p per day
Non-residual standing charge	88.528p–110.308p per day
Unmetered-supply unit rate	37.634p/kWh
Unmetered standing charge	39.452p per day

The unit rate and standing charge depend on the electricity distribution region and residual charging band.

Annual npower standing charges

Category	Approximate annual range
Band 1	£391.63–£489.23
Band 2	£522.40–£704.02
Band 3	£768.58–£1,125.88
Band 4	£1,602.28–£2,588.66
Non-residual	£323.13–£402.62

A large multi-site portfolio could face substantial fixed costs where numerous meters fall into Bands 3 or 4.

Illustrative npower deemed electricity costs

The examples below use the all-time non-half-hourly unit-rate range and Band 1 standing charges.

Annual consumption	Lowest regional total	Highest regional total
100,000kWh	£32,915.63	£37,743.23
250,000kWh	£81,701.63	£93,624.23
500,000kWh	£163,011.63	£186,759.23
1GWh	£325,631.63	£373,029.23

These figures exclude VAT, Climate Change Levy and additional charges.

Many businesses consuming towards 1GWh will have half-hourly rather than non-half-hourly meters, so the higher-consumption examples are mathematical illustrations rather than typical meter configurations.

Npower half-hourly deemed electricity

For low-voltage half-hourly supplies, npower’s April 2026 schedule includes:

Charge	Published regional range
All-time rate	32.071p–35.578p/kWh
Night rate	25.534p–28.355p/kWh
Non-business-day rate	32.481p–36.404p/kWh
November–March business-day rate	40.314p–44.305p/kWh
April–October business-day rate	29.274p–32.782p/kWh
Capacity charge	3.82p–13.83p per kVA per day

Standing charges then depend on the residual band and region.

The prices include several network and government charges, but exclude items such as:

• reactive power;
• excess capacity;
• Climate Change Levy;
• meter operation;
• data aggregation; and
• data collection.

A half-hourly business should compare a full annual cost model based on its actual interval data.

Npower deemed gas rates

Npower’s deemed gas rates effective from 1 April 2026 are:

Consumption band	Unit rate	Standing charge
0–73,200kWh	13.391p/kWh	£1.367 per day
73,200–732,000kWh	11.993p/kWh	£8.752 per day
Above 732,000kWh	11.243p/kWh	£35.909 per day

The approximate annual standing charges are:

Band	Annual standing charge
Band 1	£498.95
Band 2	£3,194.48
Band 3	£13,106.79

Illustrative npower deemed gas costs

Annual gas use	Applicable band	Approximate annual cost
300,000kWh	Band 2	£39,173.48
500,000kWh	Band 2	£63,159.48
1GWh	Band 3	£125,536.79

The calculations exclude VAT and Climate Change Levy.

Npower default rates

Npower distinguishes between deemed and default rates.

• Deemed rates apply where the supplier provides energy without an agreed contract, such as after a change of occupancy.
• Default rates generally apply after an agreed contract expires without a replacement.

Npower warns that both are normally more expensive than negotiated contract rates.

Its April 2026 non-half-hourly default electricity rates are approximately 10p/kWh higher than the equivalent deemed prices, at 42.524p–47.254p/kWh.

Its default gas unit rates are 5p/kWh above the equivalent deemed rates:

Gas band	Deemed rate	Default rate
Band 1	13.391p/kWh	18.391p/kWh
Band 2	11.993p/kWh	16.993p/kWh
Band 3	11.243p/kWh	16.243p/kWh

A large business should therefore avoid allowing its npower contract to expire without arranging a replacement.

British Gas maximum microbusiness prices

British Gas publishes maximum rates for qualifying microbusinesses entering or renewing a Fixed Price Energy Plan.

These are price ceilings, not average quotations. They also cover smaller customers than npower Business Solutions normally targets.

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 electricity examples assume annual consumption of 21,000kWh.

Day-and-night electricity

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

Gas

Term	Maximum gas 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 unusually high maximum standing charges should not be interpreted as the normal quotation every British Gas customer receives.

Can the published prices identify a winner?

No.

The public figures relate to different tariff types and customer groups.

Factor	Npower figures	British Gas figures
Customer type	Generally large businesses	Microbusinesses
Tariff type	Deemed or default	Fixed contract maximum
Contract agreed	No	Yes
Consumption assumptions	Large and complex supplies	21,000kWh electricity and 30,000kWh gas
Regional variation	Yes	National maximum table
Suitable for direct comparison	No	No

A large organisation should request individually tailored fixed or flexible quotations from both suppliers.

Comparing renewable electricity

Both companies provide 100% renewable products, but their supplier-wide fuel mixes differ.

Npower supplier-wide fuel mix

Npower Commercial Gas Limited’s 2024/25 fuel mix was:

Source	Npower
Coal	9.7%
Natural gas	49%
Nuclear	2.6%
Renewables	34.6%
Other	4.1%
Reported carbon emissions	315g/kWh
Radioactive waste	0g/kWh

The overall renewable proportion is similar to British Gas, but npower’s standard portfolio is much more dependent on gas and coal.

Npower product-level mix

Npower’s product disclosure makes the distinction clearer:

Source	Business Renewable products	All other products
Coal	0%	14.6%
Natural gas	0%	74%
Nuclear	0%	3.9%
Renewables	100%	1.3%
Other	0%	6.2%
Reported carbon emissions	0g/kWh	476g/kWh

A company should therefore ensure that its quotation specifically includes one of npower’s renewable products if environmental performance matters.

Npower renewable products

Npower’s renewable range includes:

• UK Business Renewable;
• UK Renewable Pure;
• UK Renewable Pure Plus; and
• Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

UK Business Renewable matches the customer’s consumption with UK-generated renewable electricity backed by REGOs.

The product is:

• available with fixed or flexible contracts;
• independently assured;
• suitable for GHG Protocol Scope 2 market-based reporting;
• supported by a Renewable Energy Label; and
• reported as zero carbon under the market-based method.

Pure and Pure Plus use wind, solar and hydro asset types.

Npower also offers enhanced renewable reporting showing:

• allocated REGO certificates;
• renewable asset types;
• matched generation;
• consumption information; and
• carbon-accounting data.

British Gas fuel mix

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

Source	British Gas
Coal	1%
Natural gas	8%
Nuclear	55%
Renewables	35%
Other	1%
Reported carbon emissions	53g/kWh
Radioactive waste	0.0038g/kWh
Zero-carbon proportion	90%

British Gas’s renewable percentage was almost identical to npower’s, but its carbon intensity was much lower because nuclear generation replaced much of the gas and coal.

British Gas renewable and zero-carbon products

Qualifying British Gas fixed electricity plans are currently described as zero carbon, backed by:

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

Businesses requiring renewable-only electricity can opt into Natural Renewable Electricity.

Under that product:

• consumption is matched with natural renewable generation;
• British Gas holds corresponding REGOs;
• the electricity can support market-based Scope 2 reporting; and
• eligible contracted customers can select it for the same price as standard zero-carbon electricity.

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

Which has greener electricity?

Environmental priority	Likely stronger fit
Renewable-only electricity	Either supplier
Lower supplier-wide carbon intensity	British Gas
Avoiding nuclear power	Npower renewable product or British Gas Natural Renewable
Lower supplier-wide fossil-fuel share	British Gas
Detailed renewable certificate reporting	Npower
Renewable product on a flexible contract	Npower or British Gas
Direct link to wind or solar through CPPA	Npower may have an advantage
Standard zero-carbon fixed electricity	British Gas
No radioactive waste in renewable product	Either renewable-only product

Npower’s renewable products are substantially greener than its non-renewable products. The customer should therefore compare product-specific credentials rather than relying on the npower brand name.

Comparing greener business gas

Npower allows large customers to add carbon offsetting to a business gas contract.

However, it does not prominently publish one standard percentage split comparable with British Gas’s two named environmental gas products.

British Gas offers:

Carbon Neutral Gas

Environmental mechanism	Proportion
UK Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin	10%
Approved carbon-offsetting projects	90%

Renewable Gas

British Gas Renewable Gas matches 100% of the customer’s gas consumption with UK-produced renewable biomethane using RGGOs.

The physical gas entering the property remains part of the mixed national gas network.

British Gas currently has the clearer standard proposition for a company requiring:

• defined renewable-gas percentages;
• auditable RGGOs;
• a formal renewable-gas product; or
• environmental evidence for tenders and reporting.

Energy-management tools

Npower Dashboard

Npower Dashboard allows customers to:

• view contracts;
• manage account information;
• download invoices;
• submit meter readings;
• view consumption;
• manage multiple sites; and
• handle routine account administration.

My Energy Coach

My Energy Coach is a more advanced energy-management system.

Depending on the service level, it can provide:

• half-hourly consumption information;
• multi-site analysis;
• configurable dashboards;
• alerts;
• targeting;
• benchmarking;
• normalisation using production or weather data;
• asset-level analysis; and
• carbon and cost reporting.

It may suit manufacturers, estates and multi-site organisations that need more than a basic billing portal.

Risk Navigator

Risk Navigator is designed for flexible-contract customers.

It can help users monitor:

• wholesale purchases;
• forecast positions;
• market exposure;
• budget performance;
• remaining unfixed volume; and
• risk against agreed strategies.

Npower Optimisation Desk

The Optimisation Desk supports customers making wholesale purchasing decisions.

Its services can include:

• market insight;
• trade execution;
• limit orders;
• position reporting;
• price updates;
• portfolio reviews; and
• purchasing-strategy support.

British Gas Energy360

Energy360 DataView is a free platform for eligible British Gas business customers with compatible smart meters.

It provides:

• half-hourly consumption graphs;
• daily updates;
• historical downloads;
• scheduled reports;
• out-of-hours analysis;
• consumption trends; and
• information that can help identify wasted energy.

British Gas’s flexible customers can also use separate purchasing and portfolio tools, including Energy.Hub.

Which supplier has better energy data?

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Straightforward smart-meter reporting	British Gas Energy360
Out-of-hours usage reports	British Gas
Advanced multi-site energy management	Npower My Energy Coach
Asset-level analysis	Npower
Wholesale purchasing positions	Both
Limit orders and flexible portfolio support	Npower
Simple SME access	British Gas
Large industrial estate	Npower may have an advantage
Free basic consumption platform	Both, subject to eligibility

Npower’s data proposition is more sophisticated for large organisations, while British Gas provides a more accessible service across a broader customer base.

Power Purchase Agreements and generation

Npower has a substantial PPA and generator-services proposition.

Its services can include:

• purchasing exported renewable power;
• fixed and indexed PPAs;
• route-to-market services;
• renewable certificate trading;
• balancing and settlement;
• generator portfolio management;
• Energy Generators software;
• Corporate PPAs;
• tender support; and
• integration of a CPPA into the customer’s supply contract.

A Corporate PPA can allow a large business to purchase renewable electricity linked more directly with a wind or solar generator.

This can provide:

• long-term price certainty;
• stronger traceability;
• support for new generation;
• additional renewable capacity; and
• closer alignment with corporate environmental targets.

British Gas and Centrica also offer funded generation and PPA services, but npower’s current business proposition places particularly strong emphasis on generators, sleeving and renewable certificate management.

Commercial solar and battery storage

Npower works within the E.ON group to support:

• solar photovoltaic systems;
• wind generation;
• batteries;
• heat pumps;
• combined heat and power;
• building energy management;
• demand-side response; and
• EV charging.

The service can include project design, installation and optimisation through E.ON group capabilities.

British Gas provides commercial solar through specialist partners and Centrica Business Solutions.

Its services include:

• rooftop solar;
• ground-mounted solar;
• carports;
• battery storage;
• monitoring;
• maintenance;
• purchased installations;
• funded projects; and
• on-site PPAs.

EV charging comparison

Npower can connect customers with E.ON group EV services covering:

• workplace charging;
• employee charging;
• fleet depots;
• public chargers;
• charging design;
• installation;
• management; and
• integration with solar and battery storage.

British Gas currently has a prominent communal EV proposition for:

• landlords;
• developers;
• apartment buildings;
• management companies; and
• shared commercial parking.

British Gas’s communal tariff can include off-peak time-of-use pricing and compatible charging equipment.

Npower and E.ON may be more suitable for a large corporate fleet or integrated net-zero project. British Gas may be stronger for landlords and communal parking.

Multi-site management

Both suppliers support multi-site organisations.

Npower’s quotation process explicitly allows businesses to submit numerous sites and meters under one supplier relationship.

Its services can include:

• consolidated portfolio management;
• flexible purchasing;
• meter data;
• Risk Navigator;
• My Energy Coach;
• renewable reporting;
• generation assets; and
• PPAs.

British Gas offers:

• multi-site supply;
• landlord services;
• half-hourly meters;
• Energy360;
• fixed and flexible procurement;
• new connections;
• metering services; and
• national account support.

Npower may have the advantage where the portfolio is large, industrial and actively traded.

British Gas may be easier where the estate combines smaller and larger properties under one supplier.

Contract expiry and default rates

Both suppliers apply higher charges where a customer remains without an agreed replacement contract.

Npower’s current default electricity unit rates are around 10p/kWh above its equivalent deemed rates.

For a company using 10GWh, an additional 10p/kWh would amount to:

10,000,000kWh × 10p = £1 million annually

The actual impact depends on the meter, region and length of time spent on default rates.

A business should begin procurement well before its contract end date.

Contract protections

Ordinary business energy contracts are not protected by the domestic energy price cap.

Most business agreements also do not have an automatic cooling-off period, including contracts agreed over the telephone.

Before accepting an npower or British Gas offer, check:

• contract term;
• unit rates;
• standing charges;
• fixed and pass-through costs;
• treatment of network charges;
• treatment of policy costs;
• volume tolerances;
• metering charges;
• capacity charges;
• excess-capacity charges;
• early termination formula;
• broker commission;
• renewable certificates;
• purchasing authority;
• renewal dates; and
• deemed and default prices.

Npower advantages and disadvantages

British Gas advantages and disadvantages

Which supplier is better for different businesses?

Business type or requirement	Likely better fit	Reason
Small shop or office	British Gas	Npower does not supply smaller businesses
Online-only SME	British Gas Lite	Dedicated digital service
Business wanting a 30-day contract	British Gas	Published rolling product
Company using 150,000kWh	British Gas may be easier	Npower also considers employees and turnover
Manufacturer using 2GWh	Compare both	Both offer fixed and flexible contracts
Corporate user above 10GWh	Compare both	Advanced procurement from both
Company needing full budget certainty	Npower Fixed Certainty	Fixes eligible commodity and non-commodity costs
Company wanting staged purchasing	Npower MultiPurchase or British Gas Flex Advantage	Both spread procurement decisions
Company seeking market-linked monthly pricing	Npower Market Tracker	Dedicated product
Company requiring detailed procurement controls	Npower	Risk Navigator and Optimisation Desk
SME needing simple energy data	British Gas	Energy360
Industrial user needing asset analysis	Npower	My Energy Coach
Company requiring renewable-only electricity	Either	Both offer 100% renewable-backed products
Company wanting lower supplier-wide carbon intensity	British Gas	53g/kWh compared with 315g/kWh
Company excluding nuclear power	Npower renewable product or British Gas Natural Renewable	Standard British Gas zero carbon includes nuclear
Company requiring 100% renewable gas certificates	British Gas	Defined RGGO-backed product
Renewable generator	Npower may have an advantage	Specialist PPA and certificate services
Company seeking a complex CPPA	Npower may have an advantage	Strong consumer and generator proposition
Commercial landlord	British Gas may have an advantage	Broader smaller-meter and landlord services
Large fleet or net-zero infrastructure programme	Npower and E.ON may have an advantage	Integrated group technology services

Final verdict: Npower vs British Gas

Npower Business Solutions and British Gas are both credible energy suppliers, but they are not direct competitors for every company.

British Gas is the clear choice between the two for most smaller businesses because npower no longer supplies that market.

Npower becomes a serious alternative where the organisation:

• consumes substantial amounts of electricity or gas;
• has at least ten employees;
• has turnover of £2 million or more;
• operates several sites;
• wants to purchase energy in stages;
• needs active wholesale-market support;
• requires advanced energy data;
• owns renewable generation;
• wants a Corporate PPA; or
• requires an integrated net-zero strategy.

British Gas may be stronger where the business wants:

• a straightforward SME contract;
• British Gas Lite;
• a short rolling agreement;
• a mixture of small and large sites;
• renewable gas;
• a simpler entry-level flex contract;
• Energy360 reporting;
• commercial-landlord support; or
• communal EV charging.

The environmental comparison depends heavily on the product selected.

British Gas has the lower-carbon supplier-wide fuel mix. Npower’s ordinary non-renewable products contain a substantial proportion of gas and coal.

Npower’s renewable products, however, are 100% renewable and supported by more detailed certificate reporting. British Gas also offers renewable-only electricity, while its standard qualifying zero-carbon product combines renewables with nuclear generation.

Price can only be established through individual quotations.

A fair large-business comparison should require both suppliers to quote for:

1. the same meter portfolio;
2. the same annual consumption forecast;
3. identical contract dates;
4. the same payment terms;
5. equivalent renewable credentials;
6. the same fixed or pass-through cost structure;
7. all standing and capacity charges;
8. meter and data services;
9. volume-tolerance terms;
10. wholesale trading fees;
11. broker commission;
12. early termination liability; and
13. the complete expected annual cost.

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

• choose British Gas for small-business supply, broader customer eligibility and simpler standard tariffs;
• choose npower Business Solutions for specialist large-business procurement, advanced data, PPAs and generator services;
• compare npower UK Business Renewable with British Gas Natural Renewable Electricity where renewable-only supply is required;
• compare npower MultiPurchase with British Gas Flex Advantage for entry-level flexible purchasing;
• compare npower’s corporate flexible contracts with British Gas Full Flex for major users; and
• avoid allowing either contract to expire onto default or out-of-contract rates.

FAQ