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

SSE Energy Solutions and British Gas are two of the largest business energy suppliers operating in Great Britain. Both provide gas and electricity to SMEs, large industrial users and multi-site organisations, while also offering renewable energy, smart metering, commercial solar and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Their strongest features are different.

SSE includes 100% renewable electricity from SSE’s UK wind and hydro assets with its fixed business electricity plans. Customers can choose between the fully fixed SSE Protect product and the lower-cost SSE Choice structure, where wholesale energy is fixed but some non-energy costs may change. Larger users can also access flexible purchasing, CPPAs and granular renewable-energy reporting.

British Gas offers a wider range of standard contract formats. These include fixed contracts, British Gas Lite, variable plans, a 30-day rolling option and flexible wholesale energy procurement for organisations consuming more than 1GWh annually. Its qualifying fixed electricity plans are zero carbon, using a combination of renewable and nuclear-backed electricity.

SSE may be the stronger fit for a company prioritising renewable-only electricity, named renewable assets and sophisticated clean-energy infrastructure. British Gas may suit a business wanting greater tariff choice, an online-only SME service, nuclear-backed zero-carbon electricity or a broad national metering and account-management service.

Neither company is universally cheaper. Business rates are based on the meter, postcode, consumption profile, credit risk, contract start date and product selected.

SSE vs British Gas at a glance

Feature	SSE Energy Solutions	British Gas Business
Small-business electricity	Yes	Yes
Small-business gas	Yes	Yes
Large-business supply	Yes	Yes
Small and large-business threshold	100,000kWh electricity or 293,000kWh gas	Product-dependent
Standard contracted rates published	No	Maximum microbusiness prices published
Main fixed terms	Up to three years	Normally one to three years; some products and published ceilings extend to four years
Fully fixed product	SSE Protect	Fixed Price Energy Plan, subject to detailed contract terms
Partially fixed product	SSE Choice	Tailored fixed and pass-through arrangements
Online-only SME tariff	No separate equivalent	British Gas Lite
Short rolling tariff	Variable Business Rates	30-day Rolling Energy Plan
Large-user flexible purchasing	SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out	Flex Advantage, Full Flex and Flex Cash Out
Minimum published flexible threshold	Large-business route above 100,000kWh electricity or 293,000kWh gas	More than 1GWh for Flex Advantage
Electricity with fixed plans	100% renewable	Zero carbon on qualifying contracts
Renewable source	SSE-owned or partly owned UK wind and hydro assets	Renewable certificates from UK sources
Nuclear-backed electricity	Not included in SSE renewable plans	Included in standard zero-carbon fixed plans
Supplier-wide renewable share	64%	35%
Supplier-wide carbon intensity	138g/kWh	53g/kWh
Renewable business gas	SSE Green Gas and Green Gas Plus	Carbon Neutral Gas and Renewable Gas
Energy analytics	SSE Clarity	Energy360 DataView
Commercial solar	Rooftop, ground-mounted and floating solar	Rooftop, ground-mounted and carport solar
Fully funded solar	Available through PPAs	Available through commercial funding arrangements
Corporate PPAs	Named Asset and Portfolio PPAs	Available through British Gas and Centrica
EV charging	Workplace, fleet, public and HGV charging	Workplace, landlord and communal charging
Best suited to	Renewable-led companies and complex clean-energy projects	Companies wanting extensive tariff and account options

Which businesses can apply?

Both suppliers serve small companies and major corporate energy users.

SSE’s customer categories

SSE separates its supply service using the following annual consumption levels:

Category	Electricity consumption	Gas consumption
Small or medium business	Below 100,000kWh	Below 293,000kWh
Large business	Above 100,000kWh	Above 293,000kWh

These thresholds largely correspond with the consumption criteria used in the regulatory definition of a microbusiness.

A company exceeding the thresholds can still obtain an SSE quotation, but it is directed to the large-business team rather than the standard SME process.

SSE can potentially supply:

• independent shops;
• offices;
• cafés and restaurants;
• hotels;
• workshops;
• schools;
• charities;
• care providers;
• warehouses;
• manufacturers;
• public-sector bodies;
• data centres; and
• multi-site national organisations.

British Gas customer categories

British Gas does not use one threshold for every product.

Its standard fixed and rolling contracts cover SMEs and larger commercial customers. British Gas Lite is aimed primarily at businesses that:

• spend less than £30,000 annually on energy;
• manage their account online;
• pay by monthly Direct Debit; and
• have, or agree to install, a smart meter.

More complex and higher-consumption users can obtain half-hourly, multi-site and flexible contracts.

British Gas product	Typical eligibility
British Gas Lite	Smaller online-managed businesses
Fixed Price Energy Plan	SMEs and other qualifying commercial customers
Tailored half-hourly plans	Larger or more complex meters
Flex Advantage	More than 1GWh annually
Full Flex	More than 10GWh annually
Flex Cash Out	Large users with uncertain or variable demand

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

Example suitability by business type

Example business	Annual electricity	Possible options
Small shop	12,000kWh	SSE Protect, SSE Choice, British Gas or British Gas Lite
Medium office	70,000kWh	SME fixed contract from either supplier
Restaurant	120,000kWh	SSE large-business route or British Gas tailored plan
Hotel	400,000kWh	Large-user fixed contract from either supplier
Manufacturer	2GWh	SSE fixed or flexible plan; British Gas Flex Advantage
National retailer	15GWh	SSE Shaping or Cash Out; British Gas Full Flex
Business requiring renewable gas	Any qualifying level	SSE Green Gas or British Gas environmental gas products
Company seeking a named wind-farm agreement	Large user	SSE Next Generation or CPPA
Business requiring communal EV charging	Property-dependent	British Gas may be particularly relevant
HGV fleet operator	High electricity demand	SSE charging and infrastructure services

Eligibility does not guarantee that a contract will be offered. Both suppliers can consider creditworthiness, meter type, expected consumption and payment history.

Which supplier is cheaper?

There is no universal SSE-versus-British Gas business price.

The quotation can depend on:

• electricity MPAN or gas MPRN;
• postcode and distribution region;
• annual consumption;
• smart or half-hourly meter data;
• electricity voltage;
• residual charging band;
• agreed supply capacity;
• number of sites;
• contract start date;
• contract duration;
• payment method;
• credit risk;
• broker commission;
• renewable-product selection; and
• wholesale prices when the quotation is issued.

A complete annual comparison should include:

• Annual consumption × unit rate
• standing charge × 365
• meter and data charges
• capacity charges
• network and policy costs
• renewable-product charges
• VAT and Climate Change Levy where applicable
  − export revenue and other credits

Comparing only the headline unit rate can produce the wrong result.

How unit-rate differences affect annual costs

Annual consumption	Value of 0.5p/kWh	Value of 1p/kWh	Value of 3p/kWh	Value of 5p/kWh
10,000kWh	£50	£100	£300	£500
25,000kWh	£125	£250	£750	£1,250
50,000kWh	£250	£500	£1,500	£2,500
100,000kWh	£500	£1,000	£3,000	£5,000
250,000kWh	£1,250	£2,500	£7,500	£12,500
1GWh	£5,000	£10,000	£30,000	£50,000
10GWh	£50,000	£100,000	£300,000	£500,000

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

How standing charges affect costs

Daily difference per meter	Annual difference	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
£10	£3,650	£36,500

Standing charges can be especially important for:

• low-consumption premises;
• vacant properties;
• seasonal businesses;
• commercial landlords;
• multi-site organisations; and
• companies retaining inactive meters.

SSE fixed business tariffs

SSE offers two main fixed structures to SMEs and larger customers: SSE Protect and SSE Choice.

SSE Protect

SSE Protect is designed to provide greater budget certainty.

Its advertised features include:

• fixed energy costs;
• fixed eligible non-energy costs;
• protection from many government and network charge changes;
• contract terms of up to three years;
• 100% renewable electricity from SSE wind and hydro assets; and
• optional renewable-gas products.

SSE describes the product as fully fixed, although its terms reserve the right to pass through exceptional new costs, taxes or elements outside its control.

SSE Protect is likely to suit companies that:

• require predictable budgets;
• have limited procurement expertise;
• want to avoid wholesale market exposure;
• need renewable electricity;
• prefer straightforward forecasting; or
• cannot absorb unexpected non-energy charge increases.

The greater certainty may result in a higher initial quotation than SSE Choice because the supplier assumes more risk.

SSE Choice

SSE Choice fixes the wholesale energy element while allowing some non-energy costs to change.

Its features include:

• fixed wholesale energy prices;
• contracts of up to three years;
• SSE’s lower-cost fixed-rate structure;
• renewable electricity as standard; and
• access to the same green-gas options.

Non-energy charges may include:

• transmission costs;
• distribution charges;
• balancing costs;
• environmental levies;
• Capacity Market charges;
• Contracts for Difference;
• metering costs; and
• new regulatory charges.

If these costs exceed SSE’s forecast, the customer’s rate may increase.

SSE Choice may suit a company that:

• wants a lower opening price;
• can tolerate some variation;
• understands pass-through costs;
• expects some industry charges to fall; or
• prioritises wholesale price protection over complete bill certainty.

SSE Protect versus SSE Choice

Feature	SSE Protect	SSE Choice
Wholesale energy cost	Fixed	Fixed
Eligible non-energy costs	Fixed	Can vary
Term	Up to three years	Up to three years
Renewable electricity	Included	Included
Budget certainty	Higher	Lower
Initial price	Potentially higher	Usually positioned as lower
Exposure to network-cost increases	Reduced	Greater
Best for	Predictable budgeting	Lower initial pricing with accepted risk

A business should request both quotations where available and calculate the cost difference between transferring risk to SSE and retaining it.

British Gas fixed contracts

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

Its features include:

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

British Gas’s maximum-price tables also contain four-year products, while its wider site describes business contracts ranging from 30 days to four years.

A business should confirm the precise contract term included in its individual offer.

British Gas Lite

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

It includes:

• electricity and gas contracts;
• online account management;
• monthly Direct Debit;
• automated smart-meter readings;
• electronic bills; and
• support through webchat.

Lite can suit a company with a straightforward account that wants to minimise administration.

It may be less suitable where the business requires:

• telephone support;
• complex billing investigation;
• multiple half-hourly meters;
• flexible wholesale procurement;
• specialist renewable products;
• detailed multi-site account management; or
• regular changes of tenancy.

British Gas rolling and variable contracts

British Gas offers a dedicated 30-day Rolling Energy Plan.

It can be useful where the company:

• expects to move;
• may close or be sold;
• has uncertain future consumption;
• does not want a multi-year commitment;
• is waiting for a property transaction; or
• believes longer-term prices may fall.

Prices can increase or decrease, so the tariff provides less certainty than a fixed agreement.

SSE’s Variable Business Rates also have no fixed term, but they function mainly as deemed or out-of-contract rates rather than a prominently marketed short-term procurement product.

SSE published Variable Business Rates

SSE publishes Variable Business Rates applying from June 2026.

These rates can apply when:

• a company moves into SSE-supplied premises without agreeing a contract;
• a fixed contract expires without renewal;
• a business remains with SSE without an agreed price; or
• another deemed or out-of-contract situation arises.

The prices exclude VAT, Climate Change Levy and other applicable levies and can change when market conditions change.

Non-half-hourly electricity

SSE meter type	Unit rate	Standing charge
Profile class 1 or 3 unrestricted	37.554p/kWh	400p per day
Profile class 2 or 4 day	38.318p/kWh	400p per day
Profile class 2 or 4 night	34.388p/kWh	400p per day
Evening and weekend weekday rate	39.121p/kWh	400p per day
Evening and weekend rate	35.434p/kWh	400p per day
Off-peak	34.266p/kWh	400p per day
Profile classes 5–8 unrestricted	35.729p/kWh	984.36p per day
Profile classes 5–8 day	36.867p/kWh	984.36p per day
Profile classes 5–8 night	32.090p/kWh	984.36p per day

A standing charge of 400p per day equals £1,460 annually.

The profile class 5–8 charge of approximately 984.36p per day equals about £3,593 annually.

Illustrative SSE Variable Business Rate electricity costs

The following examples use SSE’s profile class 1 or 3 unrestricted tariff.

Annual consumption	Electricity charge	Annual standing charge	Total
10,000kWh	£3,755.44	£1,460	£5,215.44
21,000kWh	£7,886.43	£1,460	£9,346.43
25,000kWh	£9,388.60	£1,460	£10,848.60
50,000kWh	£18,777.20	£1,460	£20,237.20
100,000kWh	£37,554.41	£1,460	£39,014.41

These figures exclude VAT, CCL and other applicable charges.

They are variable default prices rather than fixed-contract quotations.

SSE half-hourly Variable Business Rates

SSE publishes several half-hourly structures depending on measurement class, voltage and time period.

Examples include:

Meter configuration	Unit rate	Standing charge	Capacity charge
Measurement class C or E, LV unrestricted	33.669p/kWh	£23.98 per day	£1.58 per kVA per month
Measurement class C or E, LV day	34.741p/kWh	£23.98 per day	Around £1.58 per kVA per month
Measurement class C or E, LV night	29.521p/kWh	£23.98 per day	Around £1.58 per kVA per month
Measurement class F or G, LV unrestricted	31.547p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent
Measurement class F or G, LV day	32.753p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent
Measurement class F or G, LV night	26.717p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent

SSE also publishes seven-rate seasonal time-of-day structures.

Some winter peak rates exceed 70p/kWh, while night rates can fall below 30p/kWh.

This illustrates why a large company should model costs using actual half-hourly data rather than comparing a single average rate.

SSE Variable Business Rates for gas

SSE’s June 2026 gas rates vary according to billing frequency and End User Category.

Gas category	Unit rate	Standing charge
EUC bands 1–2, monthly billed	11.280p/kWh	325p per day
EUC bands 1–2, quarterly billed	11.749p/kWh	325p per day
EUC band 3	10.735p/kWh	962p per day
EUC bands 4–9	Individually priced	Individually priced

Bands 1–2 cover annual consumption up to 293,000kWh.

Band 3 covers annual consumption from 293,001kWh to 732,000kWh.

Illustrative SSE gas costs for bands 1–2

Annual gas use	Monthly-billed rate total	Quarterly-billed rate total
25,000kWh	£4,006.18	£4,123.52
30,000kWh	£4,570.17	£4,710.97
50,000kWh	£6,826.11	£7,060.78
100,000kWh	£12,465.98	£12,935.32
250,000kWh	£29,385.56	£30,558.91

These examples include the £1,186.25 annual standing charge but exclude VAT and CCL.

British Gas maximum microbusiness electricity prices

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

These are price ceilings rather than average quotations. Individual businesses may be offered substantially lower rates.

Single-rate electricity

Fixed 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

British Gas bases the estimated electricity contract costs on annual consumption of 21,000kWh.

Contract term	Approximate annualised cost
One year	£9,285
Two years	£9,327
Three years	£9,552
Four years	£9,676

Day-and-night electricity

Fixed 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:

Share consumed at night	Weighted average unit rate
10%	38.55p/kWh
25%	37.32p/kWh
50%	35.27p/kWh
75%	33.22p/kWh

The standing charge must still be added.

Evening-and-weekend electricity

Fixed 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 may suit hospitality, leisure and entertainment businesses that operate heavily outside normal weekday hours.

British Gas maximum microbusiness gas prices

Fixed 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 standing charges reflect maximum permitted prices, not the normal rate offered to every customer.

Can the published prices identify a winner?

No. The public prices cover different products.

Factor	SSE figures	British Gas figures
Tariff type	Variable or deemed	Fixed contract
Customer status	No agreed contract	Entering or renewing a contract
Price certainty	Rates can change	Fixed for the term, subject to conditions
Regional variation	Embedded in SSE’s standard schedule	National maximum ceiling
Typical new-customer quote	No	Not necessarily
Directly comparable	No	No

At 21,000kWh, SSE’s unrestricted Variable Business Rate produces an illustrative annual cost of approximately £9,346 before VAT and CCL.

British Gas’s maximum one-year example is £9,285.

The difference is only about £61, but it does not show that British Gas is cheaper. It compares a variable SSE rate with British Gas’s maximum fixed ceiling rather than two live fixed quotations.

Using the same published prices, the approximate break-even consumption between the two electricity structures is around 28,000kWh:

• British Gas has the lower maximum standing charge;
• SSE has the lower unit rate; and
• the value of SSE’s lower unit rate increases as consumption rises.

This is a mathematical comparison only, not a tariff recommendation.

SSE flexible energy plans

SSE has a developed procurement service for large organisations.

SSE Shaping

SSE Shaping allows customers to purchase wholesale baseload electricity in:

• monthly blocks;
• quarterly blocks; or
• seasonal blocks.

SSE can fix the non-baseload portion of consumption while the customer trades the more transparent baseload element.

The company’s energy-usage shape is fixed for the contract period, helping reduce exposure to deviations between actual demand and the agreed profile.

Potential benefits include:

• spreading purchasing decisions;
• avoiding a single fixing date;
• access to live market prices;
• transparent baseload trading;
• reduced shaping complexity; and
• compatibility with renewable products.

Potential risks include:

• price increases between trades;
• forecast errors;
• internal decision-making requirements;
• the need for an agreed risk strategy; and
• less certainty than a fully fixed contract.

SSE Cash Out

SSE Cash Out combines real-time consumption information with next-day half-hourly prices.

It allows a business to:

• forecast daily demand;
• observe half-hourly prices;
• shift consumption;
• optimise batteries or on-site generation;
• manage market imbalance; and
• potentially sell energy back to the system.

The product may suit businesses with:

• variable demand;
• battery storage;
• on-site generation;
• flexible industrial processes;
• large heating or cooling loads;
• EV fleets; or
• an experienced energy-management team.

British Gas flexible procurement

British Gas offers three main flexible products.

Flex Advantage

Flex Advantage is intended for businesses consuming more than 1GWh annually.

Customers can:

• buy energy in 20% tranches;
• access market-reflective prices;
• spread purchasing decisions;
• monitor the procurement position online; and
• receive market information.

It can provide an accessible introduction to flexible procurement.

Full Flex

Full Flex is aimed at organisations consuming more than 10GWh.

It provides more freedom over:

• trade size;
• purchase timing;
• fixing;
• unfixing;
• wholesale exposure;
• multiple delivery periods; and
• portfolio-level risk.

Flex Cash Out

Flex Cash Out is designed for large users whose actual demand may differ significantly from forecasts.

The contract can settle the difference between purchased and consumed energy using market prices.

It may suit:

• manufacturers;
• data centres;
• generators;
• industrial sites;
• weather-sensitive companies; and
• businesses with controllable loads.

SSE versus British Gas for flexible procurement

Requirement	Likely stronger option
Simple entry into flex purchasing	British Gas Flex Advantage
Wholesale purchasing above 1GWh	British Gas
Baseload block purchasing	SSE Shaping
Fixed demand shape	SSE Shaping
Day-ahead optimisation	SSE Cash Out
Highly variable demand	Compare both Cash Out products
Integrated named wind-farm power	SSE
Large multi-site portfolio	Compare both
Internal trading team	Either
Business requiring complete budget certainty	SSE Protect or British Gas fixed

The most appropriate product depends on the company’s risk-management policy rather than the possibility of achieving the lowest theoretical price.

Comparing renewable electricity

SSE and British Gas both offer low-carbon electricity, but their standard fixed products use different sources.

SSE fixed electricity

SSE’s fixed electricity plans include 100% renewable electricity sourced from wind and hydro assets wholly or partly owned by SSE Renewables.

The electricity is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin.

The physical electricity still reaches the premises through the national grid. SSE matches the customer’s consumption with corresponding renewable generation and certificates.

SSE’s renewable products have also received independent assurance against greenhouse-gas reporting standards.

British Gas fixed electricity

Qualifying British Gas fixed-price and fixed-term electricity products are zero carbon as standard.

The current backing is described as:

Source	Proportion
Renewable electricity	72%
Nuclear electricity	28%

The product can support market-based zero-emission reporting, but it is not renewable-only because nuclear generation is included.

British Gas Natural Renewable Electricity

Businesses that require renewable-only electricity can select Natural Renewable Electricity, subject to eligibility.

Under this product:

• 100% of consumption is matched with UK REGOs;
• sources include wind, solar and hydro;
• renewable evidence is provided for reporting; and
• an additional premium or eligibility condition may apply.

British Gas Lite and non-contracted customers may not be eligible.

Comparing supplier-wide fuel mixes

The supplier-wide mixes cover all relevant products, not simply the green tariffs.

Source or impact	SSE Energy Solutions	British Gas
Renewable electricity	64%	35%
Natural gas	36%	8%
Nuclear	0%	55%
Coal	0%	1%
Other	0%	1%
Reported carbon emissions	138g/kWh	53g/kWh
Reported radioactive waste	0g/kWh	0.0038g/kWh

SSE had the substantially higher supplier-wide renewable proportion.

British Gas had the lower reported carbon intensity because more than half of its electricity was nuclear-generated.

This creates an important distinction:

• SSE is more renewable-focused across its overall business portfolio;
• British Gas reports lower supplier-wide carbon emissions;
• British Gas relies much more heavily on nuclear power; and
• SSE’s renewable plans report no radioactive waste.

SSE renewable and non-renewable product mixes

SSE publishes separate information for its renewable and other products.

Product category	Renewable	Natural gas	Carbon intensity
SSE Green, Next Generation and CPPA	100%	0%	0g/kWh
Other plans and Variable Business Rates	2%	98%	374g/kWh

This is why a business should not assume that SSE’s Variable Business Rates have the same environmental characteristics as an SSE fixed renewable tariff.

British Gas product fuel mixes

Product	Renewable	Nuclear	Fossil and other	Carbon intensity
Renewable Energy for Business	100%	0%	0%	0g/kWh
Zero Carbon Energy for Business	21%	79%	0%	0g/kWh
All other products	30%	54%	16%	81g/kWh

British Gas’s product allocation for the 2024/25 reporting period differs from its current standard-fixed-plan backing of 72% renewable and 28% nuclear. Certificate allocations can change between reporting years.

Which supplier has greener electricity?

The answer depends on the company’s environmental policy.

Priority	Likely stronger fit
Renewable electricity as standard with fixed plans	SSE
No nuclear electricity	SSE or British Gas Natural Renewable
Lower supplier-wide carbon intensity	British Gas
Higher supplier-wide renewable proportion	SSE
Electricity from supplier-linked wind and hydro	SSE
Choice between renewable and nuclear-backed power	British Gas
Named renewable asset	SSE Next Generation or CPPA
Renewable-only certificate product	Either
No reported radioactive waste	SSE renewable products

A company should ask for the product-level fuel label rather than relying solely on the supplier-wide disclosure.

SSE Next Generation

SSE Next Generation allocates the customer’s consumption to a named UK wind farm.

The business receives:

• 100% renewable electricity;
• REGOs;
• a proof-of-purchase certificate;
• the name of the associated wind farm;
• market-based zero-emission reporting; and
• a clearer environmental story for stakeholders.

The product may suit organisations that want to demonstrate a more tangible relationship with renewable generation than a generic supplier-wide certificate.

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements

SSE CPPAs

SSE offers Named Asset and Portfolio PPAs.

A customer can purchase renewable electricity linked with:

• a wind farm;
• solar generation;
• hydroelectric generation; or
• a portfolio of renewable assets.

Portfolio agreements are advertised with terms ranging from two to ten years.

Potential benefits include:

• price certainty;
• greater traceability;
• a link to a named generator;
• renewable certificates;
• support for environmental reporting; and
• simpler contracting with one counterparty.

SSE can also provide half-hourly mapping between the customer’s consumption and the output from the renewable asset.

Its standard business CPPA proposition is particularly relevant to companies using at least 10GWh annually, although bespoke structures may differ.

British Gas and Centrica PPAs

British Gas and the wider Centrica group can also provide:

• on-site solar PPAs;
• off-site renewable purchasing;
• generator agreements;
• sleeving;
• flexible supply;
• battery optimisation; and
• funded energy infrastructure.

Large organisations should request proposals from both groups because PPA pricing depends on the asset, term, risk allocation and expected output.

Comparing renewable business gas

Both suppliers offer defined greener-gas products.

SSE Green Gas

SSE Green Gas matches:

Environmental mechanism	Proportion
UK renewable-gas certificates	25%
Independently verified carbon offsets	75%

SSE also pledges to plant one UK tree for each Green Gas customer.

SSE Green Gas Plus

SSE Green Gas Plus matches 100% of consumption with renewable-gas certificates from UK biomethane production.

The physical gas supplied through the national network remains mixed with fossil gas. The certificates demonstrate that an equivalent quantity of renewable gas has entered the system.

British Gas Carbon Neutral Gas

British Gas Carbon Neutral Gas uses:

Environmental mechanism	Proportion
UK RGGOs	10%
Carbon-offset projects	90%

British Gas Renewable Gas

British Gas Renewable Gas matches 100% of the customer’s consumption with UK biomethane RGGOs.

It is offered to businesses using more than 150MWh of gas annually.

Which has the better green-gas product?

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Entry-level product with larger renewable-gas proportion	SSE Green Gas
100% RGGO-backed gas	Either
Published consumption threshold	British Gas specifies more than 150MWh
UK tree-planting commitment	SSE
Lower-cost offset-led structure	Compare quotations
Full certificate-backed environmental reporting	SSE Green Gas Plus or British Gas Renewable Gas

Both suppliers acknowledge that renewable and fossil gas are mixed within the national network.

SSE Clarity versus Energy360 DataView

Both suppliers provide free consumption-analysis platforms to eligible customers with suitable meters.

SSE Clarity

SSE Clarity is included with SSE energy plans and uses half-hourly smart or AMR data.

Features include:

• graphs and tables;
• energy-consumption tracking;
• email alerts;
• forecasting;
• multi-site comparisons;
• organisation by site, supply, time or energy type;
• downloadable reporting; and
• dedicated helpdesk support.

SSE says smart-meter data can appear in Clarity within approximately 48 hours.

British Gas Energy360 DataView

Energy360 DataView provides:

• half-hourly graphs;
• daily updates;
• out-of-hours reporting;
• downloadable historical information;
• scheduled reports;
• adjustable data views; and
• analysis across business operations.

A compatible smart meter is required.

Which energy-data platform is better?

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Email consumption alerts	SSE Clarity
Forecasting future usage	SSE Clarity
Organising data by site and supply	SSE Clarity
Out-of-hours reporting	British Gas Energy360
Daily updated smart data	British Gas Energy360
Half-hourly analysis	Both
Multi-site comparison	Both
Free access with suitable meter	Both

The quality of the underlying meter data is more important than the platform branding.

Commercial solar

Both suppliers offer major commercial solar services.

SSE commercial solar

SSE can design and deliver:

• rooftop solar;
• ground-mounted solar;
• solar farms;
• floating solar;
• battery storage;
• private-wire connections;
• EV charging integration;
• distributed wind; and
• ongoing operation and maintenance.

Funding and ownership options can include:

• capital purchase;
• lease-style structures;
• funded installation; and
• a long-term solar PPA.

Under a fully funded PPA, SSE can own, monitor and maintain the system while the customer buys the electricity it generates.

SSE may be particularly suitable for:

• manufacturers;
• universities;
• water companies;
• major landowners;
• data centres;
• distribution centres; and
• public-sector estates.

British Gas commercial solar

British Gas and Centrica Business Solutions offer:

• rooftop systems;
• ground-mounted solar;
• solar carports;
• battery storage;
• monitoring;
• maintenance;
• funded installations;
• PPAs;
• microgrids; and
• integration with wider energy services.

British Gas states that suitable installations may cut grid electricity costs by up to 30%.

This is a potential saving rather than a guarantee. Actual results depend on capital cost, generation, self-consumption, financing and future electricity prices.

Which is better for commercial solar?

Solar requirement	Likely stronger fit
Standard rooftop installation	Compare both
Floating solar	SSE
Large off-site solar farm	SSE may have an advantage
Solar carport	British Gas or SSE
Fully funded PPA	Both
Integration with wind and private networks	SSE
Integration with a Centrica microgrid	British Gas
National multi-site programme	Compare both
Battery and EV integration	Both

The best solar partner may not be the company offering the cheapest imported electricity tariff.

Solar exports

SSE’s business proposition focuses on:

• PPAs;
• on-site generation;
• flexible-energy optimisation;
• Corporate PPAs; and
• selling energy through suitable market arrangements.

It does not prominently advertise one universal flat-rate business SEG product comparable with British Gas’s published tariff.

British Gas publishes business export rates that can include:

British Gas export category	Published rate
Eligible supply customer, installation up to 15kW	12p/kWh
Eligible supply customer, installation above 15kW	8p/kWh
Relevant non-supply customer	3p/kWh

A large SSE solar project would normally require a bespoke PPA or export proposal rather than relying on a single national rate.

Electric vehicle charging

SSE EV services

SSE provides:

• workplace charging;
• fleet-depot infrastructure;
• public charging hubs;
• retail-site chargers;
• fast and rapid charging;
• ultra-rapid charging;
• electric HGV infrastructure;
• charger operation;
• maintenance;
• network connections; and
• integration with renewable generation.

Its workplace service can scale from a small number of chargers to a large network.

SSE has also developed high-power HGV facilities using chargers rated at up to 360kW.

British Gas EV charging

British Gas focuses particularly on:

• commercial landlords;
• apartment blocks;
• communal car parks;
• property developers;
• employee charging;
• shared charging;
• billing administration; and
• time-of-use communal tariffs.

British Gas works with specialist charging partners and can integrate charging into commercial property services.

Which is better for EV charging?

EV requirement	Likely stronger fit
Small workplace installation	Compare both
Large fleet depot	SSE
Electric HGV charging	SSE
Public rapid-charging hub	SSE
Commercial landlord	British Gas
Apartment or communal parking	British Gas
Charging with on-site wind or solar	SSE may have an advantage
Integrated landlord billing	British Gas

Energy flexibility and virtual power plants

SSE operates virtual power plant and flexible-energy services that can combine:

• solar panels;
• batteries;
• demand-side response;
• generators;
• EV chargers; and
• controllable industrial equipment.

The combined assets can participate in energy or network markets, potentially generating revenue while supporting grid balancing.

British Gas and Centrica also offer flexibility services and PeakSave for Business.

PeakSave rewards invited smart-meter customers for shifting electricity use into specified lower-demand periods.

SSE may be stronger for complex asset optimisation, while British Gas provides a simpler customer-facing demand-shifting proposition.

Customer service and account management

SSE

SSE business customers can use Manage My Account to:

• view invoices;
• make payments;
• submit readings;
• track contracts;
• view account details; and
• access half-hourly electricity reporting.

SSE also provides access to:

• account managers;
• SSE Clarity;
• SSE FlexSee;
• specialist renewable teams; and
• flexible procurement support.

British Gas

British Gas offers different service levels.

Standard business customers can use:

• telephone support;
• an online account;
• renewal support;
• smart-meter services;
• Energy360;
• meter and connection teams; and
• specialist large-business account managers.

British Gas Lite uses:

• online account management;
• Direct Debit;
• automated readings;
• electronic bills; and
• webchat support.

Contract expiry and deemed rates

SSE Variable Business Rates apply where no contract has been agreed, including when:

• a business moves into SSE-supplied premises;
• an existing fixed term expires;
• a switch has not completed; or
• the company continues consuming energy without a new agreement.

British Gas also uses deemed and variable rates after a change of tenancy or contract expiry.

Default prices are generally less competitive than negotiated fixed contracts.

A business should begin reviewing the market several months before its contract ends.

Contract risks to check

Business energy contracts are not covered by the domestic energy price cap.

There is also generally no cooling-off period, even where the contract is agreed by telephone.

Before accepting an SSE or British Gas quotation, check:

• tariff name;
• start and end dates;
• unit rates;
• standing charges;
• fixed and pass-through costs;
• network charges;
• policy charges;
• meter and data fees;
• capacity charges;
• volume tolerances;
• early termination formula;
• security deposits;
• payment requirements;
• renewable certificates;
• broker commission;
• renewal window; and
• post-contract rates.

A fully fixed description should still be checked for exceptional taxes, levies or new regulatory charges.

SSE advantages and disadvantages

British Gas advantages and disadvantages

Which supplier is better for different businesses?

Business type or requirement	Likely better fit	Reason
Small company wanting renewable electricity	SSE	Renewable power is included with fixed plans
Business wanting maximum price certainty	SSE Protect	Energy and eligible non-energy costs are fixed
Business willing to accept changing industry costs	SSE Choice	Positioned as SSE’s lower-cost fixed option
Online-only small business	British Gas Lite	Dedicated digital service
Business wanting a 30-day contract	British Gas	Published rolling plan
Company consuming more than 1GWh	Compare both	SSE flex products and British Gas Flex Advantage
Company consuming more than 10GWh	Compare both	Both offer advanced procurement
Company excluding nuclear generation	SSE	Fixed plans use renewable wind and hydro
Company accepting nuclear-backed zero carbon	British Gas	Standard qualifying fixed product
Company requiring renewable-only electricity	Either	SSE standard fixed or British Gas renewable option
Company requiring 25% renewable gas	SSE Green Gas	Higher certificate share than British Gas Carbon Neutral Gas
Company requiring 100% renewable gas	Either	Both provide RGGO-backed products
Business wanting a named wind farm	SSE	Next Generation and CPPA products
Company seeking hourly renewable matching	SSE	CPPA reporting can map half-hourly use
Business needing consumption alerts	SSE Clarity	Email alerts and forecasting
Business wanting out-of-hours reports	British Gas	Energy360 DataView
Company seeking floating solar	SSE	Prominently offered
Commercial landlord	British Gas	Landlord energy and communal charging
Large EV fleet or HGV depot	SSE	Wider high-power charging proposition
National multi-site portfolio	Compare both	Both offer advanced account and procurement services

Final verdict: SSE vs British Gas

SSE Energy Solutions and British Gas are both strong business energy suppliers, but their main advantages serve different priorities.

SSE is likely to be the better choice where the company wants:

• renewable electricity included as standard;
• no nuclear-backed supply;
• a choice between fully fixed and partially fixed tariffs;
• renewable gas;
• a named wind-farm product;
• a Corporate PPA;
• half-hourly renewable matching;
• flexible asset optimisation;
• commercial solar at significant scale;
• fleet or HGV charging; or
• an integrated renewable-infrastructure project.

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

• a wider range of conventional contract formats;
• British Gas Lite;
• a 30-day rolling agreement;
• a clearly defined flexible product above 1GWh;
• lower supplier-wide reported carbon intensity;
• nuclear-backed zero-carbon electricity;
• renewable gas;
• Energy360 reporting;
• landlord services; or
• communal EV charging.

The current public rates do not establish a universal price winner.

SSE publishes Variable Business Rates effective from June 2026, while British Gas publishes maximum fixed-contract prices for microbusinesses. These are fundamentally different products.

At 21,000kWh, the published electricity totals are similar, but an actual fixed quotation from either supplier could be materially lower. The gas figures are even less comparable because British Gas’s maximum price ceiling is substantially above the rates many individual customers may be offered.

A fair comparison should require both suppliers to price:

1. the same MPAN or MPRN;
2. identical annual consumption;
3. the same contract start date;
4. equivalent contract duration;
5. the same payment method;
6. all standing charges;
7. fixed and pass-through components;
8. meter and capacity costs;
9. renewable or zero-carbon evidence;
10. early termination liability;
11. broker commission;
12. solar export arrangements; and
13. the complete projected annual cost.

For most companies, the conclusion is:

• choose SSE for renewable-first fixed supply, named renewable generation and integrated clean-energy infrastructure;
• choose British Gas for wider SME tariff choice, rolling contracts and a strong national account service;
• compare SSE Protect with a fully fixed British Gas quotation where budget certainty is the priority;
• compare SSE Choice with British Gas’s pass-through or flexible structures where initial price matters more; and
• select the supplier offering the lowest realistic annual cost after every network, standing, capacity and metering charge is included.

FAQ