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

SSE Energy Solutions and Octopus Energy are two major UK business energy suppliers with strong renewable and low-carbon credentials, but their commercial propositions are built around different priorities.

SSE’s principal fixed products provide 100% renewable electricity from wind and hydro assets wholly or partly owned by SSE Renewables. Businesses can choose SSE Protect for extensive price certainty or SSE Choice for a potentially lower initial price where some non-energy costs remain variable. Larger organisations can access flexible purchasing, daily optimisation, named renewable assets and Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

Octopus Energy for Business combines conventional fixed supply with a wider range of innovative SME tariffs. Shape Shifters Trio and Agile reward companies that move electricity use away from expensive periods, Summer Saver targets seasonal businesses and a No Standing Charge Tariff is available to qualifying sites.

Octopus also offers flat and dynamic export tariffs, renewable generation matching and services designed for batteries, electric vehicles and flexible demand.

SSE may be the better choice for a business seeking renewable-only electricity, conventional fixed pricing, renewable gas or a large commercial solar and infrastructure project.

Octopus may be more suitable where the company can actively alter when it consumes or exports electricity.

Neither supplier is universally cheaper. Business rates depend on the premises, meter, consumption profile, credit risk, contract term and market conditions when the quote is prepared.

SSE vs Octopus at a glance

Feature	SSE Energy Solutions	Octopus Energy for Business
Business electricity	Yes	Yes
Business gas	Yes	Yes
SME supply	Yes	Yes
Large-business supply	Yes	Yes
Standard national contracted prices	Not published	Not published
Main fixed terms	Up to three years	Individually quoted; specialist products commonly run for 12 months
Fully fixed product	SSE Protect	Conventional fixed quotation
Partly fixed product	SSE Choice	Product-dependent
Time-of-use SME tariff	No directly comparable permanent product	Shape Shifters Trio and Agile
Seasonal business tariff	No prominent equivalent	Summer Saver
No-standing-charge tariff	No prominent equivalent	Available for qualifying bands 2–4
Renewable electricity with fixed plans	100% renewable from SSE-linked UK assets	Zero-carbon supply; exact product mix should be confirmed
Supplier-wide renewable share	64%	86.4%
Supplier-wide natural gas share	36%	0%
Supplier-wide nuclear share	0%	13.6%
Supplier-wide carbon intensity	138g CO₂/kWh	0g CO₂/kWh
Renewable gas	SSE Green Gas and Green Gas Plus	No equally prominent standard business product
Named renewable asset	SSE Next Generation	Electric Match
Half-hourly renewable matching	CPPA and bespoke arrangements	Electric Match and Max Power
Energy analytics	SSE Clarity	Online account and smart-tariff dashboards
Flexible wholesale purchasing	SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out	Bespoke large-commercial services
Flat solar export rate	No universal published business rate	Panel Power at 12p/kWh
Dynamic business export	Bespoke flexibility arrangements	Shape Shifters: Export
Commercial solar installation	Rooftop, ground, carport and floating solar	Bespoke projects and renewable-generation services
Fully funded solar	Yes, through a PPA	Project-dependent
EV proposition	Workplace, fleet, public and HGV infrastructure	Octopus Fleet, smart tariffs, leasing and Electroverse
Best suited to	Renewable fixed contracts and major infrastructure	Smart tariffs, batteries, exports and flexible businesses

Which businesses can use SSE or Octopus?

Both suppliers serve SMEs, multi-site companies and larger commercial organisations.

SSE separates its standard customer routes using annual consumption:

SSE customer category	Electricity	Gas
Small or medium business	Below 100,000kWh	Below 293,000kWh
Large business	Above 100,000kWh	Above 293,000kWh

Businesses above these thresholds are directed towards SSE’s large-business products rather than being rejected. SSE’s fixed SME and large-business plans include renewable electricity as standard.

Octopus supplies smaller non-half-hourly sites, half-hourly businesses and multi-site portfolios. Some specialist services have narrower eligibility. Electric Match is primarily intended for organisations using at least 10GWh annually, while Max Power is designed for flexible half-hourly businesses consuming less than 10GWh.

Example suitability by business type

Example organisation	Annual electricity use	Potentially suitable option
Independent shop	12,000kWh	SSE Protect, SSE Choice or Octopus fixed tariff
Medium office	60,000kWh	Fixed contract from either supplier
Seasonal visitor attraction	100,000kWh	Octopus Summer Saver may be relevant
Restaurant	120,000kWh	SSE large-business route or Octopus quotation
Workshop with flexible equipment	250,000kWh	Octopus Shape Shifters
Hotel group	1GWh	Multi-site contract from either supplier
Manufacturer with active procurement	Several GWh	SSE Shaping or Octopus bespoke service
Company requiring renewable gas	Any eligible level	SSE Green Gas products
Business wanting a named wind farm	Varies	SSE Next Generation
Flexible company below 10GWh	Below 10GWh	Octopus Max Power
Major company seeking half-hourly matching	At least 10GWh	Octopus Electric Match
Business requiring major solar infrastructure	Varies	SSE commercial solar
Electric HGV operator	High demand	SSE charging infrastructure
Mixed company-car fleet	Varies	Octopus Fleet and Electroverse

Which supplier is cheaper?

There is no universal SSE-versus-Octopus business price.

Commercial quotations are influenced by:

• electricity MPAN or gas MPRN;
• postcode and distribution region;
• annual consumption;
• meter profile;
• half-hourly demand pattern;
• electricity voltage;
• agreed supply capacity;
• residual charging band;
• contract start date;
• contract duration;
• number of premises;
• payment method;
• credit history;
• renewable-product requirements; and
• wholesale energy prices.

A complete comparison should calculate:

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

A lower unit rate may be outweighed by a higher standing charge or capacity cost.

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
5GWh	£25,000	£50,000	£150,000	£250,000
10GWh	£50,000	£100,000	£300,000	£500,000

For a business consuming 10GWh, a rate difference of only 1p/kWh is worth £100,000 annually.

How standing charges affect costs

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
£10	£3,650	£36,500

Standing charges are particularly important for:

• low-use premises;
• seasonal companies;
• vacant buildings;
• commercial landlords;
• businesses with numerous small meters; and
• organisations retaining inactive supplies.

SSE Protect

SSE Protect is the supplier’s principal fully fixed product.

It provides:

• fixed wholesale energy costs;
• fixed existing non-energy costs;
• contracts lasting up to three years;
• 100% renewable electricity;
• protection against many changes in network and government charges; and
• optional renewable-gas products.

SSE reserves the right to pass through exceptional new taxes, levies or costs outside its control, so “fully fixed” should not be interpreted as an unconditional guarantee that no conceivable charge can change.

SSE Protect may suit a company that values:

• predictable budgets;
• simple forecasting;
• protection from wholesale volatility;
• fewer pass-through adjustments;
• renewable-only electricity; and
• a conventional fixed contract.

The supplier assumes more pricing risk under Protect, so the opening quotation may be higher than a partly fixed alternative.

SSE Choice

SSE Choice fixes the wholesale energy element for up to three years, while allowing some non-energy costs to change.

Potentially variable elements can include:

• transmission costs;
• distribution charges;
• balancing costs;
• environmental levies;
• Capacity Market charges;
• Contracts for Difference;
• industry-service fees; and
• future regulatory costs.

SSE positions Choice as its lower-cost fixed option. It includes the same 100% renewable electricity as Protect.

Choice may be appropriate where the business:

• wants protection from wholesale price increases;
• accepts some movement in industry costs;
• prioritises a lower initial quotation;
• understands pass-through billing; or
• can tolerate modest budget variation.

SSE Protect versus SSE Choice

Feature	SSE Protect	SSE Choice
Wholesale energy cost	Fixed	Fixed
Existing non-energy costs	Largely fixed	Can change
Contract duration	Up to three years	Up to three years
Renewable electricity	Included	Included
Budget certainty	Higher	Lower
Opening price	Potentially higher	Positioned as lower
Exposure to network charges	Reduced	Greater
Best suited to	Predictable budgeting	Lower initial cost with accepted risk

A company should request both options and compare the additional price charged for transferring non-energy-cost risk to SSE.

Octopus conventional fixed tariffs

Octopus offers individually priced fixed business tariffs alongside its smart products.

A conventional fixed tariff may suit a business that:

• cannot change its operating hours;
• wants predictable unit rates;
• prefers online account management;
• wants zero-carbon electricity;
• does not have a compatible smart meter; or
• does not want exposure to half-hourly wholesale prices.

Octopus does not publish one national business price table. Customers obtain a quote based on the meter and premises. Its multi-site proposition can combine switching, renewals, billing and online account management within one portfolio.

Octopus Shape Shifters

Shape Shifters is Octopus’s principal smart business electricity product.

To qualify, a business normally needs:

• a working smart meter;
• an active Direct Debit;
• payments to be up to date; and
• no overdue energy debt.

There are two versions.

Shape Shifters Trio

Trio applies three predetermined prices across different periods of the day.

The evening period between 4pm and 7pm is usually the most expensive, while the remaining periods are cheaper.

Trio is easier to budget than a fully dynamic product because each time band has a known rate.

It may suit:

• EV fleets;
• laundries;
• cold-storage businesses;
• workshops;
• commercial kitchens;
• battery owners;
• water-heating systems; and
• manufacturers able to avoid the evening peak.

Shape Shifters Agile

Agile changes the unit rate every half hour according to wholesale market conditions.

The business can see its prices approximately 24 hours ahead and alter consumption accordingly. Octopus caps the rate at £1/kWh.

Agile may suit businesses with:

• automated energy controls;
• battery storage;
• controllable machinery;
• flexible refrigeration;
• overnight EV charging;
• on-site generation;
• flexible heating and cooling; or
• staff able to monitor day-ahead prices.

It may be unsuitable for a company that must consume heavily during expensive periods.

Potential value of shifting demand

Suppose a company consumes 100,000kWh annually and can move 20% of its demand away from expensive periods.

The flexible consumption would be 20,000kWh.

Difference between expensive and cheaper periods	Illustrative annual saving
3p/kWh	£600
5p/kWh	£1,000
10p/kWh	£2,000
15p/kWh	£3,000
20p/kWh	£4,000

These are mathematical examples rather than promised Octopus savings.

A business should analyse at least one full year of half-hourly data before selecting Agile or Trio.

SSE fixed tariffs versus Shape Shifters

Requirement	SSE Protect or Choice	Octopus Shape Shifters
Simple conventional rate	Strong	Trio is structured; Agile is dynamic
Protection from wholesale increases	Strong	Limited under Agile
Ability to benefit from daily low prices	No	Yes
Reward for moving demand	Limited	Strong
Smart meter needed	Helpful	Required
Need to monitor daily prices	No	Agile customers should
Suitable for inflexible business	Strong	Less likely
Suitable for batteries and EVs	Conventional supply	Strong
Renewable-only electricity	Included	Product evidence should be checked
Maximum contract certainty	SSE Protect	Lower

SSE is stronger for conventional budget certainty.

Octopus is stronger where the company can actively optimise consumption.

Octopus Summer Saver

Summer Saver has two unit rates:

• a cheaper rate from April to September; and
• a higher rate from October to March.

Octopus says the product may save up to 10% where more than 70% of annual electricity is consumed during the summer period.

Potential users include:

• campsites;
• outdoor attractions;
• holiday parks;
• seaside businesses;
• seasonal cafés;
• wedding venues;
• visitor centres; and
• summer event operators.

A company with more winter consumption than expected could pay more than it would on a conventional tariff.

SSE does not prominently advertise an equivalent seasonal SME product.

Octopus No Standing Charge Tariff

Octopus offers a 12-month tariff with no daily standing charge to qualifying businesses in electricity bands 2, 3 and 4.

The network costs normally collected through a standing charge are incorporated into the unit rate instead.

Octopus says the tariff is more likely to help businesses near the lower end of their consumption band. It does not require a smart meter.

Break-even example

Assume a conventional tariff has:

• a £2 daily standing charge; and
• a unit rate 2p/kWh below the no-standing-charge option.

The annual standing charge is:

£2 × 365 = £730

The break-even consumption is:

£730 ÷ £0.02 = 36,500kWh

Below 36,500kWh, the no-standing-charge tariff may be cheaper.

Above that level, the higher unit rate may cost more than the avoided standing charge saves.

SSE does not currently promote a directly comparable business tariff.

SSE Variable Business Rates

SSE publishes Variable Business Rates for businesses that are not on a contracted energy plan.

These may apply where:

• a fixed agreement expires;
• the customer moves into SSE-supplied premises;
• no replacement tariff has been agreed; or
• the business otherwise remains on variable or out-of-contract pricing.

The following rates took effect in June 2026 and exclude VAT and levies such as Climate Change Levy. They can change with market conditions.

Non-half-hourly electricity

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	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

The 400p daily charge equals £1,460 annually.

The profile class 5–8 charge equals approximately £3,593 annually.

Illustrative SSE variable electricity costs

The following examples use the profile class 1 or 3 unrestricted rate.

Annual electricity use	Unit-rate cost	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 possible charges.

They are variable default prices rather than negotiated SSE Protect or Choice quotations.

SSE half-hourly variable prices

SSE’s June 2026 half-hourly schedule includes several different structures.

Examples for low-voltage supplies include:

Half-hourly arrangement	Unit rate	Standing charge	Capacity charge
Measurement class C or E unrestricted	33.669p/kWh	£23.98 per day	£1.58 per kVA monthly
Measurement class C or E day	34.741p/kWh	£23.98 per day	Around £1.58 per kVA monthly
Measurement class C or E night	29.521p/kWh	£23.98 per day	Around £1.58 per kVA monthly
Measurement class F or G unrestricted	31.547p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent
Measurement class F or G day	32.753p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent
Measurement class F or G night	26.717p/kWh	£18.36 per day	Product-dependent

Seasonal time-of-day peak rates can exceed 70p/kWh during selected winter periods.

This demonstrates why a half-hourly business should use actual interval data rather than comparing only one headline average rate.

SSE Variable Business Rates for gas

Customer 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 293,001kWh to 732,000kWh.

Illustrative monthly billed gas costs

Annual gas use	Unit-rate cost	Standing charge	Total
25,000kWh	£2,819.93	£1,186.25	£4,006.18
30,000kWh	£3,383.92	£1,186.25	£4,570.17
50,000kWh	£5,639.86	£1,186.25	£6,826.11
100,000kWh	£11,279.73	£1,186.25	£12,465.98
250,000kWh	£28,199.31	£1,186.25	£29,385.56

These examples exclude VAT, CCL and other charges.

Can the published prices identify a winner?

No.

SSE’s public figures are Variable Business Rates applying without a negotiated fixed agreement.

Octopus does not publish one equivalent nationwide table for every business meter.

A negotiated SSE Protect or Choice quotation could be materially lower than the variable prices, while an Octopus rate depends on the specific meter, region and contract date.

The published SSE figures are most useful for showing the potential cost of remaining out of contract.

SSE flexible procurement

SSE provides two prominent large-business flexible products.

SSE Shaping

SSE Shaping allows the customer to purchase baseload power in:

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

The company can spread purchases across several dates instead of fixing its entire volume at one moment.

Customers can trade through SSE’s online portal or obtain live quotations from its trading team.

SSE describes its flexible contracts as particularly relevant to organisations with more than 1MW of tradeable energy or annual energy expenditure of around £1 million.

SSE Cash Out

SSE Cash Out combines real-time consumption with half-hourly prices for the following day.

It can help businesses:

• improve forecasts;
• move consumption;
• optimise batteries;
• use on-site generation;
• respond to wholesale-price changes; and
• sell power through SSE’s Virtual Power Plant.

It is designed for sophisticated organisations able to alter daily demand.

Octopus services for larger businesses

Octopus’s large-commercial proposition places more emphasis on renewable allocation and flexible consumption than on a conventional list of wholesale-purchasing products.

Max Power

Max Power is intended for half-hourly businesses consuming less than 10GWh annually.

Octopus links the company with selected solar and wind generators. A dashboard forecasts their output, enabling the business to use more electricity when its allocated generators are producing.

Businesses can also transfer self-generated power between their own sites, even where the premises are in different parts of Britain. Octopus advertises potential savings of up to 21%, but this is a supplier estimate rather than a guaranteed outcome.

Electric Match

Electric Match is primarily intended for businesses consuming at least 10GWh annually.

The business selects renewable generators, and Octopus matches consumption with their output in half-hourly periods.

The dashboard identifies:

• the selected generators;
• forecast output;
• actual consumption;
• successfully matched electricity;
• emissions information; and
• billing data.

Octopus says businesses could match up to 80% of consumption while receiving 100% guaranteed green electricity overall.

SSE versus Octopus for large businesses

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Conventional fully fixed procurement	SSE Protect
Fix wholesale but pass through industry costs	SSE Choice
Buying wholesale blocks over time	SSE Shaping
Day-ahead daily optimisation	SSE Cash Out
Access to a trading portal	SSE
Business below 10GWh wanting renewable allocation	Octopus Max Power
Business above 10GWh wanting granular matching	Octopus Electric Match
Self-generation shared between sites	Octopus Max Power
Named wind-farm certificate	SSE Next Generation
Conventional Corporate PPA	Compare both
Virtual Power Plant participation	SSE
Smart-tariff-led flexibility	Octopus

SSE has the more conventional energy-procurement range.

Octopus has the more distinctive renewable-matching and digitally optimised proposition.

Comparing renewable electricity

Both suppliers have strong environmental credentials, but the details differ.

SSE supplier-wide fuel mix

SSE Energy Solutions’ 2024/25 total business fuel mix was:

Source	SSE Energy Solutions
Renewables	64%
Natural gas	36%
Coal	0%
Nuclear	0%
Other	0%
Reported carbon intensity	138g/kWh
Radioactive waste	0g/kWh

SSE’s renewable plans were separately reported as 100% renewable with zero market-based carbon emissions. Its other plans and Variable Business Rates were 2% renewable and 98% natural gas, with reported emissions of 374g/kWh.

Octopus supplier-wide fuel mix

Octopus’s corresponding 2024/25 mix was:

Source	Octopus
Renewables	86.4%
Nuclear	13.6%
Natural gas	0%
Coal	0%
Other	0%
Reported carbon emissions	0g/kWh
High-level radioactive waste	0.0010g/kWh

Octopus’s supplier-wide mix was entirely zero carbon but not renewable-only because it included nuclear generation.

Which supplier has greener electricity?

Environmental priority	Likely stronger fit
Higher supplier-wide renewable share	Octopus
Lower supplier-wide carbon intensity	Octopus
No fossil fuel in the total supplier mix	Octopus
Renewable-only fixed electricity	SSE
No nuclear allocation	SSE renewable plans
No radioactive waste	SSE renewable plans
Electricity from supplier-linked UK assets	SSE
Named wind-farm certificate	SSE Next Generation
Granular half-hourly matching	Octopus Electric Match
Smart tariffs that reward flexible use	Octopus
Conventional annual REGO matching	SSE
Multi-site renewable allocation	Octopus

Octopus has the stronger supplier-wide fuel mix.

SSE provides the clearer renewable-only fixed product because its fixed plans are matched entirely with renewable wind and hydro rather than nuclear generation.

SSE renewable electricity

SSE Protect and Choice include 100% renewable electricity generated by UK wind and hydro assets wholly or partly owned by SSE Renewables.

The electricity is matched through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin and independently verified for market-based Scope 2 reporting.

SSE Next Generation

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

The business receives:

• 100% renewable electricity;
• a proof-of-purchase certificate;
• the name of the allocated wind farm;
• REGOs; and
• evidence supporting zero market-based Scope 2 emissions.

This may suit companies that want a more tangible renewable story than a generic annual certificate.

Octopus Electric Match

Electric Match provides more detailed time-based evidence.

Consumption is matched with specific generators in the same half-hour in which the electricity is produced.

This can show:

• when the renewable electricity was generated;
• where it came from;
• which generator produced it;
• how much of the business’s use was matched; and
• the remaining electricity covered by standard green supply.

Octopus allows customers to select generators from solar, hydro, onshore wind and offshore wind categories.

SSE Next Generation is easier to communicate because it links annual consumption with one named wind farm.

Electric Match provides more granular operational evidence.

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements

SSE offers two principal CPPA structures.

Named Asset CPPA

The business purchases renewable electricity linked to a particular wind, solar or hydro asset.

Portfolio PPA

The customer purchases renewable electricity supported by a portfolio of SSE assets over a flexible period ranging from two to ten years.

SSE can combine a CPPA with fixed or flexible energy purchasing and provide balancing and supply services.

Octopus also supports renewable generator arrangements through Electric Match, Max Power, Wind Works and bespoke commercial contracts.

The strongest provider depends on:

• contract duration;
• generator ownership;
• required traceability;
• electricity-price formula;
• volume risk;
• sleeving costs;
• credit requirements; and
• whether the project creates additional renewable capacity.

Comparing business gas

SSE has a major advantage where a company requires an environmental gas product.

SSE Green Gas

SSE Green Gas matches:

Environmental mechanism	Proportion
Renewable-gas certificates	25%
Carbon offsets	75%

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

SSE Green Gas Plus

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

The physical gas arriving through the national network remains a mixture of renewable and fossil gas. The certificates show that an equivalent quantity of biomethane has entered the system.

Octopus supplies conventional business gas but does not currently promote an equally prominent standard business product with a defined renewable-gas percentage.

Which is better for business gas?

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Ordinary business gas	Compare quotations
25% certificate-backed renewable gas	SSE
100% RGGO-backed gas	SSE Green Gas Plus
Carbon-offset product	SSE
Tree-planting commitment	SSE
Smart electricity alongside gas	Either
Company replacing gas with electrification	Compare wider technology services

Gas burned at the premises still creates direct emissions. Certificates and offsets affect the environmental accounting rather than preventing combustion.

SSE Clarity

SSE Clarity is included free with SSE energy plans for customers with suitable smart or AMR data.

It allows businesses to:

• view half-hourly energy use;
• use graphs and tables;
• compare different sites;
• organise data by meter, energy type or time;
• set email alerts;
• identify unusual consumption;
• create forecasts; and
• download reports.

SSE Clarity can analyse information from electricity, gas, heat and water meters.

This makes it particularly useful for:

• multi-site estates;
• manufacturers;
• housing providers;
• public-sector organisations;
• hospitality groups; and
• businesses needing conventional energy reporting.

Octopus data tools

Octopus business customers can manage:

• bills;
• payments;
• meter data;
• contract information;
• multiple premises;
• export credits; and
• smart-tariff details online.

Agile users can see the next day’s half-hourly prices, while Electric Match and Max Power customers receive forecasting dashboards linked to renewable-generator output.

Which has the better data platform?

Requirement	Likely stronger fit
Conventional energy-use analysis	SSE Clarity
Email alerts for unexpected consumption	SSE
Multi-site comparison	SSE Clarity
Forecasting energy demand	SSE
Next-day half-hourly price information	Octopus
Active tariff optimisation	Octopus
Renewable-generator forecasts	Octopus
Granular carbon reporting	Octopus Electric Match
Utility data beyond electricity	SSE Clarity
Battery and export optimisation	Octopus

SSE Clarity is the stronger conventional energy-management platform.

Octopus’s dashboards are more closely integrated with tariffs, generators and changing market prices.

Commercial solar

SSE has the clearer end-to-end commercial solar proposition.

Its services include:

• rooftop solar;
• ground-mounted solar;
• solar carports;
• floating solar;
• battery storage;
• private-wire connections;
• EV charging integration;
• capital purchase;
• fully funded PPAs;
• operation and maintenance; and
• large solar farms for major users.

SSE says a suitable on-site system might supply approximately 20% to 50% of annual electricity demand. Its capital-purchase examples indicate potential payback periods of five to eight years, while fully funded PPAs require no initial capital payment. These are indicative supplier estimates rather than guarantees.

SSE solar funding

Capital purchase

The customer pays for and owns the equipment.

Potential benefits include:

• free electricity after payback;
• ownership of the asset;
• full attribution of carbon savings;
• potential property-value improvement; and
• long-term protection against grid prices.

Fully funded PPA

SSE funds, installs, operates and maintains the system.

The customer purchases the generated electricity under a long-term agreement.

This reduces the upfront cost but creates contractual commitments involving:

• electricity prices;
• indexation;
• roof or land rights;
• property transfers;
• minimum purchase obligations;
• early termination; and
• end-of-term ownership.

Octopus renewable infrastructure

Octopus is particularly strong where the business already has, or intends to combine:

• solar generation;
• battery storage;
• flexible consumption;
• multiple sites;
• smart import tariffs;
• dynamic export; and
• renewable-generator matching.

Its Max Power product can allocate generation between business sites, while Wind Works can fund on-site wind and other renewable equipment through a long-term PPA.

SSE is more likely to appeal to a business seeking a standard turnkey solar installation.

Octopus may suit a company wanting the solar project integrated with smart import and export pricing.

Solar export payments

Octopus Panel Power

Panel Power pays qualifying businesses:

12p per exported kWh

It applies to eligible business and charity solar systems and requires an Octopus import tariff.

Illustrative annual income is:

Annual export	Income at 12p/kWh
5,000kWh	£600
10,000kWh	£1,200
25,000kWh	£3,000
50,000kWh	£6,000
100,000kWh	£12,000

Shape Shifters: Export

Shape Shifters: Export changes its payment every half hour in line with wholesale prices.

A business can potentially:

• store daytime solar generation;
• charge a battery when electricity is cheap;
• delay exports; and
• sell electricity during more valuable periods.

SSE does not prominently publish one universal flat business SEG rate. Larger projects are more likely to use a bespoke PPA, private-wire agreement or flexibility arrangement.

Which is better for solar?

Solar requirement	Likely stronger fit
Turnkey rooftop installation	SSE
Ground-mounted solar	SSE
Floating solar	SSE
Solar carports	SSE
Fully funded solar PPA	SSE
Published flat export payment	Octopus
Dynamic battery export	Octopus
Sharing generation between company sites	Octopus Max Power
Solar linked with flexible wholesale procurement	Compare both
Large private-wire solar farm	SSE
Battery and tariff optimisation	Octopus
Complete operation and maintenance package	SSE

Electric vehicles

The suppliers also have different EV strengths.

SSE EV services

SSE provides:

• workplace chargers;
• employee and visitor charging;
• fleet-depot infrastructure;
• public rapid-charging hubs;
• bus charging;
• HGV charging;
• site design;
• network connections;
• installation;
• operation; and
• maintenance.

Its workplace service is described as a scalable end-to-end proposition, while its first dedicated HGV hub uses chargers rated at up to 360kW.

Octopus Fleet

Octopus launched an expanded Octopus Fleet service in February 2026.

Its components include:

• public charging through Electroverse;
• fleet charging cards;
• business payment cards;
• home-charging reimbursement;
• EV chargers;
• batteries;
• rooftop solar;
• tariffs; and
• consolidated fleet charging information.

Electroverse provides access to more than 1.3 million charge points across over 50 countries, according to Octopus.

The wider Octopus group also offers business leasing and employee salary-sacrifice schemes.

Which is better for EVs?

EV requirement	Likely stronger fit
Workplace charging installation	SSE
Large fleet depot	SSE
Bus or HGV infrastructure	SSE
Ultra-rapid public hub	SSE
EV salary sacrifice	Octopus
Company-car leasing	Octopus
Public charging roaming	Octopus Electroverse
Home charging reimbursement	Octopus Fleet
Charging cards and consolidated payments	Octopus
Off-peak smart electricity tariff	Octopus
Solar, battery and charger infrastructure	Compare both
Full site and grid design	SSE

SSE is likely to be stronger for physical infrastructure.

Octopus has the broader fleet-management, vehicle and roaming ecosystem.

Multi-site businesses

Both suppliers can manage portfolios containing several premises.

SSE provides:

• consolidated account management;
• fixed and flexible procurement;
• SSE Clarity;
• half-hourly meter support;
• renewable products;
• commercial solar;
• EV infrastructure; and
• large-estate services.

Octopus provides:

• joint switching;
• contract renewals;
• billing;
• one online account;
• central customer support;
• export services;
• Max Power;
• Electric Match; and
• renewable allocation between sites.

SSE may be stronger for a conventional national estate requiring infrastructure and procurement support.

Octopus may be more attractive where the organisation wants to share generation, manage exports or actively alter consumption.

Contract expiry and out-of-contract pricing

SSE customers without an active fixed or flexible plan move onto variable or out-of-contract rates that can change with the market. SSE advises customers to renew or agree a fixed plan for greater certainty.

Octopus customers should also review their contract before expiry, particularly when using a specialist smart tariff.

Businesses should begin reviewing prices several months before the end date to avoid:

• variable default rates;
• deemed pricing;
• higher standing charges;
• loss of renewable-product benefits; or
• a rushed procurement decision.

Contract risks to check

Business energy agreements are not protected by the household price cap, and there is generally no cooling-off period after a contract is accepted, including when the agreement is made by telephone.

Before choosing SSE or Octopus, check:

• unit rates;
• standing charges;
• contract duration;
• start and end dates;
• fixed and variable components;
• pass-through network costs;
• smart-tariff time bands;
• Agile’s £1/kWh ceiling;
• capacity charges;
• meter and data costs;
• early termination fees;
• renewable evidence;
• nuclear content;
• export eligibility;
• broker commission;
• renewal procedures; and
• post-contract prices.

SSE advantages and disadvantages

Octopus advantages and disadvantages

Which supplier is better for different businesses?

Business type or requirement	Likely better fit	Reason
Small business wanting predictable costs	SSE Protect	Extensive fixed-cost protection
Company accepting some pass-through costs	SSE Choice	Lower-cost fixed structure
Business with flexible machinery	Octopus	Shape Shifters
EV fleet charging overnight	Octopus	Smart time-of-use pricing
Business needing a fleet-depot installation	SSE	End-to-end infrastructure
Seasonal summer company	Octopus	Summer Saver
Low-use qualifying meter	Octopus may suit	No Standing Charge Tariff
Company requiring renewable-only electricity	SSE	Included with fixed plans
Company prioritising supplier-wide carbon intensity	Octopus	Zero reported carbon
Business excluding nuclear power	SSE renewable plan	Octopus mix includes nuclear
Company wanting a named wind farm	SSE Next Generation	Named asset and certificate
Business wanting half-hourly generator matching	Octopus	Electric Match
Flexible half-hourly user below 10GWh	Octopus Max Power	Designed for this segment
Large company wanting staged purchasing	SSE Shaping	Monthly, quarterly or seasonal blocks
Business wanting daily market optimisation	SSE Cash Out or Octopus Agile	Different scales and structures
Company requiring renewable gas	SSE	Two defined products
Business needing conventional energy analytics	SSE Clarity	Forecasts, alerts and multi-site reports
Business wanting battery export optimisation	Octopus	Dynamic export
Company seeking turnkey commercial solar	SSE	Wider installation proposition
Business wanting floating solar	SSE	Specialist service
Company wanting a published flat export rate	Octopus	Panel Power
Electric HGV operator	SSE	High-powered HGV hub expertise
Company-car and mixed charging fleet	Octopus	Leasing, cards and reimbursement
Large multi-site organisation	Compare both	Different procurement and technology strengths

Final verdict: SSE vs Octopus

SSE Energy Solutions and Octopus Energy are both strong choices for UK businesses, but their main advantages suit different operating models.

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

• a conventional fixed contract;
• extensive budget certainty;
• renewable-only electricity;
• no nuclear allocation;
• renewable gas;
• a named UK wind farm;
• wholesale block purchasing;
• daily optimisation for a major energy user;
• detailed conventional energy reporting;
• a Corporate PPA;
• a turnkey commercial solar installation;
• floating or private-wire solar; or
• substantial workplace, fleet or HGV charging infrastructure.

Octopus is likely to be the stronger choice where the business wants:

• smart time-of-use pricing;
• direct exposure to half-hourly wholesale prices;
• a seasonal tariff;
• no daily standing charge;
• battery optimisation;
• dynamic export payments;
• a published 12p/kWh solar export tariff;
• renewable generation shared between sites;
• granular half-hourly matching;
• EV leasing and salary sacrifice; or
• consolidated home, depot and public fleet charging.

The environmental comparison depends on the measure used.

Octopus had the stronger supplier-wide fuel mix:

• 86.4% renewable;
• 13.6% nuclear;
• no gas or coal; and
• reported carbon emissions of 0g/kWh.

SSE’s total business mix was:

• 64% renewable;
• 36% natural gas; and
• reported carbon emissions of 138g/kWh.

However, SSE Protect and Choice include 100% renewable electricity from SSE-linked wind and hydro assets. These products have no nuclear allocation and are reported as zero carbon under market-based Scope 2 accounting.

The pricing question can only be answered through matched quotations.

A fair comparison should require SSE and Octopus to quote for:

1. the same meter and postcode;
2. identical annual consumption;
3. the same contract start date;
4. an equivalent term;
5. all standing charges;
6. fixed and pass-through costs;
7. capacity and metering fees;
8. equivalent renewable credentials;
9. smart-tariff savings using actual data;
10. export income;
11. broker commission;
12. early termination charges;
13. renewal and default pricing; and
14. the complete projected annual cost.

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

• choose SSE for renewable fixed supply, green gas, large-scale procurement and infrastructure;
• choose Octopus for smart tariffs, batteries, exports, EV fleet services and granular renewable matching;
• compare SSE Protect with an Octopus conventional fixed tariff where price certainty matters;
• compare SSE Cash Out with Octopus Agile or Max Power where demand can be actively controlled;
• compare SSE’s bespoke export and PPA options with Octopus Panel Power and Shape Shifters: Export where generation is central; and
• select the supplier offering the lowest realistic total annual cost after operational flexibility and export revenue have been considered.

FAQ