In recent years, businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales have faced unprecedented increases in energy costs, creating financial pressure across all sectors and regions. Almost four in five (79.7%) businesses have experienced raised energy bills in the last 12 months alone. Unlike domestic consumers, these businesses have no protective price cap, exposing them to volatile market rates. Therefore, it is more important than ever to compare business energy deals and stay informed using a reliable business electricity comparison site.
We surveyed business owners in Great Britain to get the complete picture of what’s happening with their energy bills. We asked about their current bills, how much they’ve gone up, what kind of support they’re getting, and what help they really need.
Chris Shaw, former Utility Bidder CEO, believed these findings demanded action:
“Nearly 80% of businesses have seen their energy bills increase in just the past year, and yet there’s still no cap in place to protect them. For too long, British businesses — especially small and independent ones — have been left exposed to unstable energy prices without the safety nets that domestic consumers have.
“At Utility Bidder, we speak to business owners every day who are doing everything they can to survive. They’re tightening budgets, putting off key investments, and, in some cases, considering closure.
“That’s why we’re calling on the UK Government to introduce a business energy price cap. It’s a simple but powerful step that could provide stability for every company. We’ve launched an official Parliament petition to help make this happen. If you believe businesses deserve fairer treatment, we’d urge you to add your name, share the petition, and show your support.
“Together, we can send a clear message that this can’t wait.”
Summary of findings
- Over four-fifths (80.6%) of businesses say energy prices are one of the biggest challenges they face.
- Almost 80% of business owners said their energy bills have increased in the last 12 months.
- 100% of business owners in the North East said their energy bills have gone up.
- One in five (22.0%) businesses pay more than £6,000 annually for their energy, compared to 14.1% that pay under £1,000.
- Nearly two-thirds (60.0%) of businesses run by those earning under £10,000 pay just £1,000–£1,500 in energy bills, suggesting smaller premises and tighter margins.
- Over a third (34.1%) of women say energy is their most significant financial challenge, slightly more than 32.6% of men.
- Female-owned businesses are less likely to receive government support, with 47.7% of women saying they receive no support, compared to 28.3% of men.
- Nearly three-quarters (72.3%) of business owners earning £100,000+ want grants or subsidies to help with energy costs.
- Welsh businesses are among the most supportive of price caps, with 87.5% backing the idea.
- After the North East, business owners in the West Midlands want investment in renewables the most, at 64.3%.
Places where the most business owners have noticed an increase in business energy costs
While almost 80% of businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales have noticed their energy bill increase over the past year, we wanted to identify the regions most affected.
Every single owner surveyed in the North East said their annual business gas and electricity bills increased in the last year (2024–2025), while more than nine in 10 (92.9%) owners in the West Midlands said the same.
Welsh and Scottish businesses have also been affected by widespread increases, as more than four-fifths (87.5% and 84.6%, respectively) of companies have seen their energy costs rise.
How much is the annual business energy bill?
Our research revealed that over one in five (22.0%) businesses spend more than £6,000 annually on energy alone. These are substantial costs for SMEs, potentially limiting their ability to hire, grow, or stay afloat.
In contrast, just 14.1% spend less than £1,000 annually. There is also a clear gender difference, with more female business owners than their male counterparts (21.6% versus 9.4%) in this price bracket.
Regions with the most expensive business energy
Some UK regions are hit harder than others regarding energy bills, with big differences in the most common annual spend. A yearly bill of over £6,000 is most common in six regions — Scotland, North East, North West, East, South West, and London.
In Scotland, almost two-fifths (38.5%) of businesses said they’re paying over £6,000 a year, the highest figure for this bracket in this study.
The North East is not far behind, with a third (33.3%) saying the same. Businesses in London are also struggling, with one in three (29.6%) owners in the region reporting energy costs over £6,000.
Some areas are managing to keep bills lower. In the East Midlands, almost two-fifths (37.5%) of businesses spend under £1,000 a year, with more than a quarter (27.3%) of Yorkshire companies paying the same.
Over 80% of UK businesses see energy costs as one of their most significant problems
When we asked about the most significant financial challenges for business owners, energy came out in the top spots. Just over a third (33.5%) named it their number one concern. Another 47.1% said it’s one of their top three.
Businesses owned by individuals from lower household income brackets show greater vulnerability. At 50%, owners with personal incomes between £30,000 and £39,999 are significantly more likely to see energy costs as their most significant financial challenge.
Is the government doing enough for business owners?
Our survey shows there is a sense of dissatisfaction regarding government support measures around business energy bills. Over four-fifths (81.9%) of respondents either don’t receive any financial support from the government or think it’s not doing enough to support their business.
Businesses in the East Midlands are getting the least backing, as almost two-thirds (62.5%) answered that they do not receive financial support.
Only one in five (18.1%) business owners in Great Britain said the support they’re getting is actually enough to make a difference. From this, owners in the North East are most satisfied, at 33.3%.
Where more government support is needed
Nearly two-thirds (61.2%) of respondents want immediate implementation of energy price caps or stricter regulation, demanding protections similar to those given to residential customers.
Over half (52.9%) wanted direct government support through financial subsidies or grants to alleviate the financial pressures caused by these energy bills. Similarly, almost five in 10 (47.6%) support tax breaks or incentives for energy efficiency.
More than four in 10 (40.5%) would prefer sustainable, long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes, asking the government to boost investment in renewable energy infrastructure.
One male business owner from the South East, who has seen his bills rise to between £1,501 and £2,000, even asked the government to “stop Net Zero.” Net Zero is a legally binding commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, meaning all UK businesses must switch from fossil fuels to renewable technologies.
Methodology
We surveyed 225 business owners in Great Britain to find out more about their current energy bills, recent changes, and the government support they receive.
The survey was completed in May 2025, and all data is correct as of then.
Response was very quick. quotes were very competitive and the advice from Liam was exactly what was needed. a great service!
Very quick & easy contact, sourced new rates quickly & transfer process was simple .
Utility Bidder takes all the hassle out of sorting through the mine field of service providers and provides a professional and time efficient way of securing a competitive price for my energy needs.
Having previously spoken with a rival broker whose consultants I felt were pressuring me into signing a contract immediately, Kirsty Schofield was a breath of air. She found a cheaper and shorter contract to suit my needs and was very friendly and efficient. She made renewing my energy contract a pleasant experience instead of a dreaded chore.”
First class service from Sarah at Utility Bidder, I have been with them for a couple of years now and wouldn’t go elsewhere and would certainly recommend.
Don’t take our word! Listen to our customers
Award-winning energy comparison
We’re dedicated to helping businesses like yours save more on energy. It only takes a couple of minutes to compare quotes.