This one is mostly down to personal preference – electric hobs are easier to clean, whereas it’s typically easier to control the temperature on a gas hob. You can have a gas hob if you use an electric heating system, just as long as you have a gas supply, and vice versa.
But is gas or electric cheaper for businesses? Before we dive into the conclusion, let’s take a look at the average business gas and electricity bills in the UK.
The average daily cost of gas and electric will depend on the size of your business. Below is a comparison of yearly gas vs. electric business energy bills.
Average UK business gas usage
- On average, UK microbusinesses use between 5,000-15,000 kWh of gas a year, while their average annual gas bills come in at around £400-820.
- Small businesses come in a little higher at 15,000-30,000 kWh, with bills varying between £820-£1,458 a year.
- Medium-sized business usage averages between 30,000-65,000 kWh per year, with annual bills coming in at £1,458-2,239.
- Unsurprisingly, large businesses use the most gas of all, averaging around 75,000 kWh a year. Although larger companies typically benefit from the best priced gas rates and bespoke tariffs, they can still spend significant sums of money because of the sheer amount of gas they use.
Find out what else can affect business gas prices – from supply and demand to regulatory pressure.
Average UK business electricity usage
- When it comes to electricity usage, microbusinesses average between 5,000-15,000 kWh per year, costing between £900-2,244.
- Small companies average at around 15,000-25,000 kWh, while their bills typically come in at around £2,367-3,660.
- Medium-sized enterprises typically use an average of 25,000-50,000 kWh, setting them back in the range of £3,774-7,234 each year.
- At the top end of the scale, large businesses consume an average of 90,000 kWh of electricity every year. As with gas, while these larger companies tend to get the most competitive rates, they can end up paying significantly more overall for their electricity due to the scale of their usage.
Most people will focus on the total cost stated on their energy bill, but it’s also useful to note the price per kWh. Suppliers will charge a certain amount per kWh of electricity that your business uses – meaning the more you consume, the more you pay. To calculate the kWh of any electrical device, simply multiply the wattage by the hours it is in use in one day – then divide this by 1,000. This number can then be multiplied by the number of days the appliance is in use to calculate how much electricity it uses. In the UK, there is no standard price for electricity per kWh.
Find out more about the average business gas and electricity bills for UK businesses.
So, is gas cheaper than electric? Going by these figures, gas is the lower cost option. However, there are other factors to consider – including energy efficiency and the VAT that is applied on top of business energy. If you’re struggling to find the best priced solution for your business, start comparing your options with utility brokers. Utility Bidder acts as an intermediary between you and the commercial utility suppliers to find the best possible priced tariff for your business.
Is your electricity bill too high? Do you want to cut costs on your business gas? Get in touch with us today. We’ll save you time and money – with a commitment to find you the best price.
