Frequently asked questions

In most cases, bills are issued quarterly and your first bill will arrive within 3 months of the start of your contract.

Setting up your online account is straightforward. Go to register for an account.

You will then be taken to the Business Energy Centre website where you will be asked to fill out a short online form. It will ask for your details, your company details and some information regarding your account (customer account number/invoice structure identifier and meter point number, or the tender ID and meter point number).

Once that's complete and you've agreed to the Terms and Conditions, you just click the sign up button to establish your online account.

Your contract is based on Direct Debit payment, unless an alternative payment method has been agreed. This includes a discount (0.5p/kWh for electricity or 0.1p/kWh for gas) against our standard unit rate.

Direct Debit reduces your risk of getting into debt, as it's paid off automatically. If your payment method is budget Direct Debit, the set amount will be taken each month on your elected date. If your payment method is variable Direct Debit, you’ll have 5 days after receiving your bill to let us know any issues, before your payment is completed 14 days after billing.

Please note that if you agree your contract based on Direct Debit payment without a Direct Debit in place, or you later cancel or recall the Direct Debit, your prices will increase by 0.5p/kWh for electricity or 0.1p/kWh for gas.

If you don’t have a Direct Debit set up, please return a completed Direct Debit mandate to DDMandate@sse.com or post to SSE Energy Supply Ltd, PO Box 144, Blyth, NE24 9FT.

If you’re billed quarterly but would like to switch to a budget Direct Debit paying a fixed amount each month, please call our customer service team on 0800 389 4466 to discuss.

Estimated bills are indicated by an 'E' as the reading source. If you want to provide an accurate reading, simply log in to your online account and supply an up-to-date meter reading. You can also submit one online, or by calling 0345 725 2526 or by post to SSE Business Energy, No. 1 Forbury Place, 43 Forbury Road, Reading RG1 3JH.

You will receive an amended bill and these will be validated before being applied to your account. If we have any questions concerning the meter reading you supply, we'll contact you.

If you have a variable Direct Debit on your account, any credit will be reviewed and refunded within 14 days as long as there is no issue preventing this. If you don't have a variable Direct Debit, please call the billing department on 0345 725 2526 with an actual meter reading or submit our online form with the refund request and meter reading.

Copies of your bills (and other data reports) are kept in your online account. If you want to download a PDF or print any of your bills, just log in to your account at any time. If a change in your circumstances means you don't receive a bill (for example, a change of address), please provide the details of the change either using our contact us form or by calling us on 03457 25 25 26.

The easiest way to pay is by direct debit. Your contract is based on direct debit payment, unless an alternative payment method has been agreed. This includes a discount (0.5p/kWh for electricity or 0.1p/kWh for gas) against our standard unit rate.

We offer two different types of direct debit: a variable type based on the account balance 14 days after the billing date or a budget direct debit paying agreed amounts monthly towards your quarterly invoices. The budget direct debit is reviewed annually to ensure the amount you're paying is accurate. The direct debit mandate form is available here.

Please note that if you agree your contract based on direct debit payment without a direct debit in place, or you later cancel or recall the direct debit, your prices will increase by 0.5p/kWh for electricity or 0.1p/kWh for gas.

If your agreed payment method is not direct debit, you'll find more details here and payment details are also shown on your bill.

There are many reasons that people query energy bills so it's important for us to understand why you feel it is incorrect. For example, are any of your details wrong or is the amount higher than usual?

It's always worth checking to see if the bill is based on an estimated meter reading. If it is, check your actual meter reading then get in touch to confirm. You can submit a meter reading online,or by calling 0345 725 2526 or by post to SSE Business Energy, No. 1 Forbury Place, 43 Forbury Road, Reading RG1 3JH.

Other factors can make a difference too. For example, it could be based on a shorter or longer billing period. It could be due to a change of VAT rate or because your rate changed due to a new contract.

If the amount of energy you've used has changed dramatically, is it because you've introduced some new equipment, changed your working hours or patterns or added a more energy-intensive working practice? In some cases, it is possible for meters to be faulty but this is very rare.

If you need to discuss a bill that you think is incorrect, you can submit our online form or call 03457 25 25 26 (option 1) with your account details to hand.

The first thing you need to do is get in touch. It's important that you let us know that you're struggling as soon as you can. We'll then work with you to try and understand your business and your individual situation. We'll then try to agree a solution. The best way to contact us is by calling 03457 25 25 26 and selecting option 2.

Renewing your contract is straightforward. We’ll write to you around 90 days before your contract end date with a new contract offer. Look out for your renewal letter and when it arrives, review it and check our current rates. You can then confirm your acceptance by email and your new contract will begin from your renewal date. If you don't renew your contract but continue to be supplied by us, your account will revert to our variable business rate until you agree a new contract with us or you move to a new supplier.

The rates you are charged for your energy are detailed on your contract. They are also shown on your bills alongside the number of units used. If your contract was negotiated by a third party on your behalf, they will also have a copy of your agreement.

The Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme is an environmental programme aimed at promoting widespread uptake of small-scale, low carbon, electricity generation technologies. The FIT scheme requires certain licensed electricity suppliers to pay fixed tariffs to micro and small renewable and micro Combined Heat & Power (CHP) generators for electricity generated and exported to the National Grid.

The FIT scheme policy and tariff rates are set by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), but the scheme is administered by FIT Licensees and Ofgem. For further information please take a look here.

Climate Change Levy is a government-imposed tax to encourage the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is also intended to encourage businesses to use energy more efficiently. CCL is charged on the units/kWh used and is index linked.

VAT can also be charged on the Climate Change Levy - except where the supply qualifies for the reduced VAT rate. Renewable energy is exempt from CCL.

VAT is normally charged on electricity and gas at the standard rate of 20%. However, there is a 'low energy consumption' level that is charged at a lower rate of 5%. The low energy consumption level equates to an average business electricity demand of 33kWh a day (or 1000 kWh a month) or business gas of 145kWh a day (or 4,397 kWh a month).

There are a number of different types of energy meter. These range from clock dial meters to smart meters. Most digital meters have a button on the front which you can press to work through the different options. If you are unsure about meter reading at any point, make a note of the meter serial number shown on the front of the meter and call us on 03457 25 25 26 and we'll try to help. You can also take photographs of your meter and email them to sme.service.helpdesk@sse.com.

It's important to provide meter readings as soon as you begin to be supplied by us - either because you have switched from another provider or have moved into new premises supplied by us. Readings can be provided either through your online account (it's easy to register and it's well worth sorting this as quickly as you can). You can submit a meter reading online or by calling 0345 725 2526, by post to SSE Business Energy, No. 1 Forbury Place, 43 Forbury Road, Reading RG1 3JH.

You'll need to supply the Meter Point Administration Number (or the Meter Serial Number) as well as the full address when you supply the meter readings. We'll accept meter readings taken within 10 working days before or after the initial change of supply date.

Yes. Most meters are read by our meter reading team every six months.

In December 2021 SSE Energy Solutions signed new commercial partnerships with metering service providers.

• Lowri Beck will act as the new electricity data collector, data aggregator (DCDA) and gas meter read service provider.
• SMS and Energy Assets will act as meter operators (MOPs).

We’ll begin migrating customer sites over to the new service providers in a phased approach in early 2022, with a targeted completion date of 31 March 2022.

In terms of the service you receive, SSE Energy Solutions will continue to be your energy or gas supplier.

When visiting your premises to read the meter, Lowri Beck representatives will provide identification displaying the Lowri Beck logo and telephone number together with the name and photograph of the representative. If you wish to confirm the identity of an engineer, please telephone the number provided on their identity card.

As our new meter read provider starts to schedule meter readings aligned to when you’re due to receive a bill, there will be a short-term change to your billing cycle, meaning your next bill could be triggered either earlier or later than your existing 90-day or 30-day period.

I haven’t had my meter read as normally expected.

To provide a meter reading simply log in to your online account and supply an up-to-date meter reading or submit one online, or by calling 0345 725 2526.

If you suffer from a temporary loss of supply, you need to contact your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or call 105. You can find details of the various DNOs around the country here.

In a situation that you can smell gas or suspect a leak phone the Gas Emergency helpline on 0800 111 999.

If you need a visit from one of our staff to change a meter, take a meter reading or inspect your supply, you just have to get in touch to arrange a suitable time. You can call us on 03457 25 25 26 or submit our online form.

Please note that all of our engineers carry identification and will show their ID unprompted when they visit. Occasionally, we also use sub-contracted staff to supplement our team. These contractors will also show their identification when they visit. If you need to establish what the meter supplies (known as a supply trace or wire trace) you will need to contact a private electrician.

It's easy to move your energy accounts to SSE Business Energy. Contact our Energy Sales team to discuss your contract options on 0800 389 4466.

If your contract with your existing supplier has expired, you can join us right away. We'll take care of the administration for the change of supplier. If you are still in contract, you will need to comply with your existing supplier's terms and conditions for contract termination.

Please complete our online form or call us on 0345 026 4565.

You will need to provide us with a meter reading, moving date and details of the person taking on the responsibility for the supply once you have left - either the landlord, new tenant or new owner. Please complete our online form or call us on 0345 026 4565.

Your final bill will be sent within 5-7 days of your Change of Tenancy being recorded in our system.

Yes we'll be happy to supply your new premises. All you have to do is give us a call on 0345 026 4565 and we can discuss a contract to suit your new arrangements.

You will need to provide us with a meter reading, moving date and your company details. Please complete our online form or call us on 0345 026 4565.

Yes. Please call us on 0345 026 4565 to discuss the various options we have available. The supply will initially be invoiced on our variable business rates until a contract is agreed. if you prefer, please complete our online form and we will contact you with a contract offer once your account is set up.

Your account will be placed on our variable business rates until you agree a new contract or change supplier. If you would like to negotiate a contract then call us 0345 026 4565 and we can happily discuss the various options available.

You can find out who your gas supplier is via findmysupplier.energy.

Alternatively call the Meter Number Helpline on 0870 608 1524. (Please note that calls to this number cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge).

The online service and Meter Number Helpline will also be able to help you find your MPRN number. Your MPRN, or 'Meter Point Reference Number', is a way of identifying the unique gas supply to your property.

To find out who supplies your electricity you can call your regional electricity distribution telephone number. You can find the numbers for all British regions listed below.

• North Scotland - 0345 026 2554
• Central and South Scotland - 0330 1010 300
• North East England - 0845 6013 268
• North West England - 0870 7510 093
• Eastern England - 0845 6015 467
• Southern England - 0845 0262 554
• South West England, South Wales, West & East Midlands - 0845 6015 972
• South East England - 0845 6015 467
• London - 0845 601 5467
• Yorkshire - 0845 070 7172
• Merseyside, Cheshire, North Shropshire & North Wales - 033 0101 0300

Please note that the cost of calling a phone number depends on the digits it starts with, your phone provider and whether you use a landline or mobile. However, it is now free for mobile users to call 0800 and 0808 numbers.

Yes, new meter installations are subject to an administration fee and signing up to a supply contract with SSE Business Energy.

The easiest way to check who supplies gas or electricity to your property is to look at your bill. The supplier's details will be clearly shown on the bill. However, if you don't have a bill you can call your local Distribution Network Operator and ask for their Meter Point Administration Service. They'll ask you to quote the meter serial number which is shown on the meter.

SSE installs a number of different kinds of meter. To request installation of a certain type of electricity meter, please complete this application form.

For a new Gas connection, please contact SSE Commercial Gas Siteworks on 0345 070 1265 to discuss your needs.

kVA stands for Kilovolt Amperes and is also known as Total Power. It's the maximum power requirement for your premises that has been agreed with your Distribution Network Operator.

There's no set time for meter installations. We recommend that you should allow 12 weeks from your application date although we will try our best to get the meter installed at the earliest date available, provided the electricity or gas distribution work has been completed.

You need a Meter Operator contract to make sure you obtain the best price and the level of service you require. Also, suppliers can't arrange a meter connection without it.

No. To ensure fair competition within the industry, they have to operate independently.

As SSE is providing a credit account we need to make sure the customers are able to cover their commitment to pay their balance in full.

Yes, you do need to be on site for the duration of the installation.

'Deemed contracts' occur when customers begin a new supply at a property but have not yet signed a supply contract. The rates for 'deemed contracts' are then higher because the power for these has to be acquired by us on a daily basis at a less economical rate.