What Do We Do About Our Electricity Bill?

Check Your Bills First

If you have discovered that you might not be paying for electricity at your business premises, your instinct to sort it out properly is the right one. Ignoring the situation or hoping nobody notices creates problems that tend to grow over time.

Before assuming the worst, make sure you actually have an issue. Look for signs like unexpectedly low bills or no electricity charges appearing anywhere in your accounts. Energy suppliers sometimes bundle charges in ways that are not immediately obvious, and your electricity costs might be included in your total bill without being listed as a separate line item. A phone call to your supplier should clear this up quickly.

If you rent the premises, check your lease agreement carefully. Some landlords include electricity in the rent rather than arranging separate meters, though this varies considerably by property type and location. Splitting supplies can be expensive and awkward in buildings with multiple units or flats above commercial space.

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Work Out Where Your Supply Comes From

If you have confirmed there is no electricity account in your name, the next step is to trace where your power is actually coming from. In older buildings or converted premises, the wiring arrangements can be unusual. You may be connected to a neighbouring property's supply, a communal meter, or an arrangement set up by a previous tenant that was never properly transferred.

Your meter point administration number, or MPAN, identifies your electricity supply point. You can find this on any electricity bill for the address, or you can contact your regional distribution network operator to help trace the supply. Electricity North West, UK Power Networks, and the other regional operators maintain records of all connection points in their areas.

If you cannot find a meter on your premises, there may be one in a shared cupboard, basement, or external box that you were not aware of. Building managers or landlords should be able to help locate it. Where wiring arrangements seem unclear or potentially unsafe, consider getting an inspection from a qualified electrician.

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Contact the Right People

Once you understand the physical setup, you will need to speak to the appropriate parties to regularise the situation. This typically means your landlord if you rent the premises, the distribution network operator for your area, and an energy supplier to set up a proper account.

If it turns out you have been using electricity without a valid supply agreement, you may owe money for past usage. However, Ofgem rules restrict back billing to 12 months where the supplier was at fault for the billing error. Suppliers can estimate consumption based on industry agreed methodologies, though accurate meter readings are preferred where possible.

Being upfront about the situation generally leads to better outcomes than waiting to be discovered. If you reach a deadlock with your supplier or landlord, the Ombudsman Services: Energy can help resolve complaints that have not been settled after eight weeks.

Getting Proper Advice

For complex situations, particularly where there are disputes about who should pay or where the wiring arrangements are genuinely unclear, it may be worth getting independent advice. Citizens Advice offers free guidance on energy issues and can explain your rights and obligations. If you or someone in your business is elderly or disabled, ask your supplier about the Priority Services Register, which provides additional support.

If you need a new meter installed or existing arrangements changed, your supplier will coordinate with the distribution network operator. There may be costs involved depending on the work required.

Sorting out an irregular electricity supply takes some effort, but getting it right protects you from unexpected bills and potential legal problems later.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Business Standing Charge Calculator lets you work out how much your business pays in daily standing charges over a year, for electricity, gas or both, even when a unit is empty. Try it now →