Many domestic energy companies also offer specialised electricity tariffs for businesses, which are created with the unique needs of companies in mind. If your business features a large number of computers and other electronic systems, such as lighting and air conditioning, it can be especially important to find an affordable supplier to avoid running up expensive electricity bills each quarter.

There are a number of factors you should look for when evaluating electricity companies however, more than simply the price alone. The first thing to check is that the supplier is licensed by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) to supply electricity to companies, as this will ensure there are procedures in place if you need to file complaints about any aspect of the service in the future.

If you've received your electricity supply from a particular company in the past, and you are currently out of contract, there's no reason you have to use the same provider in the future - especially as there will likely be a better deal available in the highly competitive business electricity market. Using price comparison websites can be a useful method of directly comparing the different tariffs offered by the leading companies, but you should also visit these suppliers' websites independently in case there are exclusive deals available there.

When you sign up for business electricity, there are various ways this can be delivered to your premises, which carry different costs. One of the most cost-effective options for many companies is to use a dual fuel tariff that combines electricity with gas, allowing you to save money as well as enjoy the convenience of dealing with a single supplier for all your business energy needs.

When discussing the finer details of agreements with suppliers, they are legally obliged to provide accurate and reasonable information on how much the service is likely to cost, according to guidelines set by the Association of Energy Suppliers (AES). There will also usually be a reasonable notice period during which you can opt to cancel the contract, which may be between seven and 30 days depending on the supplier.

Business electricity can be paid easily through direct debit, and there may be discounts when choosing to be billed annually rather than monthly. Dealing with an intermediary could help you negotiate a lower rate for your business electricity tariff, as well as more flexible terms for the duration of your contract.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.