New Business Energy Connections and Meters

If you’re moving into new business premises, building a commercial property, or setting up your company at a location without an existing energy supply, you may need a new business energy meter connection.

Here, we explain how new business energy connections work, what the installation process involves, the different types of business energy meters available, and how to choose the right supplier and setup for your company.

What is a new business energy meter connection?

This involves arranging a brand-new gas or electricity supply for a commercial premises. It’s usually relevant for businesses when:

• A new commercial property is being built

• Existing premises are being split into separate units

• There’s no active energy supply connected to the property

• An old or disconnected supply needs replacing

The process typically involves installing the infrastructure required to connect your business premises to the local electricity or gas network, followed by the installation of a commercial energy meter.

What’s needed for a new connection?

Depending on your specific property, type of business, and how much energy you’re expected to use, you may need:

• A brand-new electricity meter connection

• A new commercial gas meter installation

• Combined gas and electricity connections together

• An upgrade to an existing supply or meter capacity

For many UK businesses, arranging a new meter connection is one of the first steps before operations can fully begin.

What does the new energy process involve?

The process for setting up a new business energy connection can vary depending on the size of the premises and whether utilities are already located nearby, but it usually follows a similar structure:

1. Assessing your energy requirements

The first step is understanding how much gas or electricity your business is likely to use because this helps determine:

• The size and type of meter required

• Whether you need a single-phase or three-phase electricity supply

• The capacity of the new connection

Larger commercial premises, workshops, restaurants, or industrial sites may require higher-capacity supplies than smaller offices or retail units.

2. Arranging the network connection

For electricity, your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) will usually be responsible for connecting the property to the electricity grid. For gas, this is handled by the local Gas Transporter (GT).

At this stage, works may include:

• Excavation and cabling

• Installing external pipework

• Connecting the premises to the local network

• Setting up supply infrastructure

Once the supply infrastructure is ready, your chosen energy supplier will arrange for the commercial meter installation.

3. Activating the supply

After installation, the meter is registered, and your business energy supply becomes live, allowing you to begin using gas or electricity at the property.

Lead times can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the work, so it’s important to arrange new business energy connections as early as possible.

Types of meters available

Your business may have the option to choose between several types of commercial energy meters depending on your usage levels and operational requirements.

Smart meters

Smart meters automatically send meter readings to your supplier, helping improve billing accuracy and energy monitoring.

Many suppliers now prioritise smart meter installations for new business connections because they reduce estimated billing errors and allow businesses to track energy usage more easily.

Single-phase electricity meters

Single-phase supply delivers power through one live wire and one neutral wire for a standard flow of electricity. These are typically used by smaller businesses with lower electricity demands, such as:

• Small offices

• Independent retail shops

• Salons or cafés

Three-phase electricity meters 

A three-phase supply uses three live wires and one neutral wire, allowing a much larger and more stable flow of power. Three-phase supplies are designed for businesses with higher electricity usage or heavy equipment requirements; they are commonly used in:

• Warehouses

• Industrial premises

• Manufacturing sites

• Larger hospitality venues

Half-hourly meters

Larger businesses with high electricity consumption may require a half-hourly meter, which records usage every 30 minutes and sends the data directly to suppliers.

These are often mandatory for businesses using larger volumes of electricity.

Meter upgrades

Some businesses may not need a completely new connection but instead require a meter upgrade, for example:

• Upgrading from single-phase to three-phase electricity

• Replacing outdated commercial meters

• Installing smart meter technology

• Increasing supply capacity

An experienced business energy advisor can help assess which type of setup is most suitable for your premises.

How to choose a new business energy supplier

Here are some steps to follow to help you find the right energy supplier for your business:

1. Speak with an energy advisor: Because suppliers and network operators can vary significantly in how they handle new business energy connections, the best approach is usually to speak with an experienced business energy broker or advisor first.

2. Compare your options: Once your requirements are clear, your advisor can compare suppliers across the market to identify suitable business energy contracts and new connection options.

3. Arrange the installation: After selecting the most suitable supplier and contract, the installation process can begin. This may involve coordinating with the local distribution network operator (DNO), arranging meter installation dates, and ensuring the property is ready for connection.

Arranging a new business energy connection usually involves more than simply choosing the cheapest supplier. Connection timescales, meter availability, contract terms, and the type of premises you operate from can all affect which supplier is most suitable.

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Popular UK energy suppliers for new meter connections

Several major UK business energy providers can arrange new commercial gas and electricity meter connections, although their services and installation capabilities can vary depending on the type of business premises.

Here are a few examples of popular new business energy suppliers:

• British Gas Business: Offers commercial electricity and gas connections for a wide range of UK businesses, including smart meter installations and support for multi-site operations.

• EDF Business Energy: Can arrange new electricity and gas connections for SMEs and larger organisations, including smart meter options and fixed-rate commercial energy contracts.

• E.ON Next: E.ON Next Business supports new connections for smaller businesses, while npower Business Solutions focuses on larger commercial and industrial sites with more complex energy requirements.

• Octopus Energy: Offers business energy contracts, smart meter installations, and renewable electricity options for eligible commercial customers.

• SSE Energy: Supports larger businesses and commercial sites requiring more complex electricity infrastructure or higher-capacity supplies.

Monitoring your energy use

Once your new business energy connection is live, actively monitoring your energy usage can help you control costs, identify inefficiencies, avoid unnecessary waste, and support your sustainability or net-zero goals.

Depending on the type of meter installed, your business may be able to monitor its energy usage through:

• Smart meter readings and live usage data

• Carrying out periodic bill validations

• Online supplier dashboards or mobile apps

• Half-hourly electricity monitoring

• Automated energy reporting software

• Regular business energy audits

For larger businesses or multi-site organisations, monitoring energy usage can also form part of a wider energy management strategy or make ESOS compliance or SECR reporting more straightforward.

Get independent business energy advice today

Setting up a new business energy meter connection can be more complex than many companies expect, particularly when dealing with network operators, installation requirements, commercial contracts, and supplier comparisons.

Here’s how Money Helpdesk helps businesses to set up new energy connections:

• Access to experienced business energy advisors

• Support arranging meter installations and upgrades

• Guidance on selecting the right contract and meter setup

• Free initial chat with no obligation to proceed further

If you’d like support arranging a new business energy meter connection or help comparing commercial energy suppliers, you can get started here.