Fixed Or Flexible - Energy Contract Guide

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What’s on this page?

What’s the difference between fixed or flexible energy contracts?
Which came first – fixed or flexible energy contracts?
Which organisations qualify for flexible energy procurement?
The impact of ‘pass-through’ charges on fixed contracts
Fixed or flexible energy contracts: where to start?
Expert energy procurement made easy

Fixed or flexible energy contracts? Which more suited to your business needs? Keeping costs low is a crucial part of any business whether it be SME (Small or Medium Enterprise) or a Corporate entity. One way of lowering a businesses’ costs is through their energy usage. Selecting a suitable supplier with the right business energy contract can have a big impact on energy bills and savings.

What’s the difference between fixed or flexible energy contracts?

Fixed procurement contract

A set price for gas and electricity.
The quoted unit prices remain fixed for the duration of the contract.

Flexible procurement contract

Wholesale energy is purchased in smaller sets throughout the length of the contracts.
You can choose when to buy your energy, and in what quantities.
Energy prices thus fluctuate over the length of the contract.

Which came first – fixed or flexible energy contracts?

A fixed energy contract is the more traditional way to purchase energy.

The pros and cons of fixed or flexible energy contracts

Fixed Contracts

Pros

A fixed price throughout the contract terms means budget certainty.
Accurately forecast budgets and effectively manage cost.

Cons

If you lock into your fixed energy contract when wholesale energy prices are high, you’ll be stuck with uncompetitive energy prices for the duration of your contract.
Your competitors may have fixed their energy prices at a better time, giving them a competitive advantage.
Because suppliers face risks associated with your fixed contract (credit risk, changes in wholesale energy prices etc.), they add a premium to your prices. Generally speaking, the longer the contract, the higher the premiums.
This strategy only holds value in a market in which prices are steadily increasing.

Flexible Contracts

Pros

Take advantage of the wholesale market ups and downs, with the aim of buying energy during price dips.
Spread the risk of purchasing energy to multiple purchasing points.
The ability to align the energy procurement strategy to the movements in the wholesale market instead of fighting against them.
Since you’ll be purchasing energy closer to the date of use, you’ll reduce the risk premiums charged by the energy supplier.
Reduced the price you pay with a flexible product which can ‘pass through’ non-energy charges.
Non-energy charges are clearly itemised on bills, allowing for clearer visibility of what is being charged.
Easier comparison of non-energy costs for contract renegotiation purposes.
Allow for more functionality than fixed contracts.

Cons

A riskier contract option due to the volatility of the energy market.

Which organisations qualify for flexible energy procurement?

Organisations that use over 7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy are able to benefit from flexible energy contracts. This volume threshold has decreased dramatically in the last few years.
Smaller companies that use less than 7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy can also benefit from a flexible contract option if they look at flexible collective products.

The impact of ‘pass-through’ charges on fixed contracts

Most fixed contracts allow for the non-energy elements of the deal to be ‘passed through’ to the customer if these elements exceed the supplier’s original expectations. This means that fixed-price energy contract customers can still see increases in energy prices during the contract term.

Examples of non-commodity costs are green levies and transport costs. Increases in these costs can be passed onto the consumer unless otherwise stipulated in the supply contract. Because the energy supplier can’t predict the changes in non-commodity costs, longer-term supply contracts tend to carry heavier risk-premium as suppliers protect their profit margins.

What factors influence energy market prices?

Demand – Demand for light, cooling and heating corresponds with a variety of economic, technological, and efficiency measures.
Supply – Energy from coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and renewable sources reacts quickly in response to the available supply.
Storage – The difference between supply and demand.
Weather – Actual weather events, as well as weather forecasts, affect market prices.
Generation changes – Changes to energy-generating facilities.
Imports and exports – The transfer of energy across borders and the political interactions involved.
Global markets – Major changes in global supplies can affect the UK’s domestic energy costs.
Government regulations – New or changes regulations can impact supply and demand costs significantly.

Fixed or flexible energy contracts: where to start?

Understand your consumption volume
Research the different products available
Define your organisation’s strategic priorities: Budget certainty/ Importance of avoiding competitive disadvantage/ Risk attitude

Expert energy procurement made easy

Choosing between a fixed are flexible contract depends on your business’ consumption patterns, specific needs and procurement objectives. If you’re still unsure of the best type of energy contract for your business, it may be helpful for you to engage the services of an expert energy consultancy or business energy broker. If you choose to go with a flexible energy contract, your energy broker will be able to help you manage your energy price risk.

Your energy consultant can:

Constantly watch the market and help you identify the best times to buy.
Develop a purchasing strategy in line with your risk appetite.
Access reliable market information and monitor market prices in real-time
Access to the most competitive wholesale market prices
Provide a bespoke procurement product to suit your needs.

Contact an energy consultant at Smarter Business today.

Renew Energy Contracts the Simple Way

Love the time it takes to renew energy contracts? Thought not… If your renewal date is coming up, or if you’re comparing energy contracts for the first time, use our handy infographic to navigate the process and find the best energy deals for your needs.

When can I renew?

You can be placed into a new contract 120 days before the end of your current one.

Bear in mind that it can take 28 days to process.

What to look for in a quote

Length of the Contract

Contracts can range from 1 year – 3 years – fixed rates.

Questions to consider

Do you need long-term or short-term security?
Are you expecting in major business changes in the next few months/ years?

Standing Charge

What is a standing charge?

A combination of:

Fixed charges associated with providing electricity and gas network services +
A share of the supply costs in servicing your account
The standing charge is fixed for your contract term, no matter the amount of energy you are using.

Top tip
Weigh up the standing charge against the unit cost. A lower standing charge can mean a higher unit price!

Unit price

One of the most important points of comparison is the cost per unit of energy. Make sure that you’re paying as little as possible for each unit, but don’t forget… (arrow to ‘top tip’ section)

Leave it to the experts

The team at Smarter Business will monitor your contract end dates and let you know when your energy contract falls within its review period. We will then search the market for the best prices based on your needs, leaving you to focus on what really matters within your business.