What is a DNO and what do they do?

What do I need to do when switching energy supplier? Switching energy supplier is a common step for UK businesses looking to control costs and improve their energy arrangements. Understanding the process can help ensure the transition is smooth and avoids any disruption. While the switching process itself is usually straightforward, there are several important steps businesses should take to make sure everything runs efficiently. 1. Check your current contract The first step before switching supplier is to review your existing energy contract. Most business energy contracts are fixed-term agreements, and leaving before the end date may trigger termination fees or penalties. Businesses should check the contract end date, notice period, and any specific termination clauses. Many contracts require notice to be given before the end of the agreement. If notice is not provided within the required timeframe, the contract may automatically roll over or move onto higher out-of-contract rates . Understanding these details early will help you avoid unnecessary costs and ensure you can switch at the correct time. 2. Compare suppliers and contract options Once you know when you are able to switch, the next step is to review available options in the market. Different suppliers offer a variety of contract structures and pricing models, and it’s important to choose one that suits your business’s needs. When comparing suppliers , businesses should look beyond the headline price and consider other factors such as reliability, billing arrangements, customer support, and flexibility. For organisations with multiple sites, it may also be useful to check whether suppliers can align billing dates or provide consolidated invoices. While this process can be time-consuming for many businesses, we offer a free market review, where we obtain quotes on behalf of your business and assist with comparing the available options. 3. Confirm meter details and site information Before a switch can take place, suppliers will typically need accurate information about the site and energy meters. This includes the MPAN (for electricity) or MPRN (for gas), the business address, and details of current consumption. Providing accurate information helps suppliers produce more reliable quotations and ensures the switching process is completed correctly. If a business has multiple locations, it may also be worth reviewing whether all sites should be included in the same contract portfolio. 4. Agree the contract and switching date Once a supplier has been selected, the next step is to formally agree the new contract. The supplier will confirm the start date for the new supply, which typically begins immediately after the current contract ends. In most cases, the switching process happens automatically behind the scenes. The new supplier will coordinate with industry systems and the existing supplier to transfer the supply on the agreed date. Importantly, the physical supply of electricity or gas does not change when you switch supplier. The same infrastructure and network operators continue to deliver energy to the site, meaning there is no interruption to supply. 5. Submit final meter readings Around the time the new contract begins, businesses may be asked to provide a meter reading . This allows the previous supplier to produce an accurate final bill and ensures the new supplier begins billing from the correct usage level. Keeping a record of these readings can help resolve any potential billing queries later on. Plan ahead for future renewals Switching supplier is also a good opportunity for businesses to review their longer-term energy strategy. Monitoring contract end dates and market conditions can help businesses avoid expensive out-of-contract rates and ensure they continue to secure competitive pricing in the future. If your business requires assistance with any stage of switching supplier, contact us today for no-obligation advice from an experienced team of energy professionals.

For UK businesses, energy is often one of the largest operating costs. With prices remaining volatile in recent years, choosing the right supplier has become more important than ever. While many businesses focus primarily on price, the “best” supplier is rarely defined by cost alone. Instead, the most suitable supplier is one that offers a balance of competitive pricing, reliability, strong customer service, and the flexibility to accommodate the specific needs of a business. Reliability and financial stability One of the most important factors to consider when selecting an energy supplier is reliability. Businesses require confidence that their supplier will continue operating throughout the duration of the contract and can manage market volatility without disruption. The UK energy market has seen a number of supplier failures in recent years, particularly during periods of high wholesale prices. When a supplier fails , customers are typically transferred to another provider under industry arrangements, but this can create uncertainty and administrative challenges. As a result, many businesses prefer suppliers with a strong financial position and a proven track record in the commercial energy market. Competitive pricing and contract structure Price will always play a major role when businesses evaluate suppliers. However, it is important to look beyond the headline unit rate and understand the overall structure of the contract. Different suppliers may structure contracts in slightly different ways, including how they treat standing charges , non-commodity costs , and pass-through elements such as network charges or policy levies . Businesses should ensure they understand what is fixed within the contract and what could change over time. Some suppliers are better suited to particular procurement strategies. For example, some businesses may prefer fully fixed contracts for price certainty, while others may benefit from more flexible purchasing approaches that allow energy to be bought in stages. Customer service and account management Another key differentiator between suppliers is the level of customer service they provide. For many businesses, the ability to quickly resolve billing issues, obtain accurate usage data, or speak to a knowledgeable account manager can be just as important as the contract price. Suppliers with strong commercial support teams and dedicated account managers often provide a smoother experience for businesses, particularly those with multiple sites or complex energy requirements. Good customer service can also make a significant difference when dealing with contract renewals, billing queries, or meter-related issues. Flexibility to support business needs Flexibility is another important factor that is sometimes overlooked when comparing suppliers. Businesses with multiple locations, for example, may prefer suppliers that are willing to align billing arrangements across a portfolio of sites. This could include providing the same invoice date for all locations, consolidating billing where possible, or accommodating specific administrative requirements. Similarly, some suppliers are more willing than others to tailor contracts around operational needs, such as managing new site additions, handling meter upgrades, or adapting to changes in energy usage. Taking a balanced approach Ultimately, there is no single supplier that will be the “best” choice for every business. The right supplier will depend on factors such as the size of the organisation, the number of sites involved, the preferred procurement strategy, and the level of service required. By assessing suppliers across reliability, price competitiveness, customer support, and operational flexibility, businesses can make more informed decisions and ensure their energy supply arrangements support both their operational needs and their long-term cost management strategy. If you would like us to conduct a free market review on your behalf to see what rates are currently available and who different suppliers compare, contact us today and we can help see which supplier will be best for your needs.

February 2026 Review When writing monthly reviews, I research and make notes throughout the month that allow the final writing process to be straightforward, with all key points already in place. For this month, almost all of my notes had to be torn up and thrown away on the final day of February when the US declared war on Iran. It is rare that one story has the ability to cause a seismic shift of such magnitude that all other news affecting energy prices seem irrelevant by comparison, but – for the first time since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began – we have a geopolitical event of that level. Electricity prices for the Summer’26 season had dropped as low as £65.66/MWh in mid-February, but opened up at £79.70/MWh this morning, showing an over 20% increase from this low point. Meanwhile, wholesale UK gas prices are trading 25% higher than when the market closed on Friday. For a business set to consume 10,000MWh of electricity during the summer, this represents a price increase of over £140,000 when comparing today’s price to the February low point.

Where Does My Energy Come From? It’s a simple question, but the answer is more complex than many businesses realise. When you flick a switch or power up your operations, the electricity and gas you use is the end product of a vast, interconnected system of generation, infrastructure, global markets and regulation. Understanding where your energy comes from isn’t just a curiosity, it’s commercially relevant. Electricity: A Real-Time Balancing Act In the UK, electricity is generated from a mix of sources. The primary contributors today include: Gas-fired power stations Wind (onshore and offshore) Nuclear Solar Interconnectors importing power from Europe Unlike gas, electricity must be generated and consumed in real time. Supply and demand are constantly balanced by the system operator, ensuring the grid remains stable. If supply ever falls short, then prices can spike. In recent years, numerous grid updates have taken place to ensure that renewable energy can be added to the grid and quickly transported. While many businesses purchase “renewable” tariffs, this doesn’t mean the electricity you receive was generated by renewable sources. Electricity on the grid is pooled, so you don’t receive electrons directly from a specific wind farm. Instead, suppliers match your usage with renewable generation certificates (REGOs), demonstrating that an equivalent amount of green power has been produced. For larger energy users, the mix of generation matters because it directly impacts wholesale pricing. An evening with low wind output, for example, can significantly increase reliance on gas-fired generation, therefore increasing exposure to the wholesale price of gas. Gas: A Global Commodity Gas plays two roles in the UK energy system: Heating homes and businesses directly, and fuelling many power stations that generate electricity. The UK produces some natural gas domestically from the North Sea, but production has declined over the years. Today, a significant proportion of supply is imported via: Pipelines from Norway Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipments – particularly from Qatar and the US Interconnectors from continental Europe Because gas is traded globally, UK prices are influenced by international supply and demand dynamics. Events in Europe, Asia or the US can directly affect what UK businesses pay. This means geopolitical events such as the threat of war in the Middle East can cause prices to rise sharply . Renewables and the Energy Transition The UK’s generation mix has changed dramatically over the past decade. Coal has been phased out, while wind and solar capacity have grown significantly. This shift brings both opportunity and volatility. Renewable generation lowers carbon intensity and reduces exposure to fuel imports. However, because wind and solar output depend on weather conditions, short-term price fluctuations have become more pronounced. For businesses with flexible procurement strategies , understanding this dynamic can create opportunities to secure more competitive pricing. Why It Matters for Your Procurement Strategy Where your energy comes from can influence many other aspects of your energy strategy, including: Wholesale market pricing Carbon reporting obligations Contract structures Long-term risk exposure Understanding where your energy comes from has never been more important for UK businesses. If you want to understand how the current generation mix and global gas markets are affecting your upcoming renewals, SeeMore Energy can help you interpret the landscape and see what options are currently available for you.

How Do I Find Out Who My Energy Supplier Is? This is a surprisingly common question, particularly if you’ve just moved into a new property, taken over an existing site, or inherited responsibility for energy procurement.  If you don’t know who supplies your electricity or gas, don’t worry. There are clear steps you can take to find out quickly and avoid unnecessary delays, billing issues, or out-of-contract rates. 1. Check Recent Bills or Tenancy Documents If the property has been occupied recently, the simplest place to start is with a previous energy bill. This will confirm: The supplier name Your account number The supply address Your MPAN (electricity) or MPRN (gas) If you’ve just moved in, your landlord, managing agent, or outgoing tenant may also be able to confirm the supplier. 2. Use the National Databases If no bills are available, you can use the industry’s central databases. For electricity , contact your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). In England, Scotland and Wales, you can find your DNO via the Energy Networks Association website . They can confirm your current electricity supplier and provide your MPAN. For gas , you can contact the Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) via the Xoserve database, or use the find my supplier tool. These services are free and typically provide confirmation immediately. 3. Contact the Meter Operator In some cases, particularly with larger commercial sites, your appointed meter operator may be able to confirm the registered supplier. This is more common where contracts have been arranged historically through brokers or third parties. Common meter operators include IMServ, Npower, and Stark. 4. Act Quickly to Avoid Out-of-Contract Rates If you’ve taken over a site and haven’t agreed a contract, you could be placed on deemed or out-of-contract rates . These are usually significantly higher than negotiated market rates. Confirming your supplier allows you to: Request historic consumption data Understand your current contract status Avoid unexpected charges Begin procurement discussions Why It Matters Knowing your supplier isn’t just administrative, it’s commercially important. Without clarity on who supplies your energy, you can’t properly review your costs, assess renewal timing, or manage market exposure. If you’re unsure where to start, or if you’ve identified your supplier but don’t know what contract you’re on, SeeMore Energy can help you interpret the position and plan your next steps with confidence. Getting clarity is the first step towards controlling your energy strategy.

The Capacity Market: An untapped revenue source With wholesale markets volatile and network costs rising, many businesses are looking at strategies to reduce energy spend. In addition to lowering costs, there are ways that large consumers of energy can monetise their existing energy set up. By selling back unused capacity via the Capacity Market (CM), businesses can generate tens of thousands of pounds each year, without having to make any material changes to how they run their operations. What is the Capacity Market? The UK Capacity Market was introduced in 2014 to safeguard security of supply. The CM has two main objectives: Incentivise new sources of generation that can prevent issues on the demand-side. Provide a last-resort mechanism to prevent electricity shortages during times of system stress. Administered by National Energy System Operator (NESO), the scheme pays providers for being available to deliver capacity during periods of system tightness. Businesses can receive payments, not for generating electricity, but for committing to reduce demand or increase supply if required. Capacity is secured through annual auctions (one year ahead and four years ahead), which set a £/kW price. Once contracted, participants receive an availability payment in return for meeting testing requirements and being ready to respond to a system stress event. Since the CM’s inception, there has never been a full system stress event triggered. Although precautionary notices have been issued and subsequently stood down – normally within 2 hours of being issued. How Can Businesses Make Money from It? For many businesses, the opportunity lies in Demand Side Response (DSR) . If a business can demonstrate that it is capable of reducing load during a stress event -- even for just 30 minutes -- that reduction can be contracted into the Capacity Market. The process for this is: Historical half-hourly data is analysed to establish normal usage. Periods where usage dropped materially (e.g. shutdowns, maintenance, early finishes, seasonal dips) are identified. The difference between normal usage and the reduced period becomes the site’s deliverable capacity. This capacity is aggregated with other businesses into a CM Unit (CMU) and entered into the auction. Payments are then made quarterly in arrears for being available.

Forecasting annual electricity and gas consumption is one of the most important -- and often underestimated -- stages of the procurement process. While timing the wholesale market and contract structure typically receive the most attention, the accuracy of the consumption forecast can have a large influence on overall energy costs. Suppliers price risk based on expected volumes, network charges are dictated by usage patterns, and internal budgets depend on accurate projections. Without a reliable forecast, organisations expose themselves to avoidable financial and contractual risk. How Consumption Forecasting Works Forecasting begins by analysing historical usage. Half-hourly electricity data, meter reads, and seasonal profiles provide a baseline that shows how a site behaves over time. This historical data is then adjusted to account for known changes, such as production increases, machinery upgrades, operational reductions, or energy efficiency projects. For larger or more complex organisations, forecasting may involve modelling peak demand, load shape, and expected operational shifts across multiple sites. The aim is not simply to estimate an annual total, but to understand when and how energy will be consumed throughout the year. That detail becomes particularly important when selecting contract structures or assessing exposure to network charges. How It Impacts Budgeting Energy often represents a significant operational cost, particularly for manufacturers and other energy-intensive users. Accurate forecasting enables finance teams to build realistic budgets and avoid the shocks of unexpected costs. Reliable forecasts also allow organisations to model different pricing scenarios. Understanding likely consumption enables comparison between fixed contracts and flexible purchasing strategies . It also supports long-term planning by quantifying the financial impact of operational changes or sustainability initiatives.

Why it’s important your energy bills are in the correct company name For many businesses, energy bills aren’t reviewed with a high-level of scrutiny. As long as the meter is live and the lights stay on, the paperwork often goes unquestioned. However, having electricity and gas bills issued in the correct legal company name is more important than many organisations realise. Failing to ensure that your invoice is correctly addressed can create unnecessary risk and cost. How it can impact your business Energy contracts are signed with a specific legal entity, not a trading name or group brand. If the company name on the bill does not match the Companies House records, the contract may not accurately reflect who is legally responsible for the supply. This can cause problems in the event of disputes with the supplier, changes of tenancy or site ownership, and contract renewal or termination. In some extreme cases, suppliers can refuse to amend or even enforce contracts where the named party is incorrect. Affecting credit checks and pricing Suppliers assess risk using the company name registered on the account. If this is incorrect or outdated: Credit checks may fail or be delayed Higher security deposits may be requested Less competitive pricing may be offered For growing businesses, group structures or recently incorporated entities, this can result in paying more than necessary for energy, simply because the account information isn’t aligned. Delaying contract changes and site updates Something as simple as renewing a contract, adding meters, or updating a supply address can become complicated if the company name is wrong. Common scenarios include: Sites transferred between group companies Trading names used instead of legal names Businesses that have changed structure or ownership Each of these can trigger lengthy data disputes between suppliers, distributors and settlement systems, often delaying changes by weeks or months. Issues with VAT, levies, and exemptions Where VAT exemptions exist, the name on the invoice is required to match the name of the business that has the exemption. There are numerous government schemes that offer businesses relief from specific environmental levies and non-commodity charges . Many of these schemes – such as the British Industry Supercharger – are applied to companies with eligible SIC codes. If the business name is incorrect, then the SIC code cannot be verified and the business may end up missing out on the exemption. Future Contracts When tendering energy contracts, suppliers rely on accurate account data. Incorrect company names can slow down the quoting process, result in quotes being withdrawn, or lead to errors in contracts or start dates. For businesses managing multiple sites, this becomes even more critical. How we help businesses get it right As an energy broker, we regularly see cost and risk created by something as simple as incorrect account information. We help businesses:  Verify company names against Companies House Correct supplier and industry records Manage name changes during restructures or acquisitions If your business requires help with ensuring that your invoices are being issued in the correct name, contact us today and one of our experienced team can assist with all of your energy needs.

Rising TNUoS and DUOS charges By Adam Novakovic T.S Eliot once said that “April is the cruellest month” and in terms of the prices many businesses pay for their electricity, his quote is prophetically true. While he may not have envisioned rising TNUoS and DUoS costs being the reason for the starkness of the month, for many British businesses, the rise in non-commodity charges that take effect from April 1 st will add unwanted and unneeded extra costs to their energy bills. From the beginning of April, businesses across the UK will see significant increases in two major components of their energy bills: Distribution Use of System (DUoS) and Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges. These network charges are becoming an increasingly large part of business energy bills -- especially for companies that operate in energy-intensive industries. DUoS & TNUoS, and Why They Matter Both DUoS and TNUoS are network charges applied to electricity bills. As non-commodity charges, they are not related to the cost of energy itself: DUoS charges cover the cost of running, maintaining and reinforcing local distribution networks that carry power to sites. They are paid as a standing charge (in p/day), a capacity charge (in p/kVA/month), and in red/amber/green unit rates – depending on the time of consumption. TNUoS charges fund the high-voltage transmission network operated nationally. This is applied as a standing charge (in p/day). For many businesses, these line items are already making up over a third of their total electricity costs . How these charges change from April 1 st 2026 TNUoS The TNUoS rate that businesses pay is set by NESO (National Energy System Operator). How much a meter is charged per day is dependant on the assigned TCR band . For sites with lower expected consumption, they will be grouped in a lower band, whereas the largest consumers will be in the higher bands and they will be charged more.