BES Utilities Reviews & Tariffs

BES Utilities Business Electricity, Gas & Dual Fuel Tariffs

Electricity

• Fixed price contracts for 1-4 years.
• 1-5-year Market Tracker contracts – prices can rise and fall and will be reviewed every 6 months.
• Free smart meter.

Gas

• Fixed price contracts for 1-4 years.
• 1-5-year variable contracts – prices can rise and fall depending on market rates.
• 1-5-year Budget Payment Plan – forecast the amount you spend each month over 12 equal monthly payments.

Note the tariff information listed above was correct at the time of writing (29 January 2018), although as noted, prices will vary by postcode and are subject to change at any time. 

BES Utilities Background

BES stands for British Energy Solutions, and they’ve been operating in the UK since 2002 and a sponsor of Fleetwood Town Football Club since 2011.

As well as providing business gas and business electricity tariffs, BES have an independently managed fund for customers who might be struggling to pay for commercial energy, particularly during winter periods, by writing off historic debts. However, they came under fire quite considerably in 2016 after they were investigated by Trading Standards for misleading customers and not treating them fairly.

BES Utilities Smart Meter

Electricity tariff customers can have a free smart meter installed, which will send automatic readings to BES for the most accurate bills.

At Power Compare, we have put together some advice on reading your smart meter, including how it works and how customers can use one to save money.

Other BES Utilities Meters

BES Utilities' electricity FAQs and gas FAQs contain advice on how to read different types of meters, but it’s not hugely detailed and doesn’t go into the different types of meters available.

If you don’t have a smart meter, and you don’t submit meter readings regularly, your bill might be estimated and therefore less accurate.

BES Utilities Bills

Customers will automatically receive paperless bills through email (paper bills will cost £2 plus VAT extra each month). Invoices are sent around the 15th of every month and payment is collected by Direct Debit within 7 days. There are no other ways to pay your bill.

If there’s anything customers aren’t sure about, they can read BES' electricity jargon and gas jargon pages.

BES Utilities App

There’s no app available for BES customers, but all customers have access to an online account. Customers can download their invoices, submit meter readings, make payments and manage most aspects of their accounts online.

Switching To BES Utilities

To switch from your existing business energy supplier to another one, you’ll need to know:

• How much you’re spending on energy right now (either annually or monthly, but ideally both)
• When your current contract date ends and if there are any exit fees.
• What your consumption rates are.
• Your up-to-date meter readings.

Moving Locations With BES Utilities

Customers moving premises need to let BES know when they’re moving and provide them with a final meter reading.

You’ll need to provide:

• A copy of your lease.
• A copy of your business rates.
• A copy of your Public Liability Insurance.
• Copy of the business owner’s ID.
• Meter reading from the day you moved in.
• Contact details for the landlord, if there is one.

Different premises can incur different energy costs, so it’s always worth searching for new tariffs and providers to see if they’ll be more affordable.

BES Utilities Fuel Mix

Electricity only:

Coal – 13.5% (8.5% UK average)
Natural gas – 41.4% (44.1%)
Nuclear – 11.3% (21.0%)
Renewable – 29.4% (24.2%)
Other – 4.4% (2.2%)

BES Utilities In the News

Trading Standards and police raid BES Utilities and Commercial Power
1 Aug 2016, The Blackpool Gazette

BES and their sister company were raided in 2016 for not treating customers fairly or informing them about changes to their contracts. BES said they were cooperating with Trading Standards and Lancashire Police.

Stay clear of energy supplier BES – it’s been damned by Ofgem and had its offices raided by police
6 Aug 2016, This is Money

Advice column by Tony Hetherington, warning businesses to avoid BES after their ‘misconduct’ allegations and £980,000 in penalties.

BES Utilities Complaints

The police raids certainly don’t look good, and the customer reviews add to that critical picture. BES’ online reviews are overwhelmingly negative. Some of the most recent Trustpilot reviews have been removed by BES for “breach of Trustpilot guidelines’, but it’s unclear what that means or what those reviews originally said.

The critics are very vocal, claiming BES have mis-sold to them, avoided their calls, and encouraged them to sign long contracts.

Contact Phone Numbers & Email

Phone: 0844 5678 427
Email: [email protected]

BES Utilities Address

BES Utilities, Parkside Stand, Fleetwood Town Football Club, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX.

Website: besutilities.co.uk 

BES Utilities Summary

Judging by reviews and press alone, this is an energy company to avoid. They may have improved since their run-in with Trading Standards, and they have been forced to repay hundreds of thousands to their customers, but it’s not very reassuring for new business customers.

Pros:

• Fixed and variable contracts.
• More renewable used than average.

Cons:

• Very negative customer reviews and press.
• More coal is used than the national average.