The Ghosts of Business Energy

At five on Christmas Eve, Bob Cratchit put on his coat and told Scrooge the last shift had gone home. At six, with the factory to himself, Scrooge slit open the electricity bill. He read it twice, as though the second reading might yield a smaller number.

“Bah, humbug.”

From the factory floor came a low hum. Then the office clock struck seven, and an old envelope slid out of the locked filing cabinet.

Stave I · Winter 2022

The Ghost of Energy Past

The first ghost wore a coat lined with old invoices. It took Scrooge back to the winter of 2022, when wholesale gas prices had surged and the government stepped in with temporary help for businesses facing higher gas and electricity costs.

Scrooge watched his younger self open a renewal quote, set it down and pick it up again. On the other side of the wall, someone was asking if the second shift would go ahead in January.

“I remember that bill,” said Scrooge.

“Do you remember the question?” asked the ghost.

Stave II · 2026

The Ghost of Energy Present

The second ghost was waiting by the meter. It handed Scrooge the government’s September price report. UK businesses and other non-household customers had paid an average of 24.5p per kilowatt-hour for electricity from April to June, up 2% on the same quarter in 2025.

“What am I supposed to do about the national average?” Scrooge asked.

The ghost led him to the far end of the factory. The lights were off. The production line was still. In a room behind the loading bay, the air compressor kicked in again.

“How long has that been running?” Scrooge asked. He had walked past the door every evening for eleven years.

Stave III · 2027 and beyond

The Ghost of Energy Yet to Come

The last ghost carried a calendar. It opened first at April 2027, when eligible manufacturers in Great Britain are due to get relief on certain electricity charges. Then it turned to 2030, when the government aims for clean sources to generate at least 95% of Great Britain’s electricity in a typical weather year.

“And what will my bill say?” Scrooge asked.

The ghost showed him the next page. It was blank.

Christmas morning

On Christmas morning, Scrooge found the contract renewal date and put it in his diary. Then he wrote a note for Cratchit.

“When we’re both back, let’s look at what the factory uses after the last shift. Start with the compressor. And Merry Christmas, Bob.”

He left the note where Cratchit would find it in January, put on his coat and went home.

The facts behind the ghosts

Past: emergency bill relief

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ran from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 and offered temporary support for eligible non-domestic energy customers. It was followed by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which closed on 31 March 2024. See what replaced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.

Present: the price per unit

The government's September 2026 Quarterly Energy Prices release put the UK non-domestic electricity average at 24.5p/kWh for April to June 2026, up 2% year on year. Manufacturers averaged 17.4p/kWh, up 4%. Your own rate depends on your contract — see business electricity prices per kWh.

Future: two dates to watch

The first manufacturing exemptions under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme are scheduled for April 2027 (see who qualifies for BICS). The 2030 clean power goal concerns how electricity is generated; individual bills will still depend on factors such as contract terms and usage.

Scrooge's to-do list

• Find your contract end date and diary it — read business energy renewals.
• Check what runs after hours: compressors, heating, lighting and fridges — see saving energy for small businesses.
• Work out what a new rate would mean with the cost calculator.