How the size of your business affects your energy tariff contract terms 

Ofgem sets rules to protect smaller business energy customers. Your rights depend on whether your business is classed as: 

– A microbusiness  
– A small business 
– Or a larger business  

We’ll check this when you join, move premises, or renew your contract. 

1. Checking your business size 

Microbusiness 

You’re a microbusiness if any of these apply: 

– You have fewer than 10 employees and a turnover or balance sheet under £2 million
– You use less than 100,000 kWh of electricity per year 
– You use less than 293,000 kWh of gas per year  

Small business 

You’re a small business if any of these apply: 

– You have fewer than 50 employees and:  
– a turnover of under £6.5 million, or  
– a balance sheet under £5 million  
– You use less than 200,000 kWh of electricity per year  
– You use less than 500,000 kWh of gas per year  

Larger business 

If you don’t meet the criteria above, you’re classed as a larger business. 

You’re still protected by general energy supply rules, but some additional protections do not apply.

2. Understanding your protections 

If you’re a microbusiness 

You get the highest level of protection. 

– Billing protection: We won’t charge you for energy used more than 12 months ago, unless: the issue wasn’t our fault, or you prevented us from billing accurately.
– Meter and service standards: If we don’t fix a reported meter fault in time, you may receive compensation. 
– Clear contracts and communication: You’ll get clear information about your prices and terms, and contract end dates and renewal options. 
–Broker protection: If you use a broker, they must be part of an independent dispute resolution scheme. 

If you’re a small business 

You benefit from fair treatment and clear communication, including: 

-Transparent contract terms  
– Clear billing information  
– Access to complaints support  

Some protections, like back-billing limits, only apply to microbusinesses. 

If you’re a larger business 

You’ll still receive: 

– Transparent contract terms 
– Clear billing information 

However, specific Ofgem protections for smaller businesses may not apply. 

3. How we assess your business classification 

We’ll check your business size when you: 

– Switch to Good Energy  
– Move into a property we supply  
– Renew your contract  

We use the information available to us. If anything changes during your contract, please contact us at hellobusiness@goodenergy.co.uk so we can assess the changes correctly.