What energy checks should you make when taking over business premises?

Tell the existing energy supplier promptly when your business moves into or out of premises. Provide occupancy evidence and meter readings. Ofgem says suppliers should review the documents within 10 working days, then accept, reject with reasons or request explained further evidence [S1]. Keep the occupancy change separate from arranging your supply contract. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 17 October 2026

What is a business energy change of tenancy?

A change of tenancy, also called a change of occupier, is the process used when responsibility for premises changes. Ofgem gives property sales, expansion and bankruptcy as examples. Both the business moving in and the business moving out should tell the existing supplier promptly. [S1]

For a new shop, hotel or depot, keep this separate from agreeing the commercial terms of the energy supply. Changing the occupier’s account and changing supplier involve different checks. Ofgem says to tell the current supplier even when discussing a contract with another supplier. [S1]

This checklist covers the Ofgem process used in Great Britain. It organises your evidence rather than determining a disputed lease or liability. Check those questions with your solicitor. Use how business electricity contracts work alongside it.

What should you record before and on the handover day?

Prepare a handover folder and ask the landlord or outgoing occupier for the available supply information. Ofgem’s process calls for notification, a meter reading where possible, and occupancy evidence when requested. The following checklist helps make that submission traceable. [S1]

Photograph each meter so the reading and serial number are legible. Record the date and keep the original image. Where a meter has several registers, label the readings rather than sending an unexplained list of numbers. These are practical record-keeping steps; the supplier may need clarification about the meter arrangement.

For multi-let premises, ask which supplies serve your unit and which serve common areas. List any shared meter you cannot resolve. Give that query to the landlord before relying on the outgoing occupier’s consumption as a budget for your own use.

Record the Meter Point Administration Number for electricity and Meter Point Reference Number for gas. These identify the supplies and appear on bills; keep them beside the meter serial numbers. [S6]

What evidence can your supplier request?

Ofgem lists tenancy or lease agreements, property-sale documents and title deeds as examples. If these are insufficient, the supplier should explain why and identify the extra information needed. Further examples include business rates bills and letters from a bank, solicitor or landlord. [S1]

Send documents that connect the premises, occupier and relevant date. Make the covering note explicit about whether your business is moving in or leaving. Record what was sent, when and through which channel.

If a document is unavailable, explain the reason and ask which alternative evidence would address the gap. Ofgem says you can complain if the additional information requested appears unreasonable. A request for more evidence is not itself acceptance of the change, so keep the case open until the supplier gives a decision. [S1]

How long should the supplier take to review your documents?

Ofgem specifies a review within 10 working days. The outcome may be acceptance with closure of the old account and creation of a new one, rejection with a reason, or a request explaining what further evidence is required. The review period is not a promise that every account will be fully resolved within that time. [S1]

Keep the submission acknowledgement and a dated response log. If no clear response arrives, chase using the existing case reference and ask for the review outcome. Where the supplier requests more information, retain its explanation alongside your reply.

Ofgem says to use the supplier’s complaints process for delays beyond the review period, disputed decisions, unexpected bills or unreasonable evidence requests. State which issue remains unresolved and what action you want. Ofgem itself does not settle individual supplier disputes. [S1], [S4]

Eligible microbusinesses and small businesses can seek an Energy Ombudsman review after 8 weeks of an unresolved complaint, or following a deadlock letter, subject to its terms. Keep your complaint start date on the case log. The Ombudsman checks business eligibility separately from the occupancy evidence. [S5]

Why might you be charged deemed rates while moving in?

Using energy at premises without a formal supply agreement can put you on a deemed contract. Ofgem says you are responsible for energy used before the new contract starts. An unresolved tenancy application does not mean that electricity used to fit out the premises is uncharged. [S2], [S3]

Request the applicable terms, unit charges, standing charges and start date in writing. This site explains how contracts work; it does not compare suppliers or recommend a tariff. Read the standing-charge guide to separate daily charges from consumption.

If you dispute deemed-rate charges caused by a delayed account change, set out the chronology and request a review through the supplier’s complaints process. Do not assume a particular refund or replacement rate. Ask the supplier to explain the billing basis and how its decision affects bills already issued. [S1]

What happens if you change supplier during the tenancy process?

Tell both the current and proposed supplier and provide the evidence to both. The new supplier starts the switching process. The current supplier accepts if it agrees a change of occupier occurred, or rejects with a reason if it does not. Ask for that reason before trying to resolve the problem. [S1]

For any existing contract, check the switching conditions, notice and possible exit fees. Your move does not justify assuming that every contractual issue has disappeared. Read the agreement and obtain legal help where the supplier and your business disagree about who remains responsible. [S3]

If you are leaving, retain your final reading, forwarding contact and notification. Request confirmation of the account outcome. For a later catch-up demand, the back-billing guide explains the separate microbusiness protection.

What should you do next?

Use the guide hub and business electricity data to understand your account before planning site changes. The cut-energy-costs goal and site check help organise consumption records and possible energy projects after handover.

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