With rising costs of business electricity, to keep the lights on it is estimated that around 10% of a businesses annual overheads are electricity costs. There are a number of considerations to take into account to concentrate your energy on keeping business electricity overheads low into 2008 and beyond.

Firstly, remember: ‘use less, pay less'. Being energy efficient isn't difficult to incorporate into your daily working life. Things like closing the lid on the photocopier when not in use, for example, can be done without mass expenditure on energy-saving measures and still save your bottom line more than you realise over the course of the year.

It is fact that the most competitive energy prices for small firms can be achieved by shopping around and switching to the supplier offering the best price. There are two categories which businesses can easily fall into. The first being those who simply aren't aware a cheaper price is available elsewhere and the significant savings which can be made by switching supplier.

When a business makes the switch, the business is offered a ‘new customer only' pricing tariff. This means that during the renewal period, these low prices are not available anymore as the business doesn't qualify as a new customer. Instead, they are rolled into evergreen contracts, at up to double the amount when compared to a new customer.

This is especially relevant as business electricity is on the rise. With the recent increase in wholesale price being almost a 25% rise since April 2007 alone, prices only set to rapidly increase. Just think of how this could affect your bottom line if you don't act now.

The second group are those who have made the attempt to switch supplier, but cannot move due to not understanding complicated contractual objections as they can't comply with cancellation requirements.

Don't worry if you don't understand the small print: many businesses don't, but our ‘guide to the small print' will help you avoid the pitfalls which are easy to fall into with electricity contracts. Even if you are not in the position to switch supplier, its worthwhile taking a look at what you could be tied into.

For more information on saving energy, visit www.electricity4business.co.uk where a free ‘guide to energy efficiency' can be downloaded

A few years ago, not many businesses would have given too much thought to where they bought their energy or how much their business used in the average year. However, the picture has changed markedly in recent years. Increasing costs for businesses driven by sharp rises in the wholesale market have meant the issue of energy coming much more into focus.

The reality is that the wholesale energy markets could remain challenging as we move into 2008 and so, for smaller businesses in particular, value for money is key. That doesn't just mean getting the cheapest deal. It also means getting quick and efficient service when you need it so you can get on with doing the things you need to make your business run efficiently. That's why at BGB we've given all our customers a dedicated account manager.

The issue of businesses' carbon footprints is another that will remain key in 2008 and at BGB we believe in practising what we preach. Centrica, the parent company of BGB, was recently named the greenest major UK supplier by the WWF and the wider issue of the environment will remain central to the energy agenda next year. By choosing an energy supplier with a lower carbon footprint, businesses of all sizes can do their bit to help the environment.

Just as important though is making sure that you're not wasting energy either. Keeping control of overheads is always good business practice but businesses need advice on how they can save energy, save money and save the environment into the bargain. That's why we're launching a free online audit for all smaller businesses off the back of the success of our Energy Savers' Report in the residential market, which helped 1.8m people save around 12% on average in their energy usage.

Next year will also see the arrival into the business market of energy performance certificates. Already established in the house sale market, these will be needed on the sale or change of tenancy of any commercial building over 500m2 from April next year and from all other buildings from October 2008.

EPCs show just how important the green agenda is now to all businesses, whatever size they are. That's why, for smaller businesses where time is tight, expert advice will always come in handy and at BGB, we're determined to carry on helping businesses whenever we can.

For more information, see www.britishgasbusiness.co.uk

The UK energy marketplace today is a very dynamic one. A fluctuating world market for gas and oil is creating volatility in UK prices, making it difficult to plan and budget for both UK suppliers and customers. Although many business customers have negotiated fixed-term contracts for supply, those on short-term agreements and those coming to the end of their current contract face uncertainty and the possibility of uncertain increases in their energy bills.

Complex contracts
Business electricity supply contracts are often complex. For smaller businesses that do not employ dedicated energy mangers or buyers, it can be difficult to establish the best choice of supplier and/or contract for their particular operation, both in terms of reflecting their usage patterns and pricing levels.

Energy monitoring and management
Monitoring and managing energy consumption is becoming increasingly important for small firms, not only to control costs and maintain profit margins but to respond to growing internal and external pressure to reduce the business's environmental impact.

Like the domestic electricity market, estimated meter readings and inaccurate bills are a huge problem, often leading to large catch-up bills and account queries. Many suppliers cater for the whole range of energy customers and offer impersonal customer service through large call centres, making it very difficult to resolve problems satisfactorily when they arise.

Without precise energy consumption data, it is impossible to implement a sensible energy management and carbon reduction programme. As a result, many smaller businesses will need to look at alternative metering solutions such as Smart Meters. Smart Meters employ remote data retrieval technology to provide detailed, accurate records on energy consumption on a hourly, daily or monthly basis. This information puts companies in complete control of their electricity consumption, enabling them to take fast, effective action to cut wastage and minimise usage, reducing both their energy costs and carbon footprint. They can also be sure that they are only paying for the electricity they use.

It is well established that, where Smart Meters are installed, customers typically reduce their electricity use by 10% with minimal effort.

Carbon reduction and energy regulation
Although effective energy management makes good business sense, it is the issue of carbon reduction that is looming high on the list of corporate responsibilities. Companies are being driven to reduce their carbon footprint, not only to satisfy internal environmental policies, but for practical business reasons. Many large organisations in the public and private sector are now demanding ‘green' credentials from their suppliers. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, in order for the UK to meet its responsibilities under climate change initiatives, the introduction of mandatory energy regulations is a possibility, requiring small firms to comply with and keep up to date with green legislation.

Haven Power specialises in electricity supply to SMEs, offering an alternative to the large multinational suppliers with personal, named service contacts. For more information see www.havenpower.com

Against a backdrop of continual steady rises in its wholesale cost, small firms need to become increasingly clever with how they buy and use energy. A new, very valuable tool is now available to small firms, called a Smart Meter, that could save them hundreds of pounds but recent Datamonitor research has shown that most SMEs are completely unaware that it exists. Automated Meter Reading (AMR) through a Smart Meter enables customers to track and price their energy consumption by providing their supplier with actual readings of the energy being used on a half-hourly basis.

BizzEnergy was the first to introduce Smart Meters into the UK and we have found that for most businesses, just understanding exactly where and when energy is being used is the first and most vital step to reducing or adjusting usage. Smart Metering enables companies to make decisions with real data, as they get a full and accurate picture of their consumption patterns. The data received enables your supplier to ensure that your business is on the correct meter profile class and can mean that you save up to 20% on your electricity bills straight away.

When it comes to the bills you get once a Smart Meter is installed, they will be timely and accurate with no nasty surprises. Smaller businesses are unlikely to accrue money just in case their estimated energy bill is too low so when an actual meter read results in a higher bill coming in, it can often cause cashflow problems. With a Smart Meter those problems are avoided. They are also less expensive than you might imagine, with the cost of a typical 10-year lease deal of a Smart Meter averaging out at around 50p a week.

Ultimately, Smart Metering puts small firms in control of their energy consumption in a way that was previously impossible due to prohibitively high meter costs and connection charges. Savings of 5-20% are being reported with Smart Meters, as they have been able to move onto better tariff options and implement more effective energy efficiency measures. As a result, Smart Meters can also significantly improve the carbon footprint of a business, which is partly why the Carbon Trust would like them to be compulsory for all SMEs. With the savings they bring to the bottom line as well as the environment, 2008 is undoubtedly the year for small firms to get smart with their metering.

To find out more about business electricity supplier BizzEnergy and Smart Meters visit www.bizzenergy.com