SSE Business Energy Review: Pricing, Tariffs & Green Options

SSE Business Energy is the commercial arm of SSE, supplying electricity and gas to small and medium businesses across the UK. They like to position themselves as a renewable energy provider, offering 100% renewable electricity on most fixed-price plans, which comes from their own wind and hydro assets.

They offer four main tariff types, from fully fixed-price contracts for smaller businesses to flexible trading for larger ones. Contract terms run from six months up to five years.

Their tariff portfolio includes SSE Protect for total price certainty and SSE Choice for mixed pricing structures. Advanced options like SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out are tailored for larger businesses wanting market flexibility and revenue optimisation.

Customer satisfaction ratings are poor, with SSE Energy Solutions scoring 2.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot from around 440 reviews. Common complaints mention communication hassles, long waits, billing errors, and general service headaches – definitely something to weigh up before signing on.

Overview of SSE Business Energy

SSE Energy Solutions serves 500,000+ business metering points across the UK. It is part of SSE Group (SSE plc) and was NOT sold to OVO — only the household retail arm transferred in January 2020. SSE’s fuel mix is 64% renewable.

SSE is a big player in the UK energy market and switched to focus on business customers after selling its domestic contracts in 2020. They provide electricity, gas, and renewable options with both fixed and flexible pricing.

Who Is SSE?

SSE, based in Perth, Scotland, operates under the SSE plc group. Founded in 1998, it quickly became one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers.

In 2020, SSE sold its domestic energy contracts to OVO Energy, choosing to focus on business energy solutions.

SSE is listed on the London Stock Exchange as part of the FTSE 100 Index, which shows its solid market presence and financial stability.

Since 2011, they’ve doubled their renewable energy production, running their own UK wind farms and hydro plants to generate clean electricity.

SSE Energy Solutions for Businesses

SSE Energy Solutions supplies electricity and gas to businesses of all sizes. They offer both fixed-rate and flexible contract options.

Fixed-rate plans like SSE Protect and SSE Choice suit small to medium businesses. These plans offer price certainty and run up to three years.

Flexible plans such as SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out are aimed at larger businesses. These let companies take advantage of live market prices and changing conditions.

All business customers get access to SSE Clarity, an energy management platform that works with smart meters to help track and forecast energy use.

SSE supplies 100% renewable electricity from their own UK wind and hydro assets. Their customer support is handled by UK-based energy experts.

Business Electricity Tariffs

SSE offers four main business tariffs: SSE Protect (fully fixed, 6 months to 4 years), SSE Choice (partially fixed, up to 5 years), SSE Shaping (flexible/market-linked), and SSE Cash Out (real-time pricing with generation option).

SSE offers four main types of business electricity tariffs: SSE Protect (fully fixed), SSE Choice (partially fixed), SSE Shaping (flexible/market-linked), and SSE Cash Out (real-time pricing with their Virtual Power Plant).

Fixed Rate Electricity Plans

Fixed rate tariffs give businesses price stability over a set contract period. SSE Protect plans lock in rates for anywhere from 6 months to 4 years, while SSE Choice contracts run up to 5 years.

Key Benefits:

• Predictable costs for budgeting
• Protection from market price spikes
• Fixed unit rates per kWh

Businesses can pick contract lengths that fit their planning cycles. Fixed tariffs work well for those with steady usage patterns; rates stay the same, no matter what happens in the wholesale market.

SSE offers different fixed rate structures. Some plans have separate day and night rates for businesses with varying consumption, while others keep it simple with single-rate pricing.

Contract terms depend on business size and consumption. Larger businesses might get more competitive rates thanks to higher usage, but small and medium companies still benefit from price certainty.

Flexible Electricity Tariffs

Flexible tariffs let businesses adapt their energy agreements as their needs change. Prices adjust based on market conditions and how much energy you use.

Types of Flexible Tariffs:

• Variable rates – Prices shift with the market
• Time-of-use tariffs – Different rates for peak and off-peak times
• Seasonal pricing – Rates change with seasonal demand

Variable rate tariffs can save money when wholesale prices drop, but there’s a risk of higher costs if the market rises. These suit businesses that don’t mind some price movement.

Time-of-use tariffs work for companies that can shift usage to off-peak hours. Manufacturers and retailers with flexible schedules often find these useful.

Flexible contracts usually need less commitment than fixed deals. Businesses can often tweak their tariff structure with shorter notice, which helps if your operations are changing.

100% Renewable Electricity Options

SSE provides 100% renewable electricity tariffs as standard for many business customers. These green tariffs use electricity from wind, solar, and other renewables.

Renewable Energy Features:

• Zero carbon emissions from supply
• Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates
• Support for UK renewable development

Choosing renewable electricity cuts your carbon footprint without changing how you use energy. The supply stays reliable, and you support sustainability goals at the same time.

Green tariffs appeal to companies with corporate social responsibility targets. Many businesses use renewable electricity as part of their net-zero strategies and often mention it in their marketing.

SSE’s renewable electricity comes with certificates to prove its green credentials. This helps businesses report sustainability metrics accurately. Pricing is usually competitive with standard tariffs.

Small and medium businesses can access these renewable deals without minimum volume requirements. Larger customers might negotiate bespoke green agreements with extra features.

Business Gas Tariffs

SSE business gas tariffs include fixed-rate contracts (4–7p/kWh), flexible contracts (3–8p/kWh), and carbon offset gas (5–9p/kWh). Out-of-contract variable rates are significantly higher at around 10.86p/kWh.

SSE Energy Solutions has four main gas tariff options, including fixed-price plans and flexible trading arrangements. They offer renewable gas options as well, catering to businesses of different sizes.

Fixed Rate Gas Plans

SSE has two fixed-rate gas tariffs: SSE Protect and SSE Choice. Both give price certainty for businesses wanting to manage costs.

SSE Protect locks in fully fixed gas prices for six months to four years, covering all costs and shielding businesses from market changes.

SSE Choice fixes wholesale energy prices but keeps non-commodity charges variable. Terms can go up to five years, giving long-term price stability for the main energy part of the bill.

Both plans suit small to medium businesses looking for predictable bills. The structure helps with accurate budgeting and avoids nasty surprises during volatile periods.

Flexible Gas Tariffs

SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out offer flexible gas arrangements for larger businesses with more complex needs. These require fixed usage profiles before unlocking advanced trading features.

SSE Shaping lets companies access live market prices and transparent trading. You can fix non-baseload energy while trading only baseload, giving more control over your buying strategy.

SSE Cash Out gives full visibility of real-time gas usage and optimisation tools. Companies can even earn extra revenue through the SSE Virtual Power Plant by optimising usage and on-site generation.

Both flexible tariffs are best for larger businesses that want to actively manage their energy procurement and have the know-how to handle market risks.

Renewable Gas Options

SSE offers renewable gas choices within their flexible tariffs. Both SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out can include renewable gas alongside standard supplies.

These options help businesses cut their carbon footprint and hit environmental targets. Companies can pick the renewable gas level that fits their goals and budget.

The renewable gas offerings go hand-in-hand with SSE’s 100% renewable electricity on fixed-price plans. This lets businesses create a full green energy package for both gas and electricity.

Pricing Structure and Standing Charges

SSE does not publish standard contract rates — quotes are bespoke. Out-of-contract variable rates are around 37.75p/kWh for electricity (£2.85/day standing) and 10.86p/kWh for gas (£3.12/day standing). Fixed contracts are typically 18–25p/kWh for electricity.

SSE Business Energy uses a two-part pricing model: unit rates per kWh and daily standing charges for infrastructure. Contract lengths run from 6 months to 5 years depending on the tariff, and fixed-rate deals protect against market swings.

Unit Rates Explained

Unit rates are what you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy. SSE’s rates depend on your tariff and how much you use.

Electricity Unit Rates:

• Fixed-rate contracts: 18p – 25p per kWh
• Flexible contracts: 15p – 27p per kWh
• 100% renewable electricity: 20p – 28p per kWh

Gas Unit Rates:

• Fixed-rate contracts: 4p – 7p per kWh
• Flexible contracts: 3p – 8p per kWh
• Carbon offset gas: 5p – 9p per kWh

Higher usage businesses often get lower unit rates. Multi-site operations can negotiate down to 16p per kWh for electricity and 3.5p for gas.

Rates change with the market and your business needs. SSE gives custom quotes rather than publishing standard prices.

Standing Charges Breakdown

Standing charges are daily fixed fees covering the cost of keeping energy flowing to your premises. These apply whether you use energy or not.

SSE’s standing charges usually range from 25p to 50p per day for electricity. Gas standing charges sit between 22p and 42p daily.

What affects standing charges?

• Connection capacity – Bigger connections cost more
• Location – Regional network costs play a part
• Meter type – Advanced meters might add extra fees

Multi-site businesses sometimes get lower standing charges through volume deals. Charges have gone up across the industry, with some business energy costs rising from £31 to £190 daily for large industrial users since 2018.

Paying by direct debit can cut your overall energy costs by up to 5%, which could mean £100-£300 saved each year.

Contract Lengths and Price Stability

SSE offers contracts from 6 months to 5 years. Longer deals usually mean better rates and more price stability. Fixed-rate contracts (SSE Protect) lock in your unit rate for the whole contract, while SSE Choice fixes wholesale costs but lets non-commodity charges vary.

One-year contracts are for those who want flexibility, but they offer less protection from rising prices. Three-year deals give maximum price certainty, making budgeting easier.

Early termination fees run from £30 to £150 per meter, depending on contract type and what’s left on the term. Businesses should factor these in when choosing contract lengths.

Variable-rate customers get quarterly price reviews, so their rates change with the wholesale market. Fixed-rate customers avoid these swings but might miss out if prices drop.

Longer contracts sometimes include extra perks, like dedicated account managers for larger businesses or better energy monitoring tools.

Energy Management and Efficiency

SSE provides three energy management platforms: SSE Clarity (consumption dashboards), SSE FlexSee (flexible energy management), and the SSE Virtual Power Plant for businesses generating their own energy.

SSE Business Energy gives you tools to track energy use with smart meters and online platforms. They offer guidance to help businesses monitor patterns and make practical changes to cut bills.

Smart Metering and Online Portal

SSE installs smart meters so companies can see their energy use in real time. These meters collect data every 30 minutes.

All business plans come with access to SSE Clarity, an energy management platform that works with smart meters to show detailed usage.

Business owners can check their consumption through the online portal. The system helps spot peak times and where energy is being wasted.

Smart meters mean no more manual readings. They send data straight to SSE, ensuring accurate bills and no more estimated charges.

Monitoring Energy Usage

SSE’s Business Energy Intelligence service analyses half-hourly data for companies. This helps businesses see exactly when and where they’re using the most energy.

The platform creates detailed profiles for different areas of a business. You can see which departments or equipment are the biggest energy users.

Energy monitoring helps spot usage patterns. For example, office energy use can swing a lot depending on working hours and equipment.

The system tracks improvements over time. Businesses can measure the impact of their efforts to use less energy.

Tips for Reducing Consumption

SSE shares sector-specific advice for cutting energy use. Their guidance covers simple changes that can make a real difference.

Getting staff involved in energy saving can really help. When employees understand what’s at stake, they’re more likely to spot ways to reduce waste.

The company provides downloadable guides with practical tips for various business types. These resources help you find the best opportunities for savings.

Regular monitoring keeps you on track with energy goals. Companies that watch their usage closely tend to see better long-term results.

Customer Experience and Reviews

SSE Energy Solutions has a 2.1/5 Trustpilot rating from 442 reviews (rated “Poor”). Common complaints include billing errors, long phone wait times, and difficulty submitting meter readings. Phone support: 0345 725 2526, Mon–Thu 8:30am–5pm, Fri 8:30am–4:30pm.

SSE Business Energy gets mixed feedback. There’s a noticeable gap between their service ratings and their overall market reputation. Some industry awards are there, but trust scores from review platforms remain a concern.

Customer Service

SSE Business Energy Solutions has picked up a few industry awards for customer service quality. The company won the uSwitch Best Customer Service award in 2021, which shows a strong commitment to supporting business clients.

Customer feedback often points to good experiences with phone-based support. Many say their issues get sorted out quickly during calls.

New business enquiries can call 0800 389 4466 (free), while existing customers use 0345 725 2526 and billing queries go to 0345 072 9570.

Still, reviews across different platforms are a bit of a mixed bag. Some people seem happy with how their problems get resolved, but others mention ongoing challenges with service delivery.

SSE also picked up awards for Best Meter Reading Services and Best Smart Meter Experience in 2021. These wins suggest the company usually does well in technical areas that matter for daily business operations.

Online Account Management

SSE offers digital account management via their online portal (my.sseenergysolutions.co.uk). There’s no mobile app – business customers manage accounts through the web portal only.

They provide a range of meter options – standard meters, smart meters, and multi-site solutions. This flexibility helps businesses with different operational needs.

Online services sit alongside phone-based support, giving customers more ways to handle routine account management on their own.

Reputation in the Market

SSE Energy Solutions (the business arm) scores 2.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot from around 440 reviews, rated “Poor.” Common complaints focus on billing errors, long waits, and meter reading issues.

It’s important not to confuse SSE Energy Solutions with SSE plc (the parent, rated 1.5/5) or the old SSE Energy Services household brand (sold to OVO in January 2020 for £500m). The business arm has always been a separate operation.

SSE Airtricity (their Irish operation) scores much better at 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, but that’s a separate entity serving a different market. For UK business customers, the 2.1/5 rating is the relevant benchmark.

SSE stands among the top electricity & gas suppliers, but customer sentiment remains mixed. If you’re considering SSE, it’s probably wise to look at both their industry recognition and what people say on review platforms.

Additional Products and Services

Beyond standard energy supply, SSE offers Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs) for long-term renewable sourcing, commercial EV charging infrastructure, and the SSE Green product backed by electricity from SSE’s own UK wind farms and hydro plants.

SSE Energy Solutions supplies smart meters and gives energy efficiency advice to business customers. They also offer green energy tariffs for electric vehicles, plus charging point solutions for businesses aiming for more sustainable transport.

Support for Green Transport

SSE Energy Solutions helps businesses shift to greener transport with tailored electric vehicle support. They design green energy tariffs specifically for EV charging needs.

The company installs charging points at business premises, so firms can set up EV stations for their fleets or employees.

Their green transport services include:

• Green energy tariffs for EV charging
• Charging point installation and ongoing support
• Fleet electrification guidance

These services help businesses cut carbon emissions from transport. Companies can power their electric vehicles using renewable electricity from SSE’s wind and hydro sites.

The charging solutions fit alongside main business energy contracts. This gives businesses a more complete energy package as they move towards sustainable transport.

Other Business Energy Products

SSE Energy Solutions fits smart meters for all business customers. These meters show real-time energy usage and consumption data.

They offer energy efficiency advice to help businesses shrink their carbon footprint. Their guidance points out ways to cut energy waste and reduce costs.

Key additional products include:

• Smart meter installation and monitoring
• Energy efficiency consultations
• Carbon emission reduction advice
• Online energy management tools

With smart meters, businesses get a clear view of their real-time energy use. This helps companies spot peak usage times and optimise consumption.

The energy efficiency advice covers practical steps for cutting down on energy use. SSE’s experts review patterns and suggest improvements to help companies save money and lessen their environmental impact.

Tom Reynolds

Business Energy Specialist

Tom focuses on commercial energy, renewable adoption, and sustainability strategy for SMEs. His background with UK energy suppliers helps businesses cut costs while meeting carbon targets.

Reviewed by

Laura Bennet

Home Energy & Sustainability Editor