Plain-English UK commercial energy intelligence.
Long-read articles from the TUS consultancy and trade desk. Procurement, decarbonisation, water, regulatory, sector. Updated regularly.
A practical deep dive into Multipurchase contracts
Multipurchase contracts offer UK businesses with 1–5 GWh portfolios a structured approach to energy procurement, combining flexibility with cost control. This article explains how tranches, period choices, caps, and triggers work in practice, with a real-world example using current UK market conditions and TUS’s proven approach to optimisation.
Read articleHidden non-commodity costs: why two-thirds of your UK business energy bill isn't the commodity
About two-thirds of a UK business electricity unit rate isn't the commodity itself. It's grid maintenance, distribution, transmission, government levies and infrastructure charges. These components are quietly rising and increasingly drive your unit rate — even when wholesale falls.
Read articleHalf-hourly settlement, explained — what changed in April 2025 and why it matters
From April 2025, half-hourly settlement became the default for almost all UK electricity meters. That means your consumption is now reconciled with the wholesale market in 30-minute blocks — and you can finally see, in detail, where your bill is actually going.
Read articleGB Energy: the pros and cons for UK business energy buyers
GB Energy is the UK government's state-owned vehicle for investing in renewable generation and stabilising the energy market. The intent — price stability, security, decarbonisation — is positive for business buyers; the risks are around reduced market competition, slower contracting and uncertain long-term cost recovery.
Read articleWater prices rise again on 1st April 2026 — what UK businesses should do now
Wholesale water prices rose roughly 14% in April 2024 and 22% in April 2025. Ofwat confirmed in December 2024 that water costs will keep rising until at least April 2029 — cumulatively around 83% above 2023 levels. April is the worst time to negotiate. Q1 is the window to review.
Read articleFlex vs fixed vs multipurchase — how to choose your UK business energy purchasing strategy
The simplest way to think about it: fixed is one bet on one day, multipurchase is a flexible product inside a supplier wrapper, full flex is a directly-traded portfolio. Sizing thresholds are roughly 1 GWh and 5 GWh — but risk appetite and operational reality push the line.
Read articleLock in your next gas contract early — why waiting often costs more
After two years of post-crisis calm, forward gas prices are rising — driven by AI and data-centre demand, LNG dependency, geopolitical risk and decarbonisation backstop requirements. Locking ahead, even with 24 months left, often beats waiting.
Read articleVoltage optimisation ROI — when does VO pay back?
Voltage optimisation typically delivers a 5-15% electricity saving for candidate UK commercial sites, with a 2-3 year payback. The savings then continue for the 10-15+ year asset life. The skill is knowing which sites qualify — and which don't.
Read articleTake-or-pay clauses — how they sabotage solar (and how to remove them)
Take-or-pay clauses penalise you for using less grid electricity than forecast. They can turn a solar PV project from a money-maker into a money-loser by triggering volume penalties. We refuse to install solar without removing the clause first.
Read articleThe E11 nuclear charge, explained — what UK businesses need to know
The E11 charge is a new non-commodity component on UK electricity bills from April 2025, funding new UK nuclear generation. It is small per kWh but adds up — and like other non-commodity components, you can choose to fix it into your unit rate or pass it through.
Read articleWhy stock market volatility can be a positive for gas and power buyers
When stock markets fall, investors expect slower economic growth — which often translates into softer energy commodity prices. Businesses on flex or multipurchase contracts can use these windows to lock in tranches at lower prices.
Read articleSustainable supply chain — cascading decarbonisation through your suppliers
Most of a business's real carbon footprint sits in Scope 3 — purchased goods, services and value-chain activities. Cascading the same energy and decarbonisation work through your suppliers is the highest-leverage way to drive measurable Scope 3 reductions.
Read articleThe Smart Export Guarantee, simplified — getting paid for your solar
The Smart Export Guarantee is the UK scheme that requires large suppliers to pay small-scale generators for exported electricity. Rates vary 1-15p/kWh by supplier — and for larger commercial installs, bespoke export deals often pay materially more.
Read articleTurn complex energy data into clear, simple, cost-saving decisions.
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