Energy Procurement Services

Energy Procurement Services for UK Businesses

Energy is one of the largest and most volatile costs your business faces. Without a structured procurement strategy, you risk overpaying, rolling onto expensive out-of-contract rates, or locking into a fixed price at the wrong point in the market cycle. Catalyst Digital Energy’s award-winning energy procurement team takes that risk off your desk — giving you access to 30+ UK energy suppliers, expert buying intelligence and a strategy tailored to your business.

Why Business Energy Procurement Is More Complex Than It Looks

Most businesses renew their energy contracts the same way they always have — accepting a supplier renewal quote or going direct to a single broker. In a volatile market, that approach is expensive.

The UK wholesale energy market moves daily. The difference between securing a contract at the right moment and the wrong one can mean tens of thousands of pounds across a three-year term. Add in half-hourly metering costs, non-commodity charges, distribution costs and climate levies — which now routinely account for 50–60% of a business energy bill — and it becomes clear that procurement is a specialist task, not an admin one.

Our team has been navigating this market since 2001. We understand how to time a contract, which suppliers offer the most competitive terms for your consumption profile, and how to structure a procurement strategy that balances cost certainty with flexibility.

Our Energy Procurement Services

Flexible Energy Baskets

Exclusive to Catalyst, our Flexible Energy Basket service aggregates your energy procurement with other commercial buyers to create a stronger, more competitive position in the market. By pooling volume, we negotiate access to wholesale rates that individual businesses cannot achieve independently — giving you institutional-level buying power without institutional-level complexity.

Fixed Energy Contracts

Fixed contracts lock your unit rate for a defined period — typically one to four years — giving you cost certainty and protection against price spikes. They work best when the market is rising or when your business needs predictable energy budgets. Our team monitors forward curves and advises on the optimal moment to fix, so you’re not committing at a market peak.

Flexible Energy Contracts

Rather than fixing a price upfront, flexible contracts allow you to purchase energy in tranches throughout the contract term, buying into the wholesale market at different points. This approach suits larger commercial and industrial consumers who want to actively manage their energy spend and take advantage of price dips. Our trading desk monitors the market and advises on purchase timing.

Portfolio Procurement

For organisations with complex or multi-site energy requirements, portfolio procurement blends fixed and flexible purchasing across different contract periods and consumption points. This approach balances price certainty with market opportunity — reducing risk without sacrificing the ability to benefit from favourable market movements.

Energy Bureau and Invoice Validation

Our Energy Bureau service provides end-to-end contract lifecycle management through our EaaSi™ Energy Spend Management Platform. This covers contract procurement, live budget tracking, invoice validation against contracted rates, and consumption monitoring — so billing errors and overcharges are caught before they cost you money. Studies consistently show that 1 in 3 commercial energy invoices contains an error.

Business Electricity Procurement

We work with 30+ UK business electricity suppliers, giving you access to a comprehensive range of fixed, flexible and pass-through products. Whether you’re on a standard profile meter, a half-hourly meter or managing multiple supply points, our team will identify the most competitive options for your consumption profile and risk appetite.

Business Gas Procurement

Our gas procurement service covers fixed, flex and pass-through contract options across all business sizes and consumption levels. We provide transparent market comparisons, handle all supplier negotiations and manage the switching process end-to-end so there’s no disruption to your supply.

MOP Contracts and Half-Hourly Metering

Half-hourly (HH) metered sites require a Meter Operator (MOP) contract as a mandatory element of energy supply. We provide competitive MOP contract quoting across all HH meter types, including data collection and reporting services — ensuring your metering infrastructure is compliant, accurate and cost-efficient.

Non-Commodity Cost Reporting — Cost Stacker™

Non-commodity charges — including network costs, distribution use of system (DUoS), transmission use of system (TNUoS) and the Climate Change Levy — can make up more than half your total energy bill, yet most businesses have little visibility of them. Our proprietary Cost Stacker™ tool converts your HH data into a fully itemised breakdown of current, past and forecast non-commodity costs, giving you the intelligence to challenge charges and plan budgets accurately.

Online Business Energy Quote

Compare electricity and gas prices from 30+ UK suppliers in minutes with our free online quote tool. We work with more energy suppliers than most of our competitors — so you see the widest possible range of rates, updated in real time.

Case Study: £650,000 Energy Cost Saving for a UK Manufacturer

A UK manufacturing business approached Catalyst with a straightforward brief: reduce energy costs without compromising operational flexibility. Manufacturing sites present a particular procurement challenge — high consumption, complex half-hourly metering profiles and an acute sensitivity to price volatility.

After conducting a full baseline audit of the client’s energy estate, our team identified three areas of opportunity: an unfavourable fixed contract locked in at a market peak, significant non-commodity overcharges that had gone unchallenged, and metering infrastructure that was driving unnecessary MOP contract costs.

By restructuring the procurement strategy — moving the client to a risk-managed flexible contract, recovering non-commodity overcharges through our Cost Stacker™ analysis, and renegotiating MOP contracts across the estate — we delivered a total saving of £650,000.

If your business has high energy consumption and hasn’t reviewed your procurement strategy recently, the chances are there is significant saving opportunity within your current arrangements.

How We Build Your Energy Procurement Strategy

Effective energy procurement starts with understanding your business — your consumption patterns, your risk tolerance, your budget cycle and your sustainability commitments. Our process begins with a full energy audit and baseline review before any market engagement.

From there, we model your options: fixed versus flexible, single versus portfolio, short-term versus long-term. We present these in plain language, with a clear recommendation and the market rationale behind it.

Once a strategy is agreed, we go to the full market on your behalf — accessing all 30+ UK suppliers — negotiate directly and present you with independently verified quotes. We manage the entire switching process and remain your account team for the life of the contract, monitoring the market, validating invoices and advising on renewal strategy at the right time.

As a Crown Commercial Service supplier, we also support public sector and framework procurement processes, providing compliant routes to market for local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations and educational institutions.

Over 1,000 UK businesses and organisations trust Catalyst to manage their energy procurement — from SMEs to large industrial and public sector consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I start the energy procurement process?

We recommend starting between 6 and 18 months before your contract end date. This gives you maximum flexibility to time your purchase across different market conditions. Leaving procurement until the final few weeks before renewal severely limits your options and often means accepting uncompetitive rates.

What is the difference between a fixed and a flexible energy contract?

A fixed contract locks your unit rate for the full contract term, giving you price certainty. A flexible contract lets you buy energy in stages throughout the term, potentially benefiting from price dips — but with more exposure to market movements. The right choice depends on your risk tolerance, consumption volume and market conditions at the time of procurement.

Can you help businesses with multiple sites?

Yes. Multi-site procurement is one of our core strengths. We consolidate your entire estate into a single procurement strategy, align contract end dates where possible, and use your aggregated volume to negotiate stronger terms across the portfolio.

What are non-commodity charges and why do they matter?

Non-commodity charges cover the costs of transporting and distributing energy to your premises — network charges, metering, levies and government obligations. They typically account for 50–60% of a commercial energy bill and are largely fixed regardless of supplier. Understanding and challenging these charges is often where the biggest savings are found.

Do you work with businesses of all sizes?

Yes. We work with small and medium-sized businesses, large industrial and commercial consumers, and public sector organisations. Our online quote tool suits smaller businesses wanting a quick comparison. Larger or more complex organisations benefit from our full advisory and portfolio procurement service.

How does Catalyst make money from energy procurement?

We are paid a transparent broker fee by the energy supplier upon successful contract placement. This fee is disclosed in full before you commit to any contract. We are independent — we have no financial incentive to recommend one supplier over another, which is why we access the full panel of 30+ UK suppliers rather than a restricted list.

What happens if I don’t switch at renewal?

If you do nothing at contract end, most suppliers will roll you onto a deemed or out-of-contract rate, which is typically 30–50% higher than a negotiated rate. This is one of the most common and avoidable costs in commercial energy management.

Are you an accredited energy broker?

Yes. Catalyst Digital Energy is a Crown Commercial Service supplier, operates under the TPI (Third Party Intermediary) Code of Practice, and is Cyber Essentials certified. We are award-winning across the UK energy sector and fully compliant with Ofgem’s transparency requirements for energy brokers.

Talk to Our Energy Procurement Team

With over 20 years in the UK energy market, a panel of 30+ suppliers and a track record of delivering savings of over £650,000 for individual clients, our team has the expertise and relationships to secure your business the most competitive energy arrangement available.

Whether you need a quick online quote or a fully managed procurement strategy for a complex multi-site estate, we can help.

Contact us today to speak to one of our energy procurement specialists.