British Gas Vs SSE Tariffs: Business and Home Energy

British Gas and SSE are two UK energy suppliers that have earned their spot alongside the other big six energy companies. Domestic and business energy consumers alike look towards the big six energy suppliers for all their gas and electricity needs. But amidst the energy crisis, it is difficult to know which supplier to trust.

Choosing suppliers is difficult at the best of times. The only way to truly know which supplier will meet your needs is to read one of our guides. Our experts cover incentives, customer service ratings, prices, environmental practices, and tariffs. Whether you are interested in British Gas energy tariffs or SSE energy tariffs, our guide can act as a springboard for your research. 

Why Compare Energy Tariffs? 

When homeowners and business owners start looking for energy tariffs, the first thing that they think about is the big six energy companies. Lots of people see British Gas tariffs and SSE tariffs as the standard choice. In fact, there are hundreds of energy suppliers and tariffs to choose from. If you opt for one of the big six energy suppliers without doing your research, you could end up paying more for a well-known name. 

British Gas Business Energy Vs SSE Business Energy

In this article, our experts weigh up the differences between British Gas business energy and SSE business energy. These energy suppliers have thousands of business customers all over the UK. They are well known for providing a range of services including boiler cover and smart meter installation.

At Love Energy Savings, we believe that it is important to shop around, no matter how big the name is. You should consider whether customer service ratings and eco-friendly practices meet your expectations before you sign a contract. If you do not shop around, you could be stuck with a tariff that does not suit your needs for years. Research is especially important for business owners who want to lock in 1-, 2, or 3-year fixed-term contracts. 

Our experts have found answers to some of the most asked questions about British Gas tariffs and SSE tariffs. 

Which Has More Tariff Options? (Business Energy)

British Gas and SSE have a range of business energy tariffs to suit different consumers. British Gas business energy customers can access a Fixed-Price Energy Plan, a 30-Day Rolling Energy Plan, and a plan tailored towards commercial landlords. The Fixed-Price Energy Plan is the most popular because it guarantees fixed unit rates for 1, 2, or 3 years. People who secure this contract can even pay by direct debit to save 7% on their overall bill.

The 30-Day Rolling Energy Plan is the second most popular tariff. It is ideal for British Gas business energy customers who want a degree of flexibility. A lot like a standard variable tariff, this contract responds to fluctuating wholesale prices. If energy unit prices decrease, you will pay less for your energy. Consumers can switch suppliers with just 30 days' notice. 

Commercial landlords can depend on British Gas for all their energy needs. It caters to landlords who have large portfolios. This contract is available on a fixed or flexible basis. Lots of landlords love the fact that they can manage all their energy needs in one spot on the online account management system. 

SSE energy tariff customers are not disappointed by the range of contracts on offer. SSE Protect offers small to medium-sized business owners fully fixed energy prices. One of the biggest benefits of this contract is that you can secure it for just 6 months. The maximum term is 4 years, and it comes complete with 100% renewable electricity.

SSE Choice is the lowest-cost fixed-rate SSE energy tariff. Customers should be warned that unit prices are fixed, but the non-commodity prices may vary. This contract is available for up to 5 years, which makes it ideal for business owners who want to take advantage of the market and lock in low prices. Like the other SSE tariffs, SSE Choice includes 100% renewable electricity. 

SSE also offers SSE Shaping and SSE Cash Out, which are ideal for large businesses. SSE Shaping is perfect for business owners who want to be in control of their expenses. People on this contract will have a fixed energy usage profile and access to live market prices to take advantage of changing market conditions. SSE can also fix your non-baseload energy so that you can trade baseload-only power.

SSE Cash Out allows consumers to see their usage in real-time in order to make decisions based on wholesale price fluctuations. You can also combine your real-time energy usage and half-hour energy prices for the following day. SSE business energy tariffs are ideal for people who want transparency and control.

Winner: SSE tariffs win this round because they are tailor-made for different business needs. 

Which Is Cheaper? (Business Energy)

Energy unit prices are one of the most important considerations when switching suppliers. Consumers have a right to know how much the unit prices are before they agree to long-term contracts.

At Love Energy Savings, we are always transparent with our customers. We cannot tell you how much each British Gas tariff and SSE tariff will cost. Rates fluctuate based on lots of different factors, including the size of your company, the number of employees, and the time of the day that you use energy, to name just a few.

For tailored prices, you should always use an energy comparison generator. Our comparison generator is designed to give you clear, concise information in a matter of minutes. When you use comparison tools you can always be sure to find transparent information. 

Winner: This round is a draw.

Which Has Better Customer Service? (Business Energy)

Customer service ratings are an important consideration for business owners who want to switch to a new supplier. Previous and existing customers can tell how much a supplier cares about its customers. At Love Energy Savings, we use Trustpilot to measure customer service ratings. 

Some companies create separate Trustpilot accounts for their domestic and business customers. Some suppliers also rebrand under different names. SSE is formally known as Scottish and Southern Energy. As of January 2020, household energy supply customers were sold to OVO Energy. Because of these factors, SSE has a few accounts on Trustpilot. For this analysis, we will use the Trustpilot name that matches the website.

British Gas has over 80,000 reviews and an overall score of average. It has 3.1/5 stars on Trustpilot. Only 42% of customers think that British Gas energy tariffs are excellent, whereas a massive 32% of customers think that the service is bad. Excellent reviews talk about competent engineers and long-standing contracts. Other customers are frustrated because of inefficient smart meters and being unable to speak to a human customer service representative.

SSE has 72 reviews and an overall rating of bad. It has 1.3/5 stars on Trustpilot. A shocking 1% of customers think that SSE business energy services are excellent and the overwhelming majority of 96% think that are bad. SSE only has one positive review, which mentions an excellent customer service representative by name. There are several bad reviews that talk about incorrect billing and meter numbers. 

When it comes to Trustpilot, it is always important to consider whether the company has replied to reviews. British Gas has recently employed a representative to reply to negative reviews. The most recent replies were published just 10 minutes before the writing of this article. Representatives direct unhappy customers to Twitter and Facebook and give them a range of different contact methods. This new development shows that British Gas invests in customer services. SSE has also replied to a lot of its negative reviews with contact information.

Winner: British Gas is the clear winner in this case because it has more positive reviews and a better overall rating.

Which Is Greener? (Business Energy)

Green energy tariffs can do much more than just offset your carbon footprint. More and more business owners are searching for suppliers that mirror their environmental values. By signing the agreed contract, you can invest in suppliers that uphold your values. So which is better for environmentally conscious business owners, British Gas tariffs or SSE tariffs?

Both British Gas and SSE are similar in terms of green contracts. British Gas offers Green tariffs to businesses that use more than 150,000 kWh of electricity or gas. If your business fits the criteria, you can access 100% renewable business electricity that is certified by the Carbon Trust. Green deals also have flexible renewal options which are ideal for business owners who want to take advantage of fluctuations in the market and shop around. 

SSE business energy customers can expect 100% renewable energy, which comes as standard with every small to medium-sized business contract. The energy is sourced from SSE’s own hydro plants and wind farms. Businesses on SSE Protect and SSE Choice tariffs get 100% renewable energy as standard and can also opt for renewable gas. 

Winner: SSE business energy tariffs win this round because small and medium-sized business owners get 100% renewable electricity as standard. 

Which Has Better Incentives? 

Lots of suppliers are willing to offer new customers incentives to secure their business. Unfortunately, British Gas energy tariffs and SSE energy tariffs do not come with sign-on incentives. 

Winner: This round is a draw.

British Gas Business Energy Vs SSE Business Energy Overall Winner 

When it comes to business energy, SSE wins our vote. This win is not clear-cut; both suppliers draw when it comes to prices and incentives. SSE cinched the win because it creates tailored tariffs to suit different-sized businesses. We recommend this supplier for business owners who want well throughout tariffs that respond to their business needs. 

British Gas Tariffs Vs SSE Tariffs For Home Energy

There are millions of domestic energy consumers in the UK. Lots of domestic customers become frustrated with the difficulties involved in finding the right supplier. At Love Energy Savings, we know that it pays to choose the right supplier the first time. In this article, you will find everything that you need to know about British Gas tariffs and SSE tariffs for home energy.

Which Has More Tariff Options? (Home Energy)

Both British Gas and SSE offer domestic customers a range of tariffs. British Gas tariffs include standard options such as Fixed-Price tariffs as well as environmentally friendly choices. Domestic customers can also access Energy Plus Home Services and Electric Vehicle tariffs. Energy Plus Home Services is a fixed-price tariff that is available for 12 months or more. It is very similar to the Fixed-Price tariff, but comes with the added benefit of a Central Heating Breakdown Cover, Plumbing and Drains Cover, and Home Electrical Cover. Whereas some homeowners prefer to pay a lump sum when these problems arise, lots of domestic customers can see the benefits of securing a comprehensive package.

British Gas’ Electric Vehicle tariff is similar to an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff because it guarantees low electricity rates between 12 am and 5 am. Customers can also use the electricity smart meter that comes as part of the package to monitor their energy consumption.

Whereas SSE business energy customers can browse through the range of tariffs on offer, domestic consumers do not have the same advantage. SSE is currently refreshing its tariffs, and they are not available to view online. The only way that prospective customers can see the tariffs is by filling in the survey and getting a quote. 

Winner: British Gas tariffs win this round because the information about each contract is accessible on the website.

Which Is Cheaper? (Home Energy)

As with British Gas energy tariffs and SSE energy tariffs for businesses, we cannot provide you with exact figures. Energy suppliers make this information difficult to come across. A lot of suppliers require customers to complete a survey to get a quote. 

Winner: This round is a draw. 

Which Has Better Customer Service? (Home Energy)

At Love Energy Savings, we rely on Trustpilot for reliable customer reviews. Domestic energy consumers struggle to find accurate British Gas tariff and SSE tariff reviews because each company has the same Trustpilot account for its domestic and business customers. You might see a negative review for a service that you do not need. 

Another problem that we encountered whilst comparing these two energy suppliers is that SSE has recently changed its name. This transitionary period might have caused some negative customer experiences that would not otherwise exist in the day-to-day running of the business.

British Gas has 3.1/5 stars on Trustpilot, which gives it an overall rating of average. British Gas business energy customers can expect excellent support in some areas, and poor responses in others. SSE has 1.3/5 stars on Trustpilot, which gives it an overall rating of bad. Whereas some excellent and negative British Gas reviews contradict each other, SSE only has one positive review.

Winner: British Gas wins this round for having a far better rating than SSE. 

Which Is Greener? (Home Energy)

British Gas matches 100% of the electricity that domestic customers consume on Green tariffs. It also purchases Certified Emissions Reduction Certificates to support carbon emission reduction projects in the developing world. For each customer on a Green tariff, British Gas will protect 5 trees. 

Home energy customers can add a Go Green option to any kind of SSE tariff for an extra £3 a month. This extra £3 a month will guarantee customers 100% renewable electricity and personalised energy-saving emails. Similar to British Gas, SSE will plant 5 trees each year for each customer.

Winner: British Gas cinches the win in this round because it protects trees instead of planting them. SSE does not provide any follow-up information about the maintenance and care of the trees that it plants. 

Which Has Better Incentives? (Home Energy)

British Gas Rewards is designed to keep customers loyal. Since April 2017, customers have had access to exclusive discounts for restaurants and family days out. They can access Rewards from an easy-to-use online account. Most home energy customers are eligible to join rewards. The only customers who cannot access rewards are people who have On-Demand or Hive Active Heating subscriptions. Although Rewards are not exactly a sign-on incentive, it does entice new customers. 

SSE business energy stands apart from the other suppliers because it offers a genuine incentive to new customers. Both new and existing customers can benefit from the Refer A Friend Scheme. If you refer someone who signs a contract, you will both get £35. 

Winner: SSE offers new customers a genuine cash incentive, which makes it the clear winner. 

British Gas Energy Vs SSE Tariffs Overall Winner

British Gas tariffs win! SSE was close to winning, but the lack of information about home energy tariffs is too big a blind spot to ignore. We recommend British Gas tariffs to homeowners who want clear, concise information about a range of contracts including Green tariffs. 

Compare Business & Home Energy Tariffs 

Whether you are a domestic or business customer, you can save money on your overall bills by comparing suppliers. Comparing suppliers is the easiest way to find a deal that fits your needs. 

We work hard to make the switching process as hassle-free as possible for business energy and domestic energy customers all over the UK. If you want to compare British Gas energy tariffs and SSE energy tariffs with other deals on the market, we have got you covered. With our energy comparison generator, finding the right deal only takes 60 seconds. Put your details into the form and let us do the rest. 

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