When do I need to give notice on my business energy contract?
Work backwards from your contract end date to plan your notice and renewal. This free calculator runs in your browser and does not save or send your answers.
Calculate your contract notice dates
Use the browser calculator to enter your contract end date, a notice period of 0–180 calendar days (30 by default), whether you are a microbusiness and whether the contract started before 30 April 2015. Your answers are not saved or sent anywhere.
Check the dates and exact terms
The last date to give notice is the end date minus the notice days you enter. Plan to start getting quotes about four to six months before the end date. A microbusiness on a fixed-term contract should generally expect renewal information around 60 days before it ends.
For microbusiness rollover or evergreen contracts, Ofgem limits notice to 30 days. Contracts that started before 30 April 2015 can require up to 90 days. This is not a blanket 30-day rule for every fixed-term contract: check the notice terms, how notice must be given and when it must be received in your own contract.
Business energy contracts have no general cooling-off period. This is general information, not legal advice.
More help with business energy
Try the free cost estimator — an estimate, not a quote. BusinessEnergy.ai is not a broker or supplier.
Frequently asked questions
How is the last date to give notice calculated?
The calculator subtracts the number of calendar days you enter from the contract end date. Check your own contract for the exact notice period, permitted notice method and when the supplier must receive it.
Does every microbusiness contract have a 30-day notice period?
No. Ofgem's current 30-day termination-notice limit applies to microbusiness rollover or evergreen contracts. Older contracts that started before 30 April 2015 can require up to 90 days. Check the type and exact terms of your contract; do not assume the same rule applies to every fixed-term contract.
When should I start comparing business energy quotes?
Starting about four to six months before the end date gives you time to check your usage, compare like-for-like terms and prepare any required notice. This is a planning suggestion, not a guarantee of cheaper prices.
When should a microbusiness receive a renewal letter?
A microbusiness on a fixed-term contract should generally expect renewal information around 60 days before the contract ends. Check with your supplier if it has not arrived and confirm what happens when the fixed term ends.
Is there a cooling-off period for business energy contracts?
Business energy contracts do not generally have a cooling-off period after you agree them, including agreements made by phone. Check the dates, charges and terms before accepting. This calculator gives general information, not legal advice.