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Yü Energy: at a glance
Yü Energy has an extensive range of options when it comes to business energy, including fully- and part-fixed plans, 100% renewable electricity backed by renewable energy certificates on its Pure Green tariff, a carbon-neutral gas tariff, pre-payment tariffs, and a flexible Freedom plan.
Yü Energy also offers a multi-fuel tariff, where you can potentially save money by switching two of your business utilities (out of gas, electricity and water) to the supplier.
Yü Business Energy
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Yü Energy pros & cons
Pros
- It offers a range of business energy tariffs, to suit different sizes and needs.
- It has Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable generators.
- It offers smart meter installation, if eligible.
Cons
- There is no 24/7 customer service.
- You can only pay by direct debit.
These pros and cons are based on an exclusive survey of UK business owners on what they found important when choosing an energy provider, conducted by NerdWallet in December 2022.
Yü Energy key features
- Large number of tariff options, including fixed, part-fixed, pre-payment tariffs, and a green business energy plan.
- Offers a discounted multi-fuel tariff if you switch two of your business gas, electricity or water.
- Provides electric vehicle charging point installations for businesses.
Yü Energy full review
Founded in 2014, Yü Energy is an independent utilities provider covering gas, electricity and water.
It now supplies over 20,000 business locations across Great Britain, and offers a discounted multi-fuel tariff if you switch over two of the three utilities it provides.
Our table below gives you a quick overview of what you need to know about Yü Energy.
| Electricity contract length | One to three years (fixed) |
| Gas contract length | One to three years (fixed) |
| Fuel mix disclosure | Coal: 5.17% Natural gas: 59.06% Nuclear: 6.73% Renewables: 24.78%* Other: 4.27% (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022)* |
| Customer service number | 0115 975 8258 |
| Payment number | N/A |
| Complaints number | 0115 975 8258 |
| General email address | [email protected] |
| Complaints email address | [email protected] |
| Trustpilot rating | 3.7 stars (as of 24 January 2023) |
| Smart meter installation | Yes |
| App | No |
| Payment options | Direct debit |
*Businesses on a Pure Green tariff will receive 100% renewable electricity.
If you want to find out more about Yü Energy, read on for our full guide.
Yü Energy features
Below, you can find more information on the features and tariffs available with Yü Energy for businesses.
Customer service
It makes sense that 24/7 customer service is the most important factor business owners look for in an energy supplier, according to NerdWallet’s survey. After all, if something goes wrong, you want to be able to sort it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Yü Energy does not offer 24/7 customer service.
If you do want to contact Yü Energy, you can call 0115 975 8258 from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The supplier highlights its ‘lightning-quick’ customer service during these times and claims it will pick up your call within three rings.
You can email Yü at [email protected]. The supplier says it will get back to you within five working days.
Yü Energy also has a Live Chat function on its website, as well as an online contact form.
Although it is not listed as a contact option, you may be able to contact Yü Energy at its Twitter handle @EnergyforYu.
Business energy tariffs
The ability to match your business energy tariff to the needs of your organisation is a must for the business owners NerdWallet surveyed. So much so that it appeared in the top three most important features they look for in a supplier.
One of the biggest selling points of Yü Energy, then, is the range of business tariffs on offer for small and large businesses. Yü Energy defines a small business as one that uses less than 500,000 kilowatts (kWh) a year, with large businesses as those that consume more than that.
Fully fixed electricity tariffs
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a non half-hourly meter can access Yü Energy’s Fix tariff. This fixes the price of your unit rate and standing charge for the length of your contract. Therefore, while your bill will go up and down based on your usage, the price you are charged for each kilowatt of electricity will not change.
Larger businesses, meanwhile, can benefit from the Half-Hourly Fix tariff. This fixes your electricity unit rates (broken down over six-hour night and 18-hour day periods) alongside your standing charges.
SMEs and large businesses can both also access a Multi-Site Fix, where the unit rate for your electricity is fixed across all of your business locations.
Part-fixed electricity tariff
Businesses that use more than 500,000kWh a year can also choose from Yü Energy’s selection of Part Fixed tariffs.
The supplier’s Pass-Through plan fixes your energy rates, while any non-energy costs and rates are variable. Those costs will be paid retrospectively, based on their actual value. This means that your non-energy costs – for example, any infrastructure or transportation charges not related to your energy consumption – could rise and fall over the length of your contract.
The Renewable Pass-Through tariff fixes your energy costs and non-commodity costs, with the exception of your Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) and Contracts for Difference (CfD) costs. The RO, FIT and CfD costs will be ‘passed through’, meaning they will rise and fall in-line with market changes.
Finally, the Cost Manager Pass-Through tariff fixes your energy and non-commodity costs, with the exception of your Capacity Market, Distribution Use of System (DUoS) and Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges. Those charges will instead rise and fall in line with market changes.
For more information on these various charges, you can read our explainer on business energy tariffs.
Pure Green electricity tariff
If you want your electricity to come from 100% renewable sources, then you will need to select Yü Energy’s Pure Green tariff.
This is available as a fixed-price energy plan, with a contract length of one, two, or three years.
Fully fixed gas tariffs
As with electricity, Yü Energy offers fixed unit rate and standing charge tariffs for your business gas.
Small businesses with a non-daily metered gas meter can select the Fix tariff, while larger organisations can choose the Fixed Commercial Gas Plan.
Carbon-neutral gas tariff
If you want to reduce your business’s carbon emissions, then you could select Yü Energy’s Carbon Neutral Business Gas tariff.
Pre-payment tariffs
If you have a pre-payment, pay-as-you-go electricity or gas meter at your business premises, you can select Pre-Pay tariffs for both utilities.
Freedom Plan
For businesses looking for flexibility from their business energy tariff, Yü Energy offers its Freedom Plan. Prices are fixed, but are reviewed periodically, and you will be contacted in advance if they are to change. The Freedom Plan has a 30-day notice period if you wish to change suppliers or move onto a fixed contract with Yü.
Multi-fuel tariff
If you want to switch at least two of your utilities to Yü Energy, then you could benefit from the supplier’s Multi-Fuel tariff.
You will receive a discount on your standard rates if you have at least two of your business gas, electricity or water tariffs with Yü Energy.
Deemed, transition and payment default rates
If you move into business premises supplied by Yü Energy, but you have not agreed your own contract, you will be moved on to a deemed rate.
Similarly, if you do not renew your gas or electricity contract, but are yet to register with a new supplier, then you will be moved onto a Transition Energy Plan.
Meanwhile, if you default on your agreed payment terms in your contract, you will be placed on a Payment Default Price Plan.
Additional fees and charges
It is important to remember that on top of your kWh usage, charged at your unit rate, you will pay:
- a fixed standing charge, which contributes towards maintaining the electricity network
- VAT, either at 20% or the reduced rate of 5% (if your business uses less than 33kWh of electricity or 145kWh of gas a day)
- the Climate Change Levy (CCL), though there are exceptions to this tax
You will also be charged for third party, non-energy costs that may vary from month to month. These can include:
- energy infrastructure costs
- low carbon generation costs
- National Grid energy-related costs
- security of supply costs
» MORE: Business energy tariffs explained
Payment options
Being able to pay for business energy by direct debit was the second most important criteria for choosing a supplier, according to NerdWallet’s survey.
Yü Energy offers direct debit as a payment option – but, based on its website, not much else.
This may be a problem for those business owners looking to pay by bank transfer, debit or credit card, as that was the fourth most important criteria when looking at providers.
Smart meters
Smart meters can make a big difference to a business’s energy efficiency. This explains why smart meter installation is a key concern for business owners, featuring in the top five most important energy supplier criteria, based on NerdWallet’s survey.
As long as you are eligible, you can book a smart meter installation appointment through Yü Energy by registering your interest online.
Yü Energy is installing the latest generation SMETS2 smart meters for small businesses with a single- phase or U6 gas meter. If you already have a half-hourly meter, you will not be eligible for an upgrade.
» MORE: Smart meters for businesses
Renewable energy options
Yü Energy offers a Pure Green tariff for 100% renewable electricity, generated by the Carno Wind Farm in Wales through its partner, Smartest Energy. Yü Energy also has Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with other renewable generators.
Although renewable electricity still goes through the National Grid, meaning you will not know whether the energy you receive is ‘green’ or not, a PPA means renewable generators have a direct source of income that allows them to maintain their operations.
Any renewable electricity purchased is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. REGOs are a requirement of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), as part of the fuel mix disclosure regulations.
While REGOs aim to give transparency to consumers about the amount of renewable energy that a company has bought, sourcing directly from renewable generators is a stronger sign of a company’s commitment to renewable energy.
The supplier also offers a Carbon Neutral Business Gas tariff, where CO₂ emissions are offset through a variety of measures, alongside electric vehicle charging point installations for businesses.
Customer reviews
Yü Energy has an ‘Average’ Trustpilot rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on 1,582 reviews (as of 24 January 2023).
How can I switch to Yü Energy?
- First, you need to make sure you are at the end of your existing business energy contract and are able to satisfy any notice period.
- Then, you need to get a quote from Yü Energy. If you use up to 100,000kWh of electricity, or 293,000kWH of gas, a year, you can get an instant quote online. If not, you will need to request a bespoke quote.
- Once you have a quote, and have decided on a tariff, you will need to review and sign your new business energy contract.
- Yü Energy will take care of the switchover, including contacting your existing supplier. You will need to make sure you have paid off any outstanding balance from your existing contract.
- Finally, you will need to submit a meter reading within five days before or after the start of your supply with Yü Energy.
» MORE: How to switch business energy provider
How to choose a Yü Energy tariff
If you are trying to choose between Yü Energy tariffs, or comparing Yü Energy with other suppliers, you should consider:
- the unit rate you are quoted
- how long you want your contract to last
- whether you want a fixed-rate, flexible or pass-through tariff (if eligible)
- whether you want renewable electricity or carbon-neutral gas
- the level of customer service you require
- how you want to pay for your business energy, and what options are on offer
Moving business premises with Yü Energy
Whether you are moving into or out of Yü Energy-supplied business premises, you will need to complete a Change of Tenancy form.
You will need to provide such details as:
- the address you are moving to and the address you are moving from
- which utilities this move applies to
- when your change of tenancy takes effect
- your latest meter readings
- your contact and billing details
Review methodology
At NerdWallet UK, we base our reviews and our ‘Best’ pages on the results of surveys we undertook about what was important to people who use these products. This allows us to look at products impartially of any commercial arrangements we have and fairly rate the products on the same set of criteria.
Best means our ‘Best’ and is based only on what products we have aligned to our surveys, which form the basis of our reviews and ratings. This means that there will be other products on the market that we have not included in our ‘Best’ pages. Best does not mean it’s best for you, nor does it mean the ‘cheapest’.
Our reviews may display lenders’ rates. This additional information has not been included in our evaluations but is still very important when choosing a product. Rates offered can depend on circumstances, amount and term. Always check details before proceeding with any financial product.
Product details reflect the information that was available at that time but may have changed since. We strive to give you a review on as many products as possible, but there will be products not included on the market. The review is our opinion, but it does not constitute advice, recommendation or suitability for your financial circumstances.
While we try to provide you with accurate information, the providers can change the terms of their products at any time, therefore it is advisable to check the terms before you proceed.
You can view our full review methodology here.