Valda Energy Review: Pros, Cons & Tariffs

Valda Energy is a business gas and electricity supplier for organisations in Great Britain. 

Unlike many suppliers, which have various tariffs for different business sizes and needs, Valda Energy offers just one product: its SmartChoice platform, which allows businesses to purchase energy credit in advance. 

Valda Business Energy

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Valda Energy pros & cons

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.

Valda Energy key features

• Valda SmartChoice business energy tariff, designed to put control in the hands of businesses
• Buys renewable energy from independent producers through a Power Purchase Agreement scheme (PPA)
• Valda Energy Customer Portal app on iOS, Android and in-browser for account management

Valda Energy full review

Specialising in supplying energy to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Valda Energy began operating in 2019.

Through its SmartChoice product, it offers business gas and electricity, both of which can be managed using its Customer Portal app, whether online or on your phone.

We’ve put together everything you might need to know about Valda Energy at a glance in our table below. 

If you want to find out more about Valda Energy, read on for our full guide.

Valda Energy features

Below, you can find more information on the features and tariffs available with Shell Energy for businesses.

Customer service

Business owners want to be able to sort their energy problems out whenever they arise. That’s why, in NerdWallet’s survey, they voted 24/7 customer service as the most important factor they look for in a supplier.

While Valda Energy does give businesses the chance to manage their account at any time with its Customer Portal app, it does not offer 24/7 customer service.

Instead, you can get in contact with Valda Energy using 0330 390 4510, though this number is only available from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You also access live chat during the same hours and days.

Valda also has an online customer service form, where users can leave a message along with their contact details.

Valda Energy does not have a Twitter profile, but does have a presence on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Business energy tariffs

In contrast to many other business energy suppliers, Valda Energy has just one product: Valda SmartChoice.

While it does not offer a choice of tariffs, the aim of SmartChoice appears to be giving businesses greater control over their energy usage and bills.

This means it can be hard to tell whether Valda satisfies business owners’ wish for suppliers to provide tariffs to match their specific needs as an organisation. This was in the top three most important criteria owners look for in a supplier, according to NerdWallet’s survey.

Valda SmartChoice

With SmartChoice, your business purchases energy credit in advance. This means you can be completely flexible in how much energy you are buying by topping up your balance whenever you want.

So instead of receiving a traditional business energy bill once a month, SmartChoice is closer to a pay-as-you-go model. 

How much you are charged for the energy you consume, meanwhile, will be fixed for the length of your contract.

Valda SmartChoice works in conjunction with smart metering and the supplier’s customer portal, which is available online and as an app. 

Its customer portal will also give you an idea of how many days your current energy balance will cover. If your balance is low, Valda will automatically send you email alerts letting you know you are running out of credit. If you do run out of credit, however, Valda may disconnect your energy supply.

Valda states that access to SmartChoice is not determined by business credit scores and is available to all customers. 

Deemed and out-of-contract rates

If you move into a business location supplied by Valda Energy, and are yet to agree a contract with the provider, you will be placed on a deemed rate. This is typically more expensive than other tariffs, so you are encouraged to switch tariffs as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile, once your fixed-term contract has ended, you will be moved on to an out-of-contract rate where your charges are fixed for at least six months. 

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 by direct debit, as well as by bank transfer, credit or debit card, is important to business owners. So much so that they came in second and fourth place respectively when NerdWallet asked owners to rank the features they want from a business energy supplier.

Valda Energy allows for all of these options, alongside the ability to set up a standing order.

However, you cannot pay for Valda business energy using cheques, or over the counter at a Post Office, Paypoint or Payzone location.

Smart meters

Since smart metering is so integral to the SmartChoice product, it makes sense that you can book a smart meter installation through Valda Energy. You simply need to register your interest via this online form.

This is good news for business owners, as smart meter installation was in the top five most important criteria they look for in a supplier, according to NerdWallet’s survey.

» MORE: Smart meters for businesses

Renewable energy options

Valda Energy states that it buys renewable energy from independent generators across Great Britain, including solar, hydro, wind and anaerobic digestion.

Valda does this through a Power Purchase Agreement scheme. PPAs are long-term contracts where a business, in this case an energy supplier, buys electricity directly from a renewable generator.

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 gives renewable generators a source of income that allows them to maintain their operations.

These purchases will be backed by renewable certificates called Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs). REGOs are a requirement of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), as part of the fuel mix disclosure regulations.

While REGOs are designed to provide transparency around how much renewable energy a supplier has sourced, directly purchasing energy from renewable generators is a better indicator of just how ‘green’ a tariff is.

The supplier’s most recent fuel mix shows that, from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, 100% of the electricity it supplied came from renewable sources.

Customer reviews

Valda Energy has an ‘Average’ Trustpilot rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on 758 reviews (as of 26 January 2023).

How can I switch to Valda Energy?

1. First you need to make sure you are at the end of your existing business energy contract and have satisfied any notice period.
2. Next, you need to get a quote from Valda Energy. If you spend less than £12,000 a year on energy, you can do this online. If not, you will need to ring 0330 124 2023 or submit Valda’s online form. 
3. Once you have agreed on the details of your tariff, you will need to review and sign your contract.
4. Valda Energy will then take care of the switchover, including contacting your existing supplier, though you should make sure you have paid off your remaining balance. You may also need to submit a meter reading at the start of your contract.
5. Finally, you will need to make your first month’s payment before your energy supply goes live.

» MORE: How to switch business energy provider

When comparing Valda Energy with other suppliers, you should consider:

• the unit rate you are quoted
• how long you want your contract to last
• whether you want to be responsible for buying your energy in advance, or whether you want traditional business energy billing
• if you want a fixed-rate or variable tariff
• how important renewable energy is to your business
• what level of customer service and support your require

Moving business premises with Valda Energy 

Whether you are moving into, or out of, a business location supplied by Valda Energy, you will need to submit a change of tenancy form.

This will likely include providing the following information:

• your company details, such as name, registration number and address
• your personal details
• your moving in and out date
• your first or final meter reading
• a forwarding address (if a sole trader)
• the details of the new tenant

About the Author

Connor Campbell

Connor is a lead writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet. Previously at Spreadex, his market commentary has been quoted in the likes of the BBC, The Guardian, Evening Standard, Reuters and…

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