How often are business energy bills wrong? For many UK businesses, energy bills are simply accepted as a fixed cost of operations. However, industry experience suggests that billing errors are far more common than most organisations realise . Research published by OFGEM showed that 27% of small businesses found errors in their invoices, with this percentage rising to 48% for larger organisations. In some cases, they can lead to significant overpayments with businesses being unaware they are paying more than necessary. While it is difficult to assign an exact figure across the entire market, it is widely accepted within the energy industry that a meaningful proportion of business energy bills contain errors at some point during a contract. These issues can range from minor discrepancies to substantial inaccuracies that impact cash flow and budgeting. Why do energy billing errors occur? Business energy billing is inherently complex. Unlike domestic billing, commercial contracts often involve multiple components, including wholesale costs, network charges, levies, and capacity-based fees. This creates more opportunities for things to go wrong. Some of the most common causes of billing errors include: Estimated billing : Where actual meter reads are not available, suppliers may rely on estimates that do not reflect real usage. Wrong contract rates applied : Agreed prices may not always be correctly reflected in billing systems. Capacity and network charge errors : Incorrect kVA capacity levels or misapplied TCR banding can significantly increase costs. Change of tenancy or supplier issues : Errors often arise during transitions, where data is not transferred correctly between parties. Given the number of moving parts involved, even well-managed accounts can occasionally experience discrepancies. How big can the impact be? The financial impact of billing errors varies depending on the nature of the issue. In some cases, errors may only amount to small differences on individual invoices. However, when left unresolved over time -- particularly across multi-site portfolios -- these discrepancies can quickly add up. It is not uncommon for businesses to uncover thousands, or even tens of thousands of pounds in overcharges when historical bills are reviewed in detail. Larger energy users, or those with complex metering arrangements, are typically at greater risk. Are suppliers responsible for catching errors? Energy suppliers are responsible for issuing accurate bills, but the reality is that billing systems are not infallible. With large volumes of data and frequent industry changes, errors can and do occur. Importantly, many issues are only identified when the customer or their advisor actively reviews the data. Without this oversight, incorrect charges may continue for extended periods. What should businesses do? To minimise risk, businesses should take a proactive approach to energy bill validation . This includes regularly checking invoices against contract terms, ensuring meter readings are accurate, and reviewing capacity and network charges. For many organisations, however, this level of scrutiny can be time-consuming and technically challenging. As a result, more businesses are turning to specialist support to ensure their billing is correct. Take control with bill validation At SeeMore Energy, we understand how complex and costly billing errors can be. That’s why we’ve developed a dedicated Bill Validation system designed to identify inaccuracies, recover overcharges, and ensure your invoices are fully aligned with your contract and usage.  Get in touch today to learn more about receiving a free trial for our Bill Validation system , and make sure you’re only paying for the energy you actually use.

What is a DNO? For many UK businesses, energy bills are often viewed purely through the lens of suppliers and wholesale prices. However, a key part of the electricity system is the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) . Understanding the role of a DNO can help businesses better manage costs, improve efficiency, and avoid unnecessary charges. What does a DNO do? A DNO is responsible for owning, operating, and maintaining the local electricity distribution network . This is the infrastructure that delivers power from the national grid to homes and businesses. Unlike energy suppliers, DNOs do not sell electricity. Instead, they ensure that electricity is delivered safely and reliably to your site. If there is a power cut or a fault with the local network, it is the DNO -- not your supplier -- that resolves the issue. Why do DNOs exist? The UK electricity network is divided into regions, each managed by a licensed DNO. This structure exists to ensure the network is operated efficiently and maintained to a high standard, while avoiding duplication of infrastructure. DNOs are regulated by Ofgem, which sets the framework for how they operate and how much they can charge for using their networks. These charges ultimately form part of your electricity invoice through network costs . TCR banding and kVA capacity In recent years, DNO-related charges have become more visible to businesses due to the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) . This reform changed how certain network costs are recovered, moving away from usage-based charges to fixed charges based on a site’s capacity or agreed supply level. For many non-half-hourly (NHH) customers, this means being placed into TCR bands , which determine the level of fixed network charges applied. For half-hourly (HH) customers, charges are often linked more directly to their agreed kVA capacity . Your kVA capacity represents the maximum electrical load your site is allowed to draw from the network. If this is set too high, you may be overpaying in capacity charges. If it is too low, you risk exceeding your limit and incurring penalties or operational issues. Reviewing both TCR banding and kVA capacity is therefore an important step in ensuring your energy costs are optimised. DNO regions Each DNO operates within a defined geographic area. The main DNOs in Great Britain include: UK Power Networks (London, South East, East of England) National Grid Electricity Distribution (Midlands, South West, South Wales) Northern Powergrid (North East, Yorkshire) Electricity North West (North West England) SP Energy Networks (Central & Southern Scotland, Merseyside, North Wales) Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (Northern Scotland, Central Southern England) Your DNO is determined by your location and cannot be changed, unlike your energy supplier. When should you contact your DNO? There are several situations where it may be necessary to engage with your DNO directly, including: Power outages or network faults New connections or site developments Increasing or reducing your site’s capacity (kVA) Metering or infrastructure changes impacting supply For most day-to-day queries, your energy supplier will act as your first point of contact, but more technical or infrastructure-related requests will involve the DNO. How we can help Understanding the role of the DNO -- and how charges like TCR banding and capacity impact your bills -- can unlock significant cost-saving opportunities. At SeeMore Energy, we help businesses review their energy setup in detail, identifying areas where network charges may be reduced and ensuring your contract and capacity are aligned with your actual usage.  Contact us today for a free energy review , and let us help you take control of your energy costs.