Reduce your utility bills

A checklist for utility savings.

At Connected Accounting we can provide businesses in the St Albans area with help and advice on finance and on a wide range of business issues. Here is a checklist for reducing your utility bills…

Almost every business pays more than it needs to in utility bills. Conducting a utility audit might seem like a time consuming distraction but you could be pleasantly surprised by how much it adds to your bottom line.

Use the checklist below to identify potential savings for your business:

	Tick
Have a member of staff responsible for checking all utility bills – Make sure they know how the bills are calculated, what tariffs are available, etc.
Carry out your own readings of all energy and water meters each month – Use the information to plot patterns of use
Check that all utility bills are accurate and that any estimates are reasonable – Even the largest utility companies make mistakes
Annually review the tariffs you use – Not only do your usage patterns change, your suppliers also change the deals they offer
Monitor overnight energy usage – Check if it is being used by essential equipment and if so that you have the best overnight tariff
Make the best use of cheap rate electricity – If you can arrange usage by water heaters etc so that 15% of total electricity usage occurs during off–peak hours, you might benefit from switching to a day/night tariff
If you are on a Maximum Demand tariff, review your supply capacity – If your declared supply capacity is more than 15% higher than your highest Maximum Demand, contact your supplier to have it lowered
Find ways to reduce usage during peak hours – Try rescheduling non–essential loads
If you are on a monthly tariff, check your power factor – Check that you are not being penalised for a poor power factor
Shop around for a cheaper electricity and/or gas supplier
If your site has more than one gas meter, make sure they are aggregated for billing purposes – This can reduce both standing and unit charges and could lead to a better rate
Make sure your water meter is the right size – Standing charges are calculated according to meter size – don't pay for an unnecessarily large one

If you are in the St Albans area and are looking for professional advice from an experienced team of accountants, contact Connected Accounting.

Latest News Keep up with the latest business news stories

10 Apr 2026

UK businesses should apply now for Vaping Products Duty

Vaping-related businesses and supply chains need to register now for Vaping Products Duty (VPD) and the Vaping Duty Stamps (VDS) Scheme, says HMRC.

09 Apr 2026

New procurement rules offer SMEs hope

The government's new procurement rules that target opportunities for smaller businesses offer hope to SMEs, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

08 Apr 2026

Gains in business confidence 'at risk'

Data published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed that confidence amongst small firms rose slightly in the first three months of 2026, but could fall without government intervention.

07 Apr 2026

BCC warns of growing threat to entry-level jobs in the age of AI

The rapid adoption of AI is driving a sharp decline in entry-level jobs and worsening the long-standing UK challenge of skills shortages, warns the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

02 Apr 2026

Middle East conflict drives economic confidence to new record low

Business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy is at a record low after the outbreak of war in the Middle East, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).

01 Apr 2026

Tourist tax would hit consumers with £1.6 billion tax rise

The government's proposed tourist tax would constitute a £1.6 billion tax increase for holidaymakers, according to analysis by Oxford Economics.

31 Mar 2026

Government unveils crackdown on late payments

Small businesses are to be backed by new, stronger measures to tackle late payments, the government has announced.

30 Mar 2026

UK government to review mileage rates

The government has confirmed it will review approved mileage rates for business users ahead of a future Budget.

Call us

Free Consultation

Get in touch with us today for a fresh perspective and a free consultation.

View Services Contact us

Accessibility links