Electricity tariff for large companies – which tariff to choose in group B?

There are several electricity tariffs available on the market, both for individual customers, as well as for small and medium-sized enterprises and very large enterprises. Tariffs are marked with the letters: G, A, B and C. The first one applies to households, while the other ones refer to companies using low, medium and high voltage. In our article we will focus on group B. We will check which electricity tariff for large companies is the best and what is worth paying attention to when choosing its type.

Which companies is tariff B intended for?

The tariff group marked with the letter B is addressed to those customers who use medium voltage in their business premises. It is necessary, inter alia, in a situation where the company works on professional equipment connected to medium voltage stations. Tariffs in group B therefore include workplaces, small and medium-sized factories, shopping centers, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and sports facilities. It is worth remembering that the price list of tariffs in group B is not determined by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. An important issue is also the fact that the owner of the electricity consumption measuring system is the company that collects electricity. For this reason, it has to pay for all maintenance or modernization works from its own resources.

Comparison of tariffs in group B – what do the signs indicate?

As we mentioned, there are several types of B tariff. They are distinguished by the numbers that follow the letter designation. For medium voltage companies, tariff B11, tariff B21, tariff B22, tariff B23 or tariff B24 are available. The first digit concerns the division of recipients into two groups due to the contracted power at their station. One means that the company is powered by medium voltage power grids with a contractual power below 40 kW. However, two of them informs that the contractual power of the network is greater than 40 kW.

The second digit in the tariff code in group B refers to the number of time zones during the day. These zones differ in purchase rates of 1 MWh, which allows companies to find savings by optimizing various production processes. We distinguish:

• the zone of the morning peak,
• afternoon rush zone,
• other hours of the day,
• load valley.

By choosing a tariff that in the off-peak zone is characterized by a lower price per MWh than in the peak zone, you can manage the start-up and operation of individual devices in such a way as to pay less for electricity. The more zones in a specific tariff, the more optimization possibilities. The hours in individual zones may change depending on the offer of the selected distributor, day of the week and season of the year.

What tariff should be chosen in group B, when the contracted power of the network is lower than 40 kW?

Consumers in the first group, when considering which B tariff is the best, have to decide between B11 and B12. The first variant means that the rate for the electricity price does not change during the day, while the second one shows the division into peak and off-peak hours. If a given enterprise consumes more than 1/3 of energy in the cheaper zone, then it is worth choosing the B12 tariff. In other cases, tariff B11 is sufficient.

Which tariff should be chosen in group B, when the contracted power of the network is greater than 40 kW?

In the second group, the electricity tariff for large companies is available in four variants.

1. Tariff B21 is single-zone, ie the purchase rate of 1 MWh does not change 24 hours a day. This option is recommended for enterprises that run their activities during daylight hours, are distinguished by irregular energy consumption and it is difficult to determine the times when electricity consumption is significantly lower.
2. Tariff B22 has two zones – peak and off-peak, so the price changes depending on the time of the day. It is recommended to companies that use the most electricity very early in the morning, late in the evening and during the night. By skilfully managing production processes, you can optimize the amount of electricity bills in this tariff.
3. Tariff B23 offers three time zones: morning rush, afternoon rush and the remaining hours of the day. It is perfect for those companies that can manage their electricity consumption to a large extent. By adapting its operations to cheaper zones, a company can save a lot of money.
4. Tariff B24 is distinguished by four time zones: the morning peak, the afternoon peak, the remaining hours of the day and the load valley. It is intended for large plants and enterprises that are able to very accurately manage their electricity consumption. The company must be able to adapt its production processes to the zones where the purchase price of 1 MWh is the lowest. Thanks to this, it will significantly optimize the costs associated with electricity. However, it should be emphasized that this option of the B tariff is not available from every electricity distributor

Price list of tariffs in group B – how else can you optimize costs?

Entities using the B tariff have a much greater demand for electricity than small enterprises or households. Therefore, large companies are billed for MWh per month, and not kWh per month, which is the case with C and G tariffs. This opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurs. They are very attractive customers for suppliers because they buy a lot more electricity. Thanks to this, they can negotiate much better offers. Sellers often individually adjust the price list of tariffs in group B to the needs of a specific activity. This is an opportunity to set the most satisfactory rates. However, when a given electricity supplier does not want to negotiate, it is worth checking other market offers.

Is it profitable to change the electricity supplier if the company has not done so until now? Every zloty counts for the good condition of the company. Electricity is one of the resources that consumes large sums of money in large companies. It is worth looking for savings in this area. One of the effective solutions is to try to renegotiate the contract. If a given economic entity has been using the services of the same supplier for years, it runs the risk that the accepted electricity supply offer has long ceased to be competitive on the market. Today, such solutions as an indefinite contract, no guarantee of a fixed price or blocking any possibility of negotiation are less and less common. In this case, it is a good idea to check with other providers which B tariff is the best. You should not be afraid of the costs associated with switching supplier. You only have to pay for the adaptation of the measurement systems in the company

You can quickly calculate that switching supplier turns out to be profitable. The money invested in adjusting the measurement systems will be quickly recouped thanks to more attractive terms of electricity purchase. It is even more advantageous for those companies which, by the way, decided to compare tariffs in group B and change the selected variant – e.g. tariff B21 is replaced by tariff B23. When signing a new contract, it is worth negotiating not only the purchase rate of 1 MWh, but also other cost components, including the trade fee. Often, hidden costs add up to the level of several hundred zlotys per month. Therefore, you should pay attention to what conditions the electricity tariff for large companies has in the contract in small print.

Below are the issues that should be checked when comparing tariffs in group B and the offers of electricity distributors:

• possibility of initial price negotiation,
• guarantee of a fixed price for the entire duration of the contract,
• individual offer tailored to the company’s needs,
• competitive purchase rate of 1 MWh,
• the amount of the trade fee,
• Duration of the agreement,
• presence of other hidden costs in the offer.

In the case of variants such as tariff B22 or tariff B23, the hours of validity of individual time zones are also important and how they develop depending on the month or season.

Tariff B and two possibilities of changing the electricity supplier – which one to choose?

Once it is established which B tariff is best for a given company, the very change of electricity supplier should not be a big challenge. This is a simple but time-consuming procedure. Each entrepreneur has two options – authorizing the new electricity supplier to act on behalf of the company or changing the supplier independently.

The most convenient option is the first option where the economic operator signs an authorization enabling the new electricity supplier to act on behalf of the enterprise. Then the selected seller takes care of all the formalities. It notifies the previous supplier about the change and writes down the meter readings. It is his responsibility to update the offer as quickly as possible. The only thing that a company using tariff B has to do in this situation is signing the relevant documents.

The second option, i.e. changing the electricity supplier on your own, takes more time and requires remembering some important details. First of all, you should start by signing a contract with a new supplier, carefully checking all its provisions. The previous electricity supplier is then notified of the change or the old contract is simply terminated. You must also inform the current distributor about the change or sign a distribution contract. The last steps include checking the installation and possible adjustment of the measuring systems, writing down the meter, as well as the final settlement of costs with the previous seller.

How to gain full control over electricity in a large company?

Detailed information on what the B tariff is about will help you choose the best offer for each company. It is worth emphasizing once again that by optimizing electricity consumption throughout the year, you can save very large amounts. A well-chosen tariff is only one of the options. Full control over electricity in the enterprise and the possibility of additional profit is ensured, among others, by construction of own photovoltaic power plant. If you are interested in this solution – please contact us. We carry out all stages of the construction and assembly of solar farms.