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Optimising multi-site business energy management
Managing energy across multiple business locations is no small task. With fragmented contracts, inconsistent metering, and increasing compliance demands, many organisations struggle to maintain control, or even visibility, over their total energy usage and costs.
This guide explains the two most effective strategies to optimise multi-site business energy management:
- Multi-site business energy procurement – Consolidating supply contracts into a single multi-site agreement can streamline administration and reduce costs by leveraging bulk purchasing power.
- Multi-site energy meters – Multi-site metering centralises energy usage data onto a single platform covering all locations. It enhances visibility and control over consumption while simplifying regulatory compliance.
Multi-site business energy procurement
Multi-site business energy procurement is a purchasing strategy in which multiple supply points and properties are consolidated under a single business energy contract.
This approach offers several significant advantages:
- Receiving a single monthly bill that incorporates a large number of different sites.
- Having a single contract end date for the entire portfolio makes it easier to manage.
- Leveraging bulk purchasing to secure more competitive rates.
Implementing multi-site business energy contracts
This section summarises the three key steps involved in arranging a multi-site business energy contract.
Portfolio data collection and audit
The first step in setting up a multi-site business energy contract is to assess the status of all energy supply points within your property portfolio.
Energy supply points are individual connections to the local grid at specific properties, identified by a MPAN for electricity or an MPRN for gas.
We recommend collecting the following information for each supply point:
- MPAN/MPRN unique identifier
- Commercial property address
- Type of meter (half-hourly or non-half-hourly)
- Type of meter readings (automatic or manual)
- Annual business energy consumption
- Contract status (in-contract or out of contract)
- Contract end date (where applicable)
Phased approach to contract alignment
A phased approach to contract alignment is typically required to avoid incurring expensive exit fees for in-contract supply points.
We recommend starting by agreeing on a multi-site business energy contract that consolidates all out-of-contract supply points.
Future supply points should then be synchronised with the end date of this initial contract by:
- Phased onboarding – Agreeing to add these supply points to your multi-site contract as they reach their contract end date, if your supplier allows this.
- Waiting for multi-site renewal date – Allowing supply points to reach the end of their fixed contract and then including them in the multi-site contract at the next available renewal date.
- Separate but synchronised fixed contracts – Entering short-term fixed contracts with an end date close to the multi-site renewal date, enabling consolidation at that point.
Multi-site business energy comparison
To secure the best commercial gas and business electricity prices, we recommend requesting multi-site energy quotes from several suppliers.
You’ll need to provide suppliers with the supply point details above, then request a quotation that encompasses your entire portfolio of supply points.
Quotations can be obtained by contacting energy suppliers directly or by using a business energy broker.
Our business energy experts can manage the multi-site business energy comparison process on your behalf. Start today using our business electricity comparison or business gas comparison services.
Quotes for multi-site business energy contracts typically take a few days to prepare. Once you’ve accepted a quote, the process to switch business energy suppliers is the same as for single-site contracts.
💡It’s important to review bespoke multi-site quote quickly as they are typically only valid for a few days.
Types of multi-site business energy contracts
Here are the three most common types of multi-site business energy contracts, including which types of property portfolios they are most suitable for.
Fixed contract
A fixed multi-site business energy contract is most suitable for smaller or medium-sized portfolios.
Each site in the portfolio is charged a fixed unit rate per kWh and a fixed business electricity standing charge throughout a fixed term of 1–3 years.
The contract has a single end date encompassing all supply points.
Pass-through contract
A pass-through contract separates the wholesale and non-commodity elements of energy costs. This type of contract is suitable for larger property portfolios, or those containing energy-intensive properties.
The wholesale energy cost is fixed for the entire portfolio, while distribution costs incurred by your supplier (such as DUoS, TNUoS, and BSUoS charges) are passed through at actual rates.
Flexible contract
A flexible business energy contract is suitable for large business energy customers, enabling them to pursue bespoke business energy procurement strategies.
The business energy supplier provides access to the wholesale electricity market and wholesale gas market via a trading platform, allowing customers to purchase their own energy directly from the market.
A flexible contract can also be used to purchase renewable energy with a corporate PPA.
What are multi-site energy meters?
A multi-site energy meter is a metering system that connects and consolidates energy data from a portfolio of locations onto a single, centralised platform.
This type of system is typically used in conjunction with a multi-site energy contract, allowing businesses to monitor real-time energy consumption and costs.
The best business energy suppliers often provide free access to a cloud-based energy management platform via their websites, though third-party energy monitoring software providers also offer these platforms.
How multi-site meters work for businesses
In this section, we explain three key elements of multi-site energy meters for businesses.
Types of energy meter used
A multi-site energy meter system relies on individual business electricity meters and commercial gas meters installed at each site within a portfolio of properties.
The system can collect data from the following types of meters, all of which automatically record and transmit meter reading data:
- Smart meters – Typically installed at small commercial properties.
- Half-hourly meters – Half-hourly electricity meters installed at energy-intensive commercial properties.
- Advanced meters – Automatic meter reading devices that can be retrofitted onto older meter types.
- Sub-meters – Additional meters installed at complex sites to isolate specific circuits or equipment.
Data capture and transmission
Each meter in the portfolio records energy consumption at regular intervals and transmits the data via mobile networks or local Wi-Fi connections.
These readings are aggregated into a central data repository, typically hosted on the servers of a cloud-based Energy Management System or analysis platform.
Centralised data analytics
Meter reading data for an entire portfolio is analysed by business energy monitoring software to generate the following tools and data visualisations:
- Dashboard visualisation – Real-time consumption and cost tracking across all sites.
- Benchmarking tools – Compare site-by-site performance.
- Alerts and notifications – Detect unusual spikes or drops in usage.
- Data export – Supports calculations for ESOS, SECR, and carbon reporting.
- Forecasting tools – Models that predict future consumption and costs.
Businesses with large property portfolios often utilise third-party energy monitoring platforms to manage their multi-site metering, rather than relying solely on their energy supplier.
Using a third-party software provider enables them to analyse supply points from multiple suppliers, making it easier to switch and secure the best deals.
Implementing multi-site metering for your business
This section outlines the key steps involved in implementing third-party multi-site metering software.
Portfolio analysis and meter upgrades
The first step is to review your property portfolio to ensure that the meters at each location can automatically transmit meter readings.
The easiest way to check this is by reviewing your business electricity bills and business gas bills to determine whether they are based on actual or estimated readings.
Properties without automatic meter reading capabilities can be upgraded by:
- Requesting a free smart business energy meter upgrade
- Fitting automatic meter readers on older devices
- Requesting a new meter installation via a Meter Operator
Choose a multi-site energy monitoring platform
Several popular multi-site energy monitoring systems are available to British businesses, including SystemsLink, Oak Network, and Stark.
Each of these platforms offers a free demo of its software. When choosing a system for your business, we recommend:
- Comparing pricing models
- Ensuring integration with your Building Management System (BMS)
- Confirming that they include the necessary analytics features
System setup and onboarding
Most energy monitoring platforms include support for onboarding and setup services, which typically involve:
- Portfolio onboarding – Uploading supply point details (MPANs, MPRNs, site names, and addresses)
- Meter mapping – Linking each site’s meter data to the platform
- Data integration – Setting up automated data feeds (from suppliers, AMR providers, or meter readers)
- Customisation – Tailoring dashboards, user access, and reporting views
Key regulations and compliance for multi-site business energy
Several regulations apply to business energy for companies that manage a portfolio of commercial properties.
This section summarises the key regulatory requirements, with links to our full guides for each.
Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme
Large British organisations are required to conduct a formal business energy audit every four years.
The audit must review at least 90% of total energy consumption to identify opportunities to improve business energy efficiency.
Using a multi-site energy monitoring system greatly simplifies the audit process, enabling your business to easily identify which sites must be included in the review.
Find out more in our full guide to the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme.
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
Large British organisations are required to report their energy usage and associated emissions in their public annual reports.
Multi-site energy metering systems enable organisations to produce auditable calculations of these consumption figures.
Find out more in our full guide to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting.
Mandatory Half-Hourly metering
Currently, any commercial property with a maximum demand exceeding 100 kW must have a half-hourly business electricity meter.
The upcoming Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement Reform will require all commercial properties to have an electricity meter that automatically transmits readings every 30 minutes.
Businesses that have already implemented multi-site energy metering systems will already be compliant with these regulations.
Challenges with multi-site energy management
This section outlines the two main challenges faced by organisations managing electricity and gas supplies across a large portfolio of properties.
Fragmented data and systems
Many large organisations operate a portfolio of properties supplied by various commercial electricity and business gas suppliers.
Each supplier typically provides access to an online portal displaying live consumption data from the properties they service. However, they do not offer a universal view of your entire property portfolio.
Either can address this issue:
- Implementing multi-site metering using third-party monitoring software that aggregates data from all suppliers; or
- Consolidating all properties under a single supplier through a multi-site business energy contract.
Multiple supplier contracts
The most cost-effective way to procure energy for commercial properties is to regularly compare business energy prices to find the cheapest supplier, while carefully avoiding expensive out-of-contract rates.
However, this process can be very time-consuming for businesses with a large portfolio of properties, each with its own contract.
Consolidating all properties onto a single contract not only reduces unnecessary administrative work but can also save money by giving organisations greater purchasing power when renegotiating rates across their entire property portfolio.
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