Clear vs Utilita: Business Energy Comparison

This business energy comparison looks at tariffs, contract length, pricing structure, renewable credentials, customer service, smart tech and fees so that you can weigh up Clear vs Utilita for your own energy contract.

Clear vs Utilita at a Glance

Which Supplier Offers Better Business Energy Tariffs?

Neither Clear Business nor Utilita Business publishes a single standard business rate, because pricing depends on:

• Business location

• Annual consumption

• Industry type

• Meter type

• Contract length

• Credit profile

• Regional distribution charges

It's worth noting that the two suppliers structure their offer quite differently. Clear Business leans on a multi-service model, so energy sits alongside water, telecoms, mobile and insurance under one account. Utilita Business keeps its offer to energy and solar, built around smart meter technology rather than bundled services.

Clear Business Tariffs

Fixed Price Plan

Rates are quoted individually and locked in for the agreed term, with Clear Business's small business specialists managing the switch on your behalf.

Best for:

• Businesses that want one supplier to arrange the switch end to end

• SMEs happy to trade a published rate card for a bespoke quote

• Businesses that would rather not manage a market-linked price

Standard Electricity Tariff

The default option for businesses prioritising a lower price over renewable credentials, supplied from Clear Business's standard fuel mix.

Green Electricity Tariff

An upgrade to 100% renewable electricity, backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) and sourced in part from wind farms, available on request.

Multi-Service Bundling

Gas, electricity, water, broadband, mobile, card payment processing and business insurance can all be combined under one account and one bill, with a single point of contact across services.

Utilita Tariffs

Business Fixed-Term Plans

Fixed-term price contracts running 12, 24 or 36 months, aimed at businesses that want budget certainty and protection from mid-contract price rises.

Best for:

• Businesses wanting a straightforward, single-rate contract

• SMEs that prefer not to manage a variable bill

• Multi-site operators using Group Billing to consolidate accounts

Business Variable Rate

A monthly-billed option for businesses that would rather not commit to a fixed term, with rates that move in line with the wider market. Accounts that run past their fixed contract end date without a renewal automatically move onto this rate.

Solar-Backed Energy

Rather than a dedicated green electricity tariff, Utilita Business focuses on on-site generation, offering commercial solar panel installation and battery storage through upfront purchase, phased payments, or a power purchase agreement with no upfront cost.

Tariff Comparison Table

Winner: Clear Business, for businesses that want one account covering multiple essential services alongside energy. Utilita Business is the stronger option for businesses that would rather invest in reducing their own consumption through solar than buy a green electricity certificate.

How Do Contract Lengths Compare?

Clear Contract Terms

Utilita Contract Terms

Contract Length Scorecard

Clear vs Utilita Pricing Structure

Business energy quotes typically include:

Unit Rate

Price charged for each kWh consumed. Neither Clear Business nor Utilita Business publishes a standard rate card online for business customers. Both calculate quotes individually based on location, usage, meter type and credit profile, so the only reliable way to compare current prices is to request a live quote from each.

Standing Charge

Daily fee covering infrastructure and administration. Clear Business applies a standing charge as part of its quoted rate. Utilita Business's fixed and variable business contracts are structured more conventionally than the no-standing-charge model used on Utilita's domestic Smart Pay As You Go tariff, though exact charges are set per quote.

Pass-Through Charges

May include:

• Network costs, as explained in our guide to pass-through and fully fixed energy contracts

• Balancing charges

• Government levies

Capacity Charges

Applicable to some larger business connections with both suppliers, agreed as part of the individual quote.

Pricing Transparency Comparison

Which Supplier Has Better Renewable Energy Credentials?

Sustainability is becoming increasingly valuable to UK businesses, and Clear Business and Utilita Business take genuinely different approaches to it.

Clear Sustainability Initiatives

Offers:

• A standard electricity tariff with a notably high-carbon fuel mix, reported at around 481g CO₂/kWh against a UK average of roughly 154g

• A Green Electricity Tariff upgrade, giving 100% REGO-backed renewable electricity including wind-sourced supply

Pros

• A straightforward green upgrade available on request

• Sustainability reporting can extend across water use as well as energy, through the same account

Cons

• The standard tariff's fuel mix is significantly more carbon-intensive than the UK average

• The green option is an upgrade rather than included as standard

Utilita Sustainability Initiatives

Offers:

• Commercial solar panel installation and battery storage, funded through upfront purchase, phased payments or a power purchase agreement

• A publicly stated position that REGO-backed green electricity tariffs are a form of greenwashing, since REGO certificates don't guarantee the electricity reaching your premises is genuinely renewable

Pros

• Solar generation reduces grid dependence directly, rather than relying on a paper certificate

• Utilita Business is a member of Solar Energy UK and the Renewable Energy Consumer Code, with Microgeneration Certification Scheme-accredited installers

Cons

• No dedicated green electricity tariff for businesses that don't want to invest in on-site generation

• Solar suits businesses with suitable roof or land space; it isn't a like-for-like swap for a green tariff

Sustainability Comparison

Winner: Clear Business, for businesses that want a straightforward green electricity upgrade without further investment. Utilita Business suits businesses willing to invest in solar generation for a more direct reduction in carbon impact, and its stance on REGOs is worth reading if you want to understand what a "green tariff" actually guarantees.

Customer Service Comparison

Customer support can have a major impact on small businesses when problems arise.

Clear Business Support

Channels include:

• A dedicated small business specialist team managing switches

• Online account management for billing and usage across bundled services

• A single point of contact spanning energy, water, telecoms and insurance queries

Strengths

• A strong Trustpilot rating of around 4.4 out of 5 from more than 11,000 reviews as of June 2026, with staff frequently praised by name for resolving renewals and billing queries

• One team to contact regardless of which bundled service the query relates to

Weaknesses

• Reviews show a polarised pattern: a December 2025 review analysis found 76% of ratings were five-star against 20% one-star, with complaints clustering around exit fees, out-of-contract charges and billing disputes

• The multi-service model can mean more back-and-forth if an issue spans two services at once

Utilita Business Support

Channels include:

• A dedicated Business Customer Service Team and separate Business Sales Executive contact

• A Business Renewals Team that contacts customers 60 days before their contract end date

• My Utilita Online for bills and payment history, plus Group Billing for multi-site accounts

Strengths

• Proactive renewal contact well ahead of contract end, reducing the risk of drifting onto out-of-contract rates

• Utilita's wider brand carries a strong domestic Trustpilot rating of around 4.3 out of 5 from over 112,000 reviews as of July 2026, reflecting the smart meter expertise it built its name on

Weaknesses

• That Trustpilot volume is overwhelmingly domestic, so it's a less direct read on the business energy experience specifically

• My Utilita Online is described as available for single-site accounts only, so larger multi-site businesses rely more on direct contact

Customer Service Scorecard

How Do Smart Meters and Tech Compare?

Clear Technology Solutions

• Smart meter installation for both gas and electricity, arranged through approved contractors

• Automatic meter reads, so bills reflect actual usage rather than estimates

• Online account access covering energy alongside other bundled services

Ideal For

• Businesses wanting one dashboard for multiple utilities and services

• SMEs that want automatic reads without managing separate logins per service

Utilita Technology Solutions

• Free smart meter installation, tracking actual usage rather than estimated bills

• Commercial solar panel and battery storage installation, including monitoring

• My Utilita Online for bills and payment history on single-site accounts

Ideal For

• Businesses wanting to invest in reducing consumption at source through solar

• Sites with suitable roof space wanting to pair smart metering with on-site generation

Technology Comparison

Business Energy Charges

Additional fees may apply with either supplier.

Common Charges

Key Consideration

Businesses should avoid rolling onto out-of-contract rates, which are typically far more expensive than contracted tariffs, whichever supplier you choose.

Pros and Cons of Clear

Advantages

Genuine Multi-Service Convenience

Gas, electricity, water, telecoms, mobile, card payments and business insurance can all sit under one account, useful for time-poor owners who want one supplier to deal with.

Established Small Business Focus

Clear Business supplies energy to around 130,000 small businesses, with switches managed by dedicated small business specialists.

Green Upgrade Available on Request

A 100% REGO-backed renewable electricity tariff is available as an upgrade for businesses that want it.

Disadvantages

High-Carbon Standard Fuel Mix

The default electricity tariff is reported at roughly three times the UK average carbon intensity, so businesses prioritising sustainability need to actively request the green upgrade.

Polarised Customer Reviews

Alongside a strong overall Trustpilot score, a meaningful share of reviews describe difficulties around exit fees and out-of-contract charges.

Exit Fees Apply Per Service

Leaving a fixed-rate contract early has been reported at around £249 per service, which can add up quickly on a bundled multi-service account.

Pros and Cons of Utilita

Advantages

Genuine Smart Meter Heritage

Utilita installed the UK's first domestic smart meter in 2008, and that technology focus carries through to free smart meter installation for business customers.

Solar and Battery Storage Route to Lower Bills

Businesses with suitable roof space can fund solar installation with no upfront cost through a power purchase agreement, reducing grid dependence directly rather than buying renewable certificates.

Proactive Renewal Process

Contact 60 days before contract end, run by a dedicated Business Renewals Team, reduces the risk of drifting onto expensive out-of-contract rates.

Disadvantages

No Prepayment for New Business Customers

Businesses that specifically want pay-as-you-go budget control, the model Utilita is best known for domestically, cannot access it as a new business customer.

No Dedicated Green Electricity Tariff

Businesses wanting a straightforward renewable upgrade without installing solar have no direct equivalent to a green tariff here.

Business-Specific Review Data is Thin

Utilita's strong Trustpilot score is built overwhelmingly on domestic reviews, so it says more about the wider brand than the business energy experience specifically.

Which Supplier is Better for Which Business Types?

Clear vs Utilita: Side-by-Side Summary

Key Questions to Ask Before Deciding

Before signing a business energy contract, compare:

1. What is the standing charge, and how is it structured?

2. What is the unit rate, and is it fixed or variable?

3. Are there exit fees, and how are they calculated per service or per fuel?

4. What happens at contract renewal, and how much notice will you get?

5. Is renewable electricity included as standard, available as an upgrade, or not offered at all?

6. Can smart meters be installed, and is there a cost?

7. Does the supplier offer solar or on-site generation, and how is it funded?

8. How are out-of-contract or deemed rates handled?

9. Is prepayment available, if that's a requirement for your business?

10. Can multiple sites, or multiple services, be managed under one agreement?

Verdict: Clear or Utilita for Business Energy?

The right supplier depends largely on your business priorities.

Choose Clear if you want:

• Gas, electricity, water, telecoms, mobile, card payments and insurance under one account

• A straightforward green electricity upgrade without further investment

• Dedicated small business specialists to manage your switch

Choose Utilita if you want:

• Genuine smart meter expertise built into free installation and usage tracking

• A route to lower bills through solar and battery storage rather than a paper renewable certificate

• Proactive renewal contact well ahead of your contract end date

For most small businesses, day-to-day supply quality differs little between suppliers, because all providers use the same national infrastructure. However, when comparing service breadth and sustainability approach, Clear Business often suits businesses that want a single supplier handling multiple essentials, while Utilita Business remains the stronger choice for businesses willing to invest directly in reducing their own consumption. Either way, it's worth using our business energy comparison tool to check current quotes against other suppliers before you sign.