Octopus vs E.ON Next: Business Energy Comparison

This business energy comparison looks at tariffs, contract length, pricing structure, renewable credentials, customer service, smart tech and fees, so you can weigh up Octopus vs E.ON Next.

Octopus vs E.ON Next at a Glance

Which Supplier Offers Better Business Energy Tariffs?

Neither Octopus nor E.ON Next 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 tariff ranges quite differently. Octopus has built a wider set of time-of-use and export tariffs around its smart meter data, while E.ON Next leans on a simpler standard fixed product for most SMEs, with time-of-use and EV-specific tariffs available alongside it.

Octopus Tariffs

Fixed Contracts

Rates are locked in for the length of the agreement, with no hidden fees added to the unit rate or standing charge.

Best for:

• Budget certainty

• Small offices, shops and sole traders

• Businesses that want a simple, all-in quote

Shape Shifters: Trio and Agile

Half-hourly, time-of-use tariffs that reward businesses for shifting consumption away from the 4 pm to 7 pm peak. Agile Business follows day-ahead wholesale prices directly, updated at 4 pm the day before for the next 24 hours, while Trio splits the day into three simpler bands.

Best for:

• Businesses with EV charging, batteries or solar on-site

• Manufacturers with flexible plant or shift patterns

• Sites that can move refrigeration, HVAC or back-office loads outside peak hours

No Standing Charge Tariff

Available to some businesses, with the daily standing charge reduced to zero and that fixed cost built into the unit rate instead, which can suit low-usage sites.

Multi-Site and Export Tariffs

Multi-site portfolios can be managed under one account for switching, renewals and billing. Businesses with solar or battery storage can also access Panel Power and Shape Shifters: Export, which pays for electricity sent back to the grid at rates that change every half-hour in line with wholesale costs.

E.ON Next Tariffs

E.ON Next Business Fixed

The standard SME product, on a 12 or 24-month fixed contract, with a smart meter required and the account set up and managed entirely online through the E.ON Next portal. The per-kWh rate and standing charge are both locked for the term, and this is what over 70% of E.ON Next business customers are on.

Best for:

• Budget certainty over a short-to-medium term

• SMEs that want a single, predictable quote

• Businesses happy to manage their account online

Next Smart Saver Business

A smart time-of-use tariff aimed at SMEs that can shift load, with a cheaper unit rate at off-peak periods (typically 9 pm to 7 am and weekends) and a more expensive rate at the 4 pm to 7 pm evening peak. Net saving for shiftable loads is usually 0.8 to 2p/kWh on the all-in rate, and the tariff needs an SMETS2 meter in half-hourly-enabled mode.

Best for:

• Businesses that can move usage away from the evening peak

• Sites with SMETS2 smart meters already installed

E.ON Drive for Business

For businesses installing EV chargers on-site, whether at a depot, car park or customer-facing location, E.ON Drive bundles charger hardware, installation, back-office management and the energy supply, with public-charging-network access also available. SMEs may also be eligible for a government EV infrastructure grant of up to £15,000 towards charger installation and supporting parking infrastructure.

npower Business Solutions

For Mid-Market and Large I&C corporates, typically businesses using 500,000 kWh or more a year, accounts sit with npower Business Solutions, the dedicated B2B brand within the E.ON Group, on its own platform with named account managers and flexible procurement capability.

Tariff Comparison Table

Winner: Octopus, for businesses that can shift load and want to be paid for solar or battery export. E.ON Next remains a strong option for businesses that want a simpler standard fixed product or a dedicated EV charging infrastructure package.

How Do Contract Lengths Compare?

Octopus Contract Terms

E.ON Next Contract Terms

Contract Length Scorecard

Octopus vs E.ON Next Pricing Structure

Business energy quotes typically include:

Unit Rate

Price charged for each kWh consumed. Indicative Q1 2026 quotes for Octopus show standard fixed-contract pricing typically between 24 and 28p/kWh for electricity and 6 to 9p/kWh for gas, though Octopus does not publish a static rate card, and quotes vary by postcode and usage. E.ON Next's regional averages for its standard fixed tariff work out at around 25.21p/kWh for electricity and 6.49p/kWh for gas, excluding VAT and one-off discounts.

Standing Charge

Daily fee covering infrastructure and administration. E.ON Next's published regional average standing charge sits at around 54p a day for electricity and 29p a day for gas, though other quote samples put SME electricity standing charges between 38 and 52p a day, and gas between 28 and 42p a day. Octopus's standing charge is set per quote, with a No Standing Charge option available on qualifying meters.

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.

Pricing Transparency Comparison

Which Supplier Has Better Renewable Energy Credentials?

Sustainability is becoming increasingly valuable to UK businesses.

Octopus Sustainability Initiatives

Offers:

• All business tariffs supplied as 100% carbon-free energy as standard, not as an upgrade

• Export tariffs for businesses generating their own renewable power, including Panel Power and Shape Shifters: Export

• Half-hourly data supporting more granular carbon reporting

Pros

• Renewable electricity included as standard on every tariff, at no extra cost

• Strong export options for businesses with solar or battery storage

Cons

• Less emphasis on published third-party sustainability certification schemes compared with REGO-badged competitors

• Time-of-use tariffs require active management to get the full benefit

E.ON Next Sustainability Initiatives

Offers:

• 100% renewable electricity across E.ON Next's tariffs

• REGO-backed renewable certification available as standard on selected tariffs

• E.ON Drive EV charging infrastructure to support fleet electrification

Pros

• Renewable electricity backed by independently verified REGO certificates

• Established EV charging proposition for fleet and depot customers

Cons

• Less emphasis on half-hourly renewable matching than time-of-use specialists like Octopus

• REGO certification confirms origin rather than time-matched supply

Sustainability Comparison

Winner: Octopus, for businesses that want half-hourly matched renewable supply and export income from on-site generation. E.ON Next suits businesses that want REGO-certified renewable electricity alongside a dedicated EV charging infrastructure package.

Customer Service Comparison

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

Octopus Business Support

Channels include:

• Online account dashboard and app

• Phone and digital support channels

• Automation and API access for smart-meter and Agile data

Strengths

• An industry-leading Trustpilot score, one of the highest of any UK business energy supplier

• Strong reputation for clear, jargon-light communication

Weaknesses

• An advance payment, typically around 3 months' estimated energy cost, is usually required from new customers

• Not always the cheapest option for very large or complex portfolios

E.ON Next Business Support

Channels include:

• UK-based contact centres, plus WhatsApp and live chat support staffed by humans rather than bots for billing and contract issues

• Dedicated account managers for sites using 100,000 kWh or more

• E.ON Next online portal for account and usage management

Strengths

• Average phone wait times of 3 to 5 minutes, a significant improvement since the move onto the Kraken platform in 2023

• A strong Trustpilot rating of around 4.5 out of 5 from over 217,000 reviews

Weaknesses

• The npower B2B customer migration caused service disruption, and some historical complaints still linger

• Business-focused online tools lag behind dedicated B2B platforms

Customer Service Scorecard

How Do Smart Meters and Tech Compare?

Octopus Technology Solutions

• Standout tooling for smart-meter data, Agile half-hourly tariffs and EV fleet charging

• Business export tariffs with rates updated every half-hour in line with wholesale energy costs

• API access to tariff and usage data for automation

Ideal For

• Businesses wanting detailed usage data and automation

• Sites with EV fleets, solar or battery storage

E.ON Next Technology Solutions

• SMETS2 smart meters required for time-of-use and EV tariffs, with half-hourly read capability

• E.ON Drive bundles EV charger hardware, installation and back-office (OCPP) management

• E.ON Next online portal for billing, usage and account management

Ideal For

• Businesses installing EV charging infrastructure as a single package

• Sites wanting a straightforward smart meter and time-of-use setup

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 Octopus

Advantages

Transparent, All-In Pricing
Octopus positions itself around upfront pricing with few hidden fees, and all business tariffs are supplied as 100% carbon-free energy at no extra cost.

Strong Renewable and Tech Credentials
Half-hourly matching, export tariffs and time-of-use pricing suit businesses with solar, batteries or EVs.

High Customer Review Scores
Consistently strong independent review ratings compared with the wider market.

Flexible, Digital-First Account Management
A self-service dashboard and API access built on Octopus's own Kraken platform.

Disadvantages

Advance Payment Required
New customers are typically asked for an advance payment equal to around 3 months' estimated energy cost, which can affect cash flow.

Less Established for Very Large Corporate Accounts
Octopus has less depth in flexible wholesale procurement for the largest multi-site users than E.ON Next's npower Business Solutions arm.

Time-of-Use Tariffs Need Managing
Getting the most from Shape Shifters or Agile means actively shifting consumption, which may not suit every business.

Pros and Cons of E.ON Next

Advantages

Large-Scale Supply Security
As part of one of the UK's largest energy suppliers, E.ON Next offers established financial stability and infrastructure.

Improved Service Since Moving to Kraken
The shift onto the Kraken platform in 2023 brought a marked improvement in service, with phone wait times now averaging 3 to 5 minutes.

Dedicated EV Charging Proposition
E.ON Drive bundles charger hardware, installation and back-office management for depot and fleet EV charging.

Established Large-Business Support
Larger businesses are handled by npower Business Solutions, a dedicated B2B brand with named account managers and flexible procurement capability.

Disadvantages

Lingering npower Legacy Issues
The npower B2B customer migration caused service disruption, and some historical complaints still linger.

Shorter Standard Fixed Terms for SMEs
The standard SME product is limited to 12 or 24-month fixed contracts, shorter than Octopus's maximum term.

Business Portal Less Developed
Online tools are primarily consumer-focused, and the business portal lags behind dedicated B2B platforms.

Which Supplier is Better for Which Business Types?

Octopus vs E.ON Next: Side-by-Side Summary

Key Questions to Ask Before Deciding

Before signing a business energy contract, compare:

1. What is the standing charge, and is there a No Standing Charge option?

2. What is the unit rate?

3. Is the tariff fixed, flexible or time-of-use?

4. Are there exit fees?

5. What happens at contract renewal?

6. Are renewable or half-hourly matched tariffs available?

7. Can smart meters be installed, and how are they used?

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

9. Is a dedicated account manager provided, and at what usage threshold?

10. Can multiple sites be managed under one agreement?

Verdict: Octopus or E.ON Next for Business Energy?

The right supplier depends largely on your business priorities.

Choose Octopus if you want:

• Transparent, all-in pricing with renewable electricity included as standard

• Time-of-use tariffs that reward shifting consumption

• Strong support for EV charging, solar or battery storage

• A digital-first account with fast self-service tools

Choose E.ON Next if you want:

• The scale and supply security of a Big Six-backed supplier

• A straightforward standard fixed contract, managed entirely online

• A dedicated EV charging infrastructure package through E.ON Drive

• Access to named account management and flexible procurement once your usage passes 100,000 kWh, or 500,000 kWh for npower Business Solutions

For most small businesses, day-to-day supply quality differs little between suppliers, because all providers use the same national infrastructure. However, when comparing time-of-use flexibility, export income and renewable matching, Octopus often edges ahead for businesses willing to actively manage their energy use, while E.ON Next remains the stronger choice for businesses that want Big Six scale, a simpler standard product, or a path to dedicated account management as they grow. Either way, it's worth using our business energy comparison tool to check current quotes against other suppliers before you sign.