How UK Organisations Can Stay in Control of Energy Costs in 2026
This spring’s Middle East disruption, including QatarEnergy stopping LNG production and major shipping delays through the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed European gas prices sharply higher, affecting what UK businesses pay for electricity and gas.
Because there’s no price cap for businesses, community halls, sports clubs and SMEs, organisations are exposed to these wholesale swings immediately. This guide explains, in simple terms, what’s happening and the practical steps organisations can take to stay in control: from choosing the right contract to using solar and battery storage to reduce dependence on the market.
Why this spring’s energy news matters for businesses
Households get protection through the Ofgem price cap but businesses don’t. That means when wholesale markets jump, commercial tariffs often move straight away.
And this spring, wholesale markets did jump. Hard.
What caused the price spike?
In early March, conflict in the Middle East led to a major shock in the gas market. QatarEnergy — one of the world’s biggest LNG (liquified natural gas) producers was forced to stop production after facilities were hit in the region. At the same time, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed dramatically.
This matters because LNG is a major part of Europe’s gas supply. When it stops moving, prices rise fast.
Within days:
European gas prices hit multi‑year highs.
UK wholesale gas rose sharply in line with Europe.
Some business suppliers paused quotes entirely while they reassessed risk.
For organisations, this meant:
fewer available contracts
higher quoted rates
increased uncertainty about what to do next
Why the UK is especially exposed
The UK has very little gas storage compared with Europe. That means when global supply tightens, Britain ends up paying more to secure imports.
Because gas still sets the price of electricity, both gas and power contracts jump for businesses when wholesale prices rise.
What this means for your organisation (in simple terms)
If you run a business, community hall, sports club or charity:
you’re not protected by the domestic price cap
your tariff is linked directly to wholesale markets
your costs can rise quickly if you’re out of contract or due to renew
you may not get the full picture from brokers who rely on commission
In short: you feel the shock much faster than households do.
What you can do to stay in control
Here are the practical steps that we use when helping local organisations secure stability.
1. Know your contract end date
If your renewal is due soon, especially between spring and summer 2026, you’re in a higher‑risk period. Don’t let it roll onto out‑of‑contract rates.
2. Compare the whole market - not just what a broker shows you
Some brokers work with limited suppliers or include hidden commissions.
Ask directly:
“How many suppliers do you compare, and what commission is included in this quote?”
And please read the contract’s terms! We’ve seen some hideous terms meaning you are tied for years to the broker.
3. Consider a fixed contract — but time it carefully
Wholesale prices are currently volatile. A fix can protect you, but you don’t want to fix at the top of a spike. Using independent market monitoring helps you avoid overpaying. We help our customer with this.
4. Reduce how much energy you buy in the first place
This is the most important long‑term step.
Technologies that help organisations take back control include:
Solar PV for reducing daytime electricity use
Battery storage for covering busy evening periods
Load shifting (heating or cooling earlier in the day)
Smart EV charging for fleets or staff vehicles
Energy monitoring to spot easy savings and reduce peak charges
Every unit you don’t buy from the grid is a unit protected from global shocks.
Why Tewdric’s approach helps
We work with:
businesses of all sizes
community buildings
sports clubs
local businesses and charities
…to secure fair, transparent energy contracts and pair them with renewable systems that help organisations use less, pay less, and stay in control even when the global market is unpredictable.
Our support is:
independent (not commission‑driven)
whole‑of‑market
tailored to non‑experts
focused on long‑term stability
What to do next
✔ Find your contract end date
✔ Ask for whole‑market, commission‑transparent quotes
✔ Check whether a fixed contract is right for you
✔ Get a solar + battery assessment
✔ Put monitoring in place to spot savings