Top UK Industries with the Highest Energy Costs

Energy Costs by Industry: Which UK Sectors Spend the Most on Power?

Energy is often treated as a fixed overhead but for some sectors, it's a critical and volatile cost that can have a direct impact on profitability.

Recent analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals which sectors in Great Britain spend the highest proportion of their overall purchases on energy. This isn't just about kilowatt-hours and gas meters, it's about understanding how much energy affects your bottom line, and what your business can do to stay competitive.

At Bright Edge, we support energy-conscious businesses across the UK, helping them secure better rates, avoid expensive contracts, and gain greater control over their energy strategy. Let’s dig into what the data shows and what you can learn from it.

The UK's Most Energy-Intensive Business Sectors

According to the ONS, these are the top industries where energy accounts for a significant portion of all purchases (materials, goods, services, and energy combined):

(Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Business Survey)

These figures highlight the heavy reliance on power for heating, lighting, manufacturing, and 24/7 operations. Whether it's a care home with constant heating requirements or a hotel with hundreds of rooms to manage, energy isn’t just a utility, it’s a strategic cost.

What This Means for Business Owners

1. Energy Is a Priority Cost Centre

When you're spending 10-20% of your total outgoings on energy, it becomes much more than just a bill to pay. That energy contract could be the difference between a profitable month and a loss.

The right procurement strategy, and timing can reduce those costs dramatically. Fixed contracts during low market windows, renewable energy supply options, and proactive broker support can shield your business from market swings.

2. Sector-Specific Strategy Matters

A manufacturer, a leisure centre, and a care home all consume energy very differently. At Bright Edge, we tailor our approach to how your business operates. That means looking at:

• Load patterns (e.g. day/night usage)

• Site infrastructure (heating types, equipment)

• Risk tolerance (fixed vs flexible contracts)

• Seasonal variations (e.g. tourism-related spikes)

This insight is crucial. A hospitality business using power mainly outside of peak hours could benefit from time-of-use tariffs. Meanwhile, a data centre with high uptime needs might require ultra-stable fixed pricing.

3. Visibility Leads to Better Decisions

When you benchmark your energy spend against the national average in your industry, you can identify:

• Are you paying too much per kWh?

• Are your contract terms competitive?

• Is your consumption unusually high for your business type?

Without that comparison, many businesses settle for contracts that cost thousands more per year than necessary.

How Bright Edge Helps Energy-Intensive Businesses

We go beyond simply comparing quotes. At Bright Edge, our business-first approach includes:

• ✅ Market timing & strategy — We track wholesale prices and help you buy at the right moment.

• ✅ Tailored supplier access — We work with over 25 of the UK's top commercial suppliers.

• ✅ Multi-site support — Managing energy across different locations? We'll centralise your setup.

• ✅ Benchmarking & insights — See how your spend compares to national trends.

• ✅ Full-service switching — From the Letter of Authority to the final meter read, we handle everything.

If your energy spend is upwards of 10% of your total purchases, we can show you real, measurable savings, not just on your rate, but through smarter contract design and management.

Why Now Is the Right Time to Review Your Energy

• Wholesale prices remain volatile, making contract timing critical.

• Government support schemes have changed, placing more responsibility on business owners.

• Sustainability expectations are rising, with many customers favouring greener energy.

Reviewing your energy setup isn’t just about saving today, it’s about preparing for tomorrow. Whether you're in hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing or the public sector, the most cost-effective businesses are the ones who act early.

Final Thought

This ONS data confirms what many business leaders have suspected: energy is no longer a background cost, it’s a margin-defining one.

For businesses in high-usage sectors, smart procurement, usage monitoring, and proactive supplier management can unlock substantial savings.

At Bright Edge, we bring you those savings with a personalised, jargon-free approach. No generic comparisons, no guesswork, just insight and clarity, powered by data.

Want to see how your energy costs compare to the national average in your industry?
Send us your latest bill and we’ll benchmark it for free, no sales pressure, just practical advice from energy experts who understand your sector.

Let Bright Edge negotiate your business energy rates & see how much you could save

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