Business energy by area · South West
Business energy in Dorset
20,510 non-domestic electricity meters in Dorset used 670 GWh between them, across 18,000 registered businesses. Here is what local firms use, what that costs at current prices, and how to compare.
DESNZ consumption data for 2024, ONS business counts for 2026
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Business energy use in Dorset
Official figures for every non-domestic premises in the area, which includes public sector buildings as well as businesses.
Mean or median: which one matters to you?
The average (mean) non-domestic electricity meter in Dorset uses 32,661 kWh a year, but the typical (median) meter uses 5,649 kWh. The mean is far higher because a handful of very large sites pull it up, so the median is the better guide for an ordinary business.
That typical meter is 23% lower than the typical meter across all 350 local authorities (7,357 kWh).
On gas, Dorset has 1,231 non-domestic meters using 559 GWh a year, with a typical meter on 143,998 kWh. Gas meters are fewer and larger: many small premises have no gas supply at all.
What that would cost at current prices
Illustrative annual cost for the typical meter in Dorset, using the Q2 2026 DESNZ average for the matching size band, before VAT.
- Typical electricity meter using 5,649 kWh at 38.36p £2,167
- Typical gas meter using 143,998 kWh at 9.31p £13,406
These are illustrations built from two official averages, not quotes. Real prices depend on your meter, your region's network charges, your usage pattern and the day you agree the contract. The cost calculator works it out from your own rates.
Get prices for your premisesConsumption: DESNZ, Subnational electricity consumption statistics 2005 to 2024; DESNZ, Subnational gas consumption statistics 2005 to 2024. Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, 2026. Both Open Government Licence v3.0. Gas figures are weather corrected.
A caveat on this area's figures. This area contains at least one major power station or large industrial consumer whose consumption has not been included in the data. These are very high consuming sites which have, in earlier years, not been included in the meter level gas consumption data due to complexities in their billing arrangements.
The business mix in Dorset
Size of business decides which price band you fall into, what protections you have, and how much a supplier will negotiate.
| Size of business | Enterprises | Share | What it means for energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro, 0 to 9 employees | 16,150 | 90% | Most will meet the microbusiness definition, which brings extra Ofgem protections on renewals and contract terms. |
| Small, 10 to 49 | 1,610 | 9% | Often fall in the small business category extended by Ofgem in December 2024, and usually sit in the lower DESNZ price bands. |
| Medium, 50 to 249 | 205 | 1% | Usually on half-hourly metering, where capacity charges and usage patterns start to matter. |
| Large, 250 and over | 35 | 0% | Bespoke pricing, often flexible contracts bought in tranches rather than a single fixed rate. |
90% of businesses in Dorset are micro businesses. That matters, because the smallest users pay the highest unit rates: 38.36p per kWh on average in Q2 2026, against 28.59p for the band above. See every size band.
How a business in Dorset compares prices
- Find your contract end date. It decides when you can switch and when suppliers will quote. The renewal planner works back from it.
- Get your meter numbers. Your MPAN for electricity or MPRN for gas identifies your exact supply, including which network region you are charged for.
- Work out your all-in price. Unit rate plus standing charge, with the cost calculator, so you can compare like with like.
- Compare on one day. Wholesale prices move daily, so quotes gathered weeks apart are not comparable. See which way the market has moved.
- Check the terms, not just the rate. Contract length, exit fees and any broker commission, which is shown in the contract's principal terms before you agree.
If you are already out of contract, you can usually move at any time without a fee. See out-of-contract rates and deemed contracts.
Business energy data for Dorset
Use and cite this data
You're welcome to use these figures in articles, reports and presentations. Please credit Business Energy Expert with a link to this page.
Business Energy Expert (2024) Business energy in Dorset: non-domestic consumption and business counts. Available at: https://www.businessenergyexpert.com/business-energy/in/dorset/ (Accessed: 1 Nov 2026). Download: Consumption by area (CSV) · Business counts by area (CSV)
Original sources
- DESNZ, Subnational electricity consumption statistics 2005 to 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0
- DESNZ, Subnational gas consumption statistics 2005 to 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0
- ONS, UK Business Counts 2026 (via Nomis), Open Government Licence v3.0
Business energy in Dorset: questions
How many businesses are there in Dorset?
There are 18,000 businesses registered in Dorset in 2026, according to ONS UK Business Counts. 16,150 of them are micro businesses with fewer than 10 employees, 1,610 are small, 205 are medium and 35 are large. They operate from 20,570 local sites in total.
How much energy do businesses in Dorset use?
Non-domestic premises in Dorset used 670 GWh of electricity across 20,510 meters in 2024, and 559 GWh of gas across 1,231 meters in 2024. The typical (median) electricity meter used 5,649 kWh. These DESNZ figures cover all non-domestic premises, which includes the public sector as well as businesses.
What does a typical business in Dorset pay for electricity?
At the Q2 2026 average of 38.36p per kWh for the very small usage band, the typical Dorset meter using 5,649 kWh a year would cost about £2,167 a year before VAT. That is an illustration, not a quote: your own price depends on your meter, your contract and when you agreed it.
Who is the energy network operator for Dorset?
The distribution network operator depends on your exact supply point, not the council area, and several areas sit across a boundary. The first two digits of your MPAN tell you which one serves your meter. Our MPAN checker decodes it, and shows the operator to call about a power cut or a new connection.
Can I switch business energy supplier in Dorset?
Yes. The same suppliers compete across Great Britain, so where you are does not limit who will quote. It does affect the price, because network charges differ by region. We compare prices from a panel of UK business energy suppliers. We do not cover every supplier in the market.
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