--- title: Restaurant Energy Bills Too High? Here's How UK Restaurants Can Save description: Commercial kitchens are energy hungry. Learn how UK restaurants can compare suppliers, cut energy bills, and protect their margins — free with The Utilities Group. --- [Skip to content](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save#main-content) [![logo](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.jpg?width=527&height=396&name=logo.jpg)](https://www.utilitiesgrou.co.uk) - [Home](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home) - [About Us](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/about) - [Services](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/services) - [Water](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-water) - [Waste](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste) - [Blog](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog) - Sectors Show submenu for Sectors - [Pub Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/pub-energy) - [Restaurant Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/restaurant-energy) - [Cafe & Coffee Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/cafe-energy) - [Hotel Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hotel-energy) - [Takeaway Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/takeaway-energy) - [Office Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/office-energy) - [Retail & Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/retail-energy) - [Manufacturing & Industrial Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/manufacturing-energy) - [Church & Charity Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/church-charity-energy) - [Care Home Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/care-home-energy) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/home) - [About Us](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/about) - [Services](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/services) - [Water](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-water) - [Waste](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/business-waste) - [Blog](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog) - Sectors Show submenu for Sectors - [Pub Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/pub-energy) - [Restaurant Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/restaurant-energy) - [Cafe & Coffee Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/cafe-energy) - [Hotel Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hotel-energy) - [Takeaway Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/takeaway-energy) - [Office Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/office-energy) - [Retail & Shop Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/retail-energy) - [Manufacturing & Industrial Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/manufacturing-energy) - [Church & Charity Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/church-charity-energy) - [Care Home Energy](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/care-home-energy) Oct 18, 2026, 1:10:56 PM # Restaurant Energy Bills Too High? Here's How UK Restaurants Can Save [Peter Hallwood](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/author/peter-hallwood) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/restaurant-energy-bills-too-high-heres-how-uk-restaurants-can-save) ## Energy Is a Restaurant's Hidden Profit Killer Margins in the restaurant industry are notoriously tight. Food costs, staffing, and rent dominate the conversation — but energy is often the quiet overhead that erodes profit without getting the attention it deserves. A busy restaurant running a full commercial kitchen, refrigeration, lighting, and HVAC can easily spend £15,000–£40,000 a year on energy, depending on size and location. ## Where Restaurants Use the Most Energy Knowing where your consumption comes from helps you target savings effectively. The main culprits in most restaurants are: - **Commercial ovens and ranges** — often running for 10–14 hours a day - **Extraction and ventilation systems** — essential but energy-intensive - **Refrigeration and cold storage** — continuous 24/7 draw - **Dishwashers and hot water systems** — high-temperature appliances use significant energy - **Heating, cooling, and lighting** — particularly in large dining areas ## Are You on a Deemed Rate? One of the most expensive mistakes a restaurant owner can make is letting their energy contract expire and rolling onto a deemed rate. Deemed rates — the default tariff applied when no active contract is in place — can be 40–60% higher than a negotiated commercial rate. If you've changed premises, recently opened, or simply haven't reviewed your contract in a while, there's a real chance you're overpaying significantly. ## How Comparing Suppliers Can Save Thousands Unlike domestic energy, commercial energy contracts are individually negotiated. This means the price you're offered depends on your consumption profile, your site's history, and crucially — whether you're comparing the market or simply accepting what your current supplier sends you. Working with a specialist broker means getting live quotes from 15+ suppliers side by side, and choosing the deal that fits your budget and your contract preferences. ## Tips for Lowering Your Restaurant's Energy Use Beyond switching supplier, there are operational steps that can reduce consumption and lower your bills further: - Train staff to switch off equipment when not in service (ovens, fryers, heat lamps) - Service your refrigeration units regularly — dirty coils and worn seals increase energy use - Switch to LED lighting throughout the dining room and kitchen - Install timers or smart controls on extraction fans to match kitchen hours - Review hot water systems — storing water at unnecessarily high temperatures is wasteful ## Get a Free Restaurant Energy Comparison The Utilities Group works with restaurants across the UK to compare 15+ energy suppliers, negotiate the best available rate, and manage the entire switching process — at no cost to you. [Visit our restaurant energy page](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/restaurant-energy) to find out how we can help reduce one of your biggest overheads. facebook-f icon linkedin-in icon Twitter icon instagram icon --- [![](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/theutilitiesgroup-rev-8-01%20(1).jpg?width=960&height=560&name=theutilitiesgroup-rev-8-01%20(1).jpg)](https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk) C/O The Accountancy Partnership, Twelve Quays House, Wirral , CF41 1LD Copyright © 2024, ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Hallwood", "url" : "https://utilitiesgroup.co.uk/blog/author/peter-hallwood" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-18T12:10:56.315Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-18T12:10:56.000Z", "headline" : "Restaurant Energy Bills Too High? 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