British businesses are calling for urgent government action as rising energy costs threaten confidence and competitiveness, according to the latest Business Energy Tracker 2025 from npower Business Solutions (nBS).
The report, The cost of clean power: will your business pay the price?, surveyed over 130 large energy users across the UK.
It found that 97% are concerned about the increasing cost of financing the net zero transition, while 50% believe the growing number of non-commodity charges — which include policy, system and network costs — are unfair.
nBS predicts these non-commodity costs will rise by 55% over the next five years and make up 75% of a business’s total energy invoice by the start of the next decade.
Energy remains the top business risk for the fourth consecutive year, with 79% expecting prices to rise in the next 12 months and 54% saying energy costs are harming business confidence.
While 57% of respondents accept that they will need to bear some of the cost of the clean power transition, 43% believe government should provide primary funding.
One in three (33%) disagreed entirely with the idea that businesses should pay, reflecting widespread frustration over rising costs.
Anthony Ainsworth, Chief Operating Officer at nBS, said: “The drive towards clean power is an absolute necessity. It will provide a more stable, secure and sustainable energy system for businesses, reducing our reliance on the wholesale energy markets that have caused so much volatility over the past few years.”
He added: “UK businesses are already dealing with the highest industrial energy prices out of 24 countries reporting to the International Energy Association (IEA). So, while we build a cleaner and more stable energy future, it is important that businesses receive the right support to ensure they remain competitive now and in the future.”
Only 18% of respondents believe government is doing enough to protect businesses from energy price volatility. A further 57% said that while some action is being taken, it isn’t enough.
Businesses are calling for five key interventions: expanding the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) market (47%), direct financial support (43%), financing for on-site generation (39%), incentives for energy efficiency (38%) and renewable electricity subsidies (37%).
Businesses demand action as cost of clean power hits confidence appeared first on Energy Live News.