British Gas Lite: a new online, cost effective product

Centrica ramps up competition by launching its first low cost, online-only electricity product for SMEs

Centrica has launched British Gas Lite – a new electricity service that supplies smart meters and is entirely online. Centrica identified a need for a simple, cost effective and flexible energy service for SMEs and British Gas Lite was designed specifically to meet these needs.

Rather than call centres, British Gas Lite offers a UK-based webchat team to support customer queries and through the online service, customers can manage their account at a time that’s convenient for them. Customers pay by monthly, variable direct debit and receive a free smart meter, so they only pay for what they use each month. This means British Gas Lite has lower operating costs and passes these savings on to business customers.

British Gas Lite partnered ENSEK to use their cloud-based retail energy platform, which enables feedback from customers and brokers to quickly turn into product enhancements and process improvements.

Rob Kerr, British Gas Lite Director, said “Long term innovation is central to meeting the needs of our customers. We have launched British Gas Lite to cater to demand from business customers for a smart product that is 100% digital and feedback so far has been excellent.

“Our customers have told us they appreciate the fact they can manage their account online at a time that suits them and their business. They also value the expertise offered by Centrica as well as the innovation of a digital-only offer with customers benefiting from lower prices.”

British Gas Lite is sold to SMEs through a small number of sales partners including price comparison websites, with further partners planned throughout 2018.

To find out more about British Gas Lite, go to www.britishgaslite.co.uk

For more information please contact Laura Hawksfield on laura.hawksfield@centrica.com.

Notes

This comes as part of a Centrica drive to offer more online, cost effective services to help customers manage their account more efficiently and at a time that’s convenient for them. This then reduces operating costs for Centrica so savings can be passed on to consumers.

  • British Gas launched its first online tariff, ‘All Online Jan 2019’, to market in October 2017 for residential customers. The tariff was a trial to understand consumer interest.
  • Its ‘All Online Feb 2019’ tariff is currently available on Price Comparison Sites.
  • The tariff has similar characteristics to the British Gas Lite tariff. Customers manage their account online, and use webchat or email contact methods. Customers also need to have a smart meter or agree to have one installed by the end of July, and sign up to the British Gas Rewards programme.