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Utilities for Schools, Charities and Community Organisations

Charitable VAT relief, procurement frameworks and seasonal usage patterns for the non-profit sector.

24 May 2026 7 min read

Charitable relief is widely underclaimed

Registered charities using energy for non-business charitable purposes can claim 5% VAT and CCL exemption on the qualifying proportion, declared to the supplier. Many organisations have never submitted the declaration.

Seasonal and intermittent occupancy

Buildings used for a few hours a week are frequently heated as though occupied continuously. Time controls matched to the actual booking calendar are often the single largest saving available.

Frameworks versus open market

Public sector frameworks offer convenience and compliance, but are not automatically the cheapest route for a small charity. Benchmark a framework price against an open market quote before committing.

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