Why multi-site businesses need a dedicated energy solution

Who this guide is for

Small and medium enterprises with more than one location, for example:

• Retailers with a few stores across different suburbs

• Clinic networks, gyms, and studios

• Cafés, quick‑service venues, and hospitality groups

• Trades and services with workshops, depots, and offices

If you are juggling separate bills, contracts, and meters, this guide is for you.

The hidden costs of decentralised energy

Running energy site by site looks simple, but it is expensive over time.

• Rollover risk: Contracts renew on different dates, often at higher default rates. A single missed date can lift costs for a full year.

• Inconsistent tariffs: Sites end up on plans that do not fit their load or trading hours. Some pay demand charges they could avoid. Others miss small business plans.

• Duplicate admin: Each site spends time on bill checks, queries, and approvals. That is hours you cannot put into customers.

• Late fees and credit issues: Paper bills get lost. Portal logins sit with ex‑staff. Small errors add up.

• Poor data visibility: Usage lives in PDFs. You cannot see which sites run hot, or when peaks occur.

• Meter and billing errors: Wrong NMI or meter read, estimated bills that never true up, fees that should not be there.

• Missed opportunities: No coordination on timing, no leverage with retailers, and no portfolio view to back negotiations.

What a dedicated energy solution looks like

Move from scattered tasks to a simple, central process.

• One view of your portfolio: All sites, one dashboard. Bills, usage, and key dates in one place.

• Aligned contract end dates: Renewals line up so you can go to market once, not ten times.

• Clear procurement rhythm: Tender at the right time for the market and your cash flow. Compare offers side by side on equal terms.

• Tariff and meter review: Check the tariff class, demand windows, and metering setup for each site.

• Consolidated billing options: Fewer invoices, cleaner coding, and less reconciliation.

• Simple standards: HVAC setpoints, lighting schedules, and opening routines that cut waste across every store.

• Actionable insights: See peaks by day and time. Stagger high‑load equipment. Tackle the worst offenders first.

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What multi‑site savings look like in practice

• Lower rates: Aligning end dates and tendering once can secure stronger, portfolio‑wide pricing.

• Fewer penalties: Central reminders reduce late fees and rollovers.

• Less waste: Consistent setpoints, lighting schedules, and start‑up routines cut usage without hurting service.

• Faster admin: Fewer invoices, cleaner cost centres, and one point of contact.

• Portfolio options for larger groups: Fixed rate options for large portfolios, or fixed discounts for up to 36 months for portfolios with 15 or more sites.

Signs you are ready to centralise

• Have a minimum of 15 sites

• You track contract dates in a spreadsheet, or not at all

• Bills spike after a quiet renewal period

• Staff spend time chasing logins and PDFs

• Two similar stores have very different unit rates

• You cannot see which sites drive peak demand

Practical checklist to start now

• Gather the latest bill for each site, all pages

• List agreement end dates and current retailers

• Note opening hours and any high‑load equipment

• Confirm who approves energy bills at each site

• Send a Letter of Authority (LOA) so we can request usage data and collect competitive offers from retailers

How Zembl helps multi‑site SMEs

You get a partner focused on price, simplicity, and results.

• Energy bills: We compare your current pricing with competitive options from our retailer panel, then align contract terms and manage approvals. No jargon, just clear choices.

• Energy insights: We analyse usage and bill data to find patterns, peak windows, and quick wins. You get a simple plan for each site and the portfolio.

• Energy solutions: Where upgrades make sense, we prioritise low‑cost actions first, then coordinate trusted partners for specialist work.

Process in brief

1. Share recent bills for each site. For larger portfolios, provide a site list and interval data where available.

2. A Zembl energy expert maps contracts, end dates, and tariffs, then goes to market at the right time.

3. You review a clear summary. Approve the option you want. We coordinate onboarding and keep dates on track.

Talk to a Zembl energy expert

Multi‑site energy does not need to be hard. Share your latest bills or, for portfolios, a simple site list and recent interval data. We will compare options, line up end dates, and present a clear recommendation. Approve your preferred option and we coordinate the rest so you can get back to running the business.