Business electricity | Cut commercial energy costs with Zembl

Cut your energy overheads with expert bill reviews, live market comparisons and a seamless switch handled for you from start to finish.

Understanding electricity costs for Australian businesses

Electricity is one of the largest fixed operating costs for many Australian organisations, from small retail stores to multi-site industrial operations. Yet a large number of companies stay on old tariffs or default offers that are no longer competitive, simply because reviewing contracts and pricing structures takes time and expertise.

Across the National Electricity Market, tariffs are changing frequently as network charges, wholesale prices and regulatory settings evolve. If you do not regularly review your bills and contract terms, you can easily end up paying well above market for the same level of usage.

Zembl works with a panel of leading Australian energy retailers to help organisations review their current spend, identify better value options and switch to a more competitive offer with minimal disruption.

Key factors that influence commercial electricity pricing

The amount your organisation pays for electricity is shaped by several variables, many of which sit outside your direct control. Understanding these inputs makes it easier to assess whether your current offer is still appropriate.

Demand and load profile

Retailers and networks look at when and how you use electricity, not just how much. Higher demand during peak periods places more pressure on the grid and can attract higher variable usage charges. Businesses that can shift a portion of consumption to off-peak periods may be able to access more favourable tariff structures.

Weather and seasonal conditions

Extreme heat and cold drive up demand for cooling and heating across homes and businesses. In hotter months, refrigeration, data centres, air conditioning and process cooling all work harder, which in turn pushes up wholesale electricity prices and, over time, feeds into commercial tariffs.

Fuel and wholesale market costs

Generation costs are affected by the price and availability of fuels such as natural gas and coal, along with the growing share of renewables and storage in the market. Supply disruptions, outages or policy changes can all influence wholesale pricing, which ultimately flows through to business energy offers.

Network and environmental charges

Network tariffs – what you pay to use the poles and wires – are set by regulators and vary by distribution zone. On top of usage charges, many organisations also incur demand charges based on their highest half-hour or 30-minute usage in a billing period. Environmental schemes, such as renewable energy obligations, are also embedded in overall pricing.

Zembl’s Energy Experts review these factors in the context of your actual usage data. For larger organisations, our team can also help interpret complex network tariffs and demand patterns so you can choose more appropriate contract structures.

Why regular bill reviews matter for your organisation

Many organisations simply pay their monthly account without examining the detail. Over time, this can lead to:

Being rolled on to standing or default offers after a contract expires
Missing network or metering changes that would warrant a tariff review
Overlooking errors in billing or demand charges
Staying on discounts that sound attractive but apply only to a narrow portion of the bill

A structured review of your invoices can highlight:

Whether your supply and usage rates remain in line with current market levels
Opportunities to move to a tariff structure that better reflects your usage pattern
Any anomalies in metering or billing that should be corrected
Sites that may benefit from energy efficiency or on-site generation

For medium and large organisations, Zembl can support ongoing bill validation and auditing, so potential issues are identified promptly rather than months or years later.

Practical ways to cut your electricity spend

Simply turning off a few lights will not usually move the needle on its own. A more effective approach is to combine procurement, tariff optimisation and efficiency measures.

Review your current plan against the market

Start by confirming whether your existing contract has expired or is due to end soon. If you are on a default or standing offer, there may be immediate savings available by moving to a market contract.

Zembl’s specialists can review your current offer and compare it against alternatives from our retailer panel. If you want a deeper overview of fees and tariffs, you can also explore our dedicated pages on business electricity plans and business electricity rates.

Compare charges, not just discounts

Headline discounts can be misleading if they only apply to usage charges or if the underlying tariffs are high. When assessing options, businesses should look at:

Daily supply charges
Peak, shoulder and off-peak usage rates where applicable
Demand charges for larger sites
Any conditional and guaranteed discounts, along with the conditions that apply

If you are considering a detailed review of how your current offer stacks up, our business electricity price comparison page explains how average prices can vary by state and tariff type.

Select a tariff structure that suits your operations

Some organisations benefit from a simple flat usage rate. Others can reduce costs by using time-of-use tariffs, controlled load arrangements or more sophisticated demand-based structures.

A Zembl Energy Expert can help you understand whether single-rate, time-of-use or demand-based tariffs are likely to be more cost-effective for your business profile. For more detail on the mechanics of different tariffs and discounts, see our guide to business electricity charges.

Invest in efficiency and load management

Once your tariff and contract are in good shape, the next step is to reduce total consumption and peak demand. Typical opportunities include:

Upgrading to high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems
Optimising set points and scheduling on existing plant
Staggering high-load processes where possible to reduce demand peaks
Reviewing refrigeration, compressed air and data centre usage

Our article on business electricity explained offers additional context on how usage patterns feed into overall spend.

How Zembl supports Australian organisations

Zembl is focused on simplifying energy procurement and optimisation for Australian organisations by:

Partnering with a panel of reputable energy retailers so you do not need to negotiate separately with each provider
Reviewing your existing bills and usage data free of charge and without obligation to switch
Presenting clearly structured options and recommendations tailored to your business size, industry and risk appetite
Handling the paperwork and coordination with retailers if you decide to move to a new offer
Providing bill validation and ongoing market monitoring for larger organisations

From small operators on a single site through to multi-state portfolios, the goal is to help you secure appropriate pricing, reduce administrative overheads and free up cash flow to reinvest in your core operations.

Simple three-step process

Working with Zembl typically follows three straightforward steps:

Share your details and a recent bill
Send us a copy of a recent invoice along with your contact details so our team can assess your current position.
Review tailored options
An Energy Expert will analyse your charges and usage profile, then present a selection of options from our retailer panel, explaining the key differences in plain language.
Confirm and switch
If you choose to proceed with one of the recommendations, Zembl will manage the switching process with your new and existing retailers so your organisation can transition smoothly to the new arrangement.

Getting started

Australian organisations do not need to navigate commercial energy contracts alone. With specialist support, you can reduce your electricity spend, gain better visibility over your bills and ensure your tariffs match the way you actually operate.

If you are ready to review your current arrangements or want to understand what other options may be available, you can request a free energy review and discuss the findings with one of Zembl’s Energy Experts.