Energy compare for Australian businesses | Zembl

Comparing energy plans has become a regular line item on many Australian to do lists. Power and gas prices have moved sharply in recent years, regulators have updated default safety net prices, and many retailers have changed their offers more than once per year.

For a busy business owner or manager, keeping across all of this can be difficult. Plans change, discounts expire, and it is not always obvious whether a new offer will actually lower your total bill or just shift the costs around.

This guide explains how to approach comparison in a structured, Australian specific way so you can:

• Understand what really sits behind your electricity and gas bills
• Compare market offers fairly instead of only looking at headline rates
• Avoid common traps around discounts, benefit periods, and contract rollovers
• Decide when it makes sense to get expert help instead of doing the work yourself

It is written for small and medium businesses in the National Electricity Market states and territories, as well as larger commercial users who want a clearer framework for decision making.

How comparing energy works in Australia

When people search online, they might type phrases like "electricity compare NSW", "business energy comparison", or simply "cheap business electricity". Underneath those searches sit a few core ideas that matter for every business:

• You can usually choose from multiple retailers if you are in NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, VIC, or TAS
• Each retailer can have several plans, with different combinations of rates, discounts, and contract terms
• Network and environmental charges are largely set by regulators and networks, not retailers, but they still flow through to your bill
• Government default offers provide a safety net, but they are rarely the sharpest market price available

A good comparison looks at the full picture of your usage, tariffs, and contract conditions rather than just a single cents per kilowatt hour number.

Key components of an Australian business electricity bill

Every retailer presents bills a little differently, however most business bills share the same building blocks:

• Daily supply charge: a fixed charge per day for staying connected
• Usage charges: the rate you pay for each kilowatt hour you consume
• Time of use charges: different usage rates for peak, shoulder, and off peak periods
• Demand or capacity charges: for some larger sites, an extra charge based on your highest kW or kVA demand in the billing period
• Environmental charges: costs linked to federal and state renewable schemes and certificates
• Metering and other fees: charges related to metering and market participation

An effective comparison always uses your actual or estimated usage to calculate the total annual cost on each offer, not just the unit rate.

How gas billing fits into the picture

Many Australian businesses also receive a separate gas bill. The structure is similar, with:

• A daily supply charge
• Usage charges in cents per megajoule
• Transport or distribution costs passed through from network operators

For cafes, restaurants, manufacturers, and other gas intensive sites, a proper review should include both fuels. Looking at electricity alone can leave savings on the table.

If you want a detailed walk through of combining quotes across both fuels, this guide is a useful reference: Gas electric quotes.

What to consider when you compare business energy offers

1. Retailers and plans available in your area

The retailers and plan types you can access depend on:

• Your state and distribution network
• Whether your connection is classified as a small business or a larger commercial site
• Your metering set up, such as basic, interval, or smart meters

Some retailers specialise in small businesses, while others focus on large market or multi site portfolios. When you assess offers, check whether each retailer is actually active in your region and for your customer type.

For a high level view of the options for different business sizes, you can read Zembl’s overview here: Business energy saving services.

2. Tariff structure and how you use energy

Tariffs matter just as much as the headline rate. Common structures include:

• Single rate tariffs where the same rate applies all day
• Time of use tariffs where rates change between peak, shoulder, and off peak
• Demand tariffs that combine usage rates with a separate demand charge

If your business operates mainly in the evenings or on weekends, a time of use tariff with cheaper off peak rates could be better value than a simple flat rate. If you run heavy equipment during weekday peaks, then demand charges and network tariffs can become the main driver of your bill.

A useful next step for many businesses is to review how electricity and gas tariffs work together. Zembl’s explainer on combined offers covers this in more depth: How to compare gas and electricity plans in Australia.

3. Contract length and flexibility

Market offers often come with contract periods from twelve to thirty six months. When you compare, look beyond the initial prices and ask:

• How long am I locked in for
• What happens at the end of the benefit period
• Are there break fees if I move premises or change structure
• Can the retailer change prices during the term, and if so, under what conditions

Shorter contracts can provide more flexibility if you expect major operational changes. Longer terms can provide budget certainty, but they should still be reviewed before they roll into a higher standing or default offer.

4. Discounts, incentives, and benefit periods

Retailers often use discounts to make offers look attractive. Common structures include:

• Pay on time discounts
• Direct debit discounts
• Guaranteed percentage discounts that apply regardless of how you pay
• Bill credits or sign up bonuses

When you compare, focus on:

• How long the discount lasts
• Whether it applies to the whole bill or usage only
• What your bill will look like after the benefit period ends

The Australian Energy Regulator encourages retailers to express discounts relative to the local default offer so business customers can see whether they are likely to be better off. A free bill comparison with a specialist can translate that guidance into a clear dollar saving for your specific site.

5. Alignment with your wider energy strategy

For many organisations, energy procurement now sits alongside sustainability goals, risk management, and long term planning.

Questions to include in your assessment:

• Do you need renewable or carbon neutral options
• Are you planning to install solar or battery storage during the contract term
• Is electrification of gas processes on your roadmap
• Will your operating hours or sites change significantly

If you want to explore how both pricing and efficiency can work together, Zembl’s business services page outlines options for higher usage organisations that spend more than around thirty thousand dollars per year on energy.

Common traps when you compare business energy plans

Only looking at the unit rate

A lower cents per kilowatt hour rate does not automatically mean a cheaper bill. Higher daily supply charges, steep demand charges, or shorter benefit periods can more than cancel out the apparent discount.

A better approach is to model at least twelve months of expected usage under each offer and compare the total cost.

Ignoring contract end dates

Many Australian businesses remain on legacy contracts that have quietly rolled onto default or standing offers. These can be significantly more expensive than current market deals.

Mark key contract dates in your calendar and start reviewing options at least three months before expiry. Zembl’s resources on why regular plan reviews matter go into more detail on how often to check your rates and why: Why you should review your business energy plan.

Misreading discounts

Pay on time or direct debit discounts are only valuable if you consistently meet the conditions. If cash flow is tight and you sometimes pay late, then an offer with a slightly higher base rate but guaranteed discounts or no conditions might be better value.

Not reviewing gas and electricity together

If you use both fuels, there can be advantages in reviewing them at the same time:

• You get a clearer view of your total energy exposure
• You may be able to align contract end dates across sites and fuels
• It becomes easier to weigh up any dual fuel discounts

Zembl explains this approach in more depth on its combined quote page here: Gas electric quotes.

Regulatory context for Australian business energy customers

Energy markets in Australia are heavily regulated to balance competition, reliability, and consumer protection.

For business customers this means:

• Retailers must be licensed and follow rules on billing, marketing, and hardship support
• Default Market Offer and Victorian Default Offer prices act as reference points for standing offers
• Network businesses must justify their charges to regulators such as the Australian Energy Regulator and the Essential Services Commission in Victoria

Despite this framework, prices can still move significantly due to wholesale market conditions, fuel costs, and network investment. That is why periodic comparison remains important even when you feel your current plan is "fine".

If you want a clear, plain language explainer on what a comparison service actually does in this context, Zembl covers that here: Why use an energy bill comparison service.

When it makes sense to use an expert comparison service

Self service comparison tools, including government sites, can be very useful for low complexity sites. However, many businesses reach a point where it is more efficient to partner with a specialist.

An expert service is particularly useful when you:

• Operate multiple sites across different networks
• Spend more than a few thousand dollars per month on combined gas and electricity
• Do not have in house energy procurement expertise
• Need independent input for budgeting or board reporting

A specialist broker or comparison service can:

• Gather offers from a panel of trusted retailers
• Benchmark those offers against current market conditions
• Explain the trade offs between different tariff and contract options
• Manage the switching paperwork with no interruption to supply

Zembl is a signatory to the Energy Comparator Code of Conduct and works with a panel of leading Australian retailers. That means you receive transparent advice within a clear service framework.

How Zembl helps Australian businesses compare and switch

Zembl has been supporting Australian organisations with energy procurement and bill comparison for over fifteen years. The service is designed to be quick, transparent, and practical.

Simple bill comparison for small and medium businesses

For most SMEs the process looks like this:

1. You share a recent electricity or gas bill, or both
2. A Zembl energy expert reviews your current rates, tariffs, and contract terms
3. We compare your bill against offers from our panel of retailers
4. If we find a competitive deal, we explain the potential annual saving and answer your questions
5. With your approval, we manage the switch on your behalf

There is no cost to your business for this service. Zembl is paid a commission by retailers when a customer takes up an offer from the panel. As explained in our energy bill comparison resources, this does not change the rates you pay under the contract.

Support for larger commercial and industrial users

If your business spends more than around thirty thousand dollars per year on energy, your needs are often more complex. Zembl can provide access to:

• Competitive tenders across multiple retailers
• Advice on network tariffs and demand charges
• Energy intelligence and reporting tools
• Support for integrating efficiency and renewable options over time

You can read more about these services and how they sit alongside day to day bill comparison on Zembl’s commercial and industrial pages.

Practical steps you can take today

To make comparison a regular, low stress part of managing your energy costs:

1. Collect your latest bills for each site and each fuel
2. Note key details such as NMI, tariff type, and contract end dates
3. Decide your priorities: lower cost, more certainty, more flexibility, or support for sustainability goals
4. Set a reminder to review offers at least once per year or three months before any contract ends
5. Engage an expert if you want a clear, obligation free view of your options without doing the legwork yourself

By taking a structured approach, you can reduce your exposure to price increases, avoid unhelpful contract rollovers, and free up time to focus on running your business while your energy costs are actively managed.

If you would like a free, no obligation review of your current plan, you can speak with a Zembl energy expert using the contact options on our business energy page.