Gas electric quotes: Compare business gas and power plans (2025)

Why combined gas and electricity quotes matter for Australian businesses

Energy is one of the largest controllable operating costs for many Australian organisations. When you buy gas and electricity separately, it can be hard to see your true energy position or know whether your prices are still competitive.

Requesting quotes that look at both fuels together can help you:

• Understand your total energy spend instead of treating gas and power in isolation
• Identify whether one fuel is priced competitively while the other is not
• Spot opportunities to align contract start and end dates across multiple sites
• Use your combined consumption to access sharper business rates, especially if you are a larger user

In a market where the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) flags ongoing price pressure for small business and residential customers, regularly reviewing your gas and power arrangements is no longer optional. It has become a core part of responsible cost control and risk management.

How energy pricing works in Australia

Before you compare offers, it helps to understand the building blocks that sit behind a typical business bill.

Electricity pricing components

• Wholesale electricity costs are driven by the National Electricity Market (NEM). Prices move with supply and demand, outages at coal or gas plants, renewable output, and transmission constraints.
• Network charges cover the cost of poles, wires, and meters. These depend on your location and tariff type and are set or overseen by regulators, not retailers.
• Environmental charges include the cost of renewable schemes and certificates.
• Retail margin and fees are added by the retailer that manages your account and billing.

Gas pricing components

• Wholesale gas costs are influenced by domestic production, contracts linked to LNG export prices, and seasonal demand.
• Transportation and distribution costs cover pipelines and local networks and are usually passed through in your bill.
• Retail fees are the margin charged for managing your supply and customer service.

For most businesses, these elements appear on separate power and gas bills. A combined review helps identify where the real saving potential sits.

How to compare gas and electricity offers step by step

1. Gather recent energy bills

Collect at least one recent bill for each site and each fuel. For larger users, 12 months of data gives a clearer picture of seasonal patterns and demand charges.

• Check your meter identifiers and National Metering Identifier (NMI) for electricity and Meter Installation Registration Number (MIRN) or Delivery Point Identifier (DPI) for gas.
• Confirm whether your current plan is a standing offer or a market contract with agreed rates and terms.

2. Understand your usage profile

Retailers and brokers price offers based on how and when you use energy, not just how much.

• Review your average daily and annual consumption for both fuels
• Note any strong seasonality, such as winter gas heating loads or summer cooling peaks
• Identify whether you are on single-rate, time of use, or demand tariffs for electricity

3. Decide what you want from a new deal

Different contract structures suit different organisations. Consider whether you prioritise:

• Budget certainty through fixed rates
• Some exposure to market movements via variable or part-variable pricing
• Flexibility to change or exit in the next 12 to 24 months
• Access to renewable or carbon-neutral options to support ESG commitments

4. Request comparable offers

To make a like-for-like assessment, ask each retailer or intermediary to quote on the same basis, for example:

• Contract term length, such as 12, 24, or 36 months
• Start date that lines up with your current contract end dates where possible
• Clear breakdown of supply charges, usage rates, and any demand or capacity elements
• Statement of whether environmental or network charges are fully included or passed through

Working with a specialist like Zembl means this comparison is done for you. Our team benchmarks offers from a panel of leading Australian retailers and highlights the true total cost rather than just the headline rate.

5. Review contract terms carefully

Two offers that look similar on price can differ significantly in terms and conditions. Key points to check include:

• Early termination or break fees if you move premises or restructure operations
• Automatic rollovers onto higher rates once the initial term ends
• Site eligibility rules, particularly for multi-site and large-market connections
• Credit requirements or security deposits for new or growing businesses

6. Consider timing and market conditions

Wholesale prices move over time. The AER’s determinations on default electricity safety net prices and ongoing gas market updates provide useful signals on underlying trends. Where possible, engage in procurement several months before your current contracts expire so you are not forced to accept whatever is available at short notice.

What to look for in business gas and power quotes

Small and medium business customers

For cafes, retailers, workshops, and professional offices, the right plan is usually about simplicity and value rather than complex market structures.

• Focus on transparent rates with minimal conditional discounts
• Check daily supply charges as well as per kilowatt hour and per megajoule prices
• Look for billing options that match your cash flow, such as monthly billing and direct debit
• Ask whether you can align gas and electricity contract end dates to simplify future reviews

Larger commercial and industrial users

For manufacturers, cold storage, large hospitality venues, and multi-site portfolios, more advanced options may be available.

• Custom-negotiated pricing based on your load profile and annual volume
• Demand or capacity charges that can be optimised by shifting usage out of peak periods
• Opportunities to run competitive tenders across both fuels at once
• Structured contracts that layer fixed and market-linked pricing over different time horizons

Working with an experienced procurement partner helps large users access the full range of contract options while staying within internal risk and governance frameworks.

Australian regulatory and market context in 2025

When you assess offers, it is important to understand the guardrails that exist around pricing and service in Australia.

• The Australian Energy Regulator oversees electricity networks, retail authorisations, and protections for small customers in the NEM states and territories.
• Default electricity safety net prices provide a benchmark for standing offers in New South Wales, South Australia, and south east Queensland.
• Gas markets are subject to a mix of state and federal rules on competition, pipeline access, and, in some cases, price caps for certain user groups.
• Retailers must comply with consumer protection frameworks that cover billing, hardship arrangements, and dispute resolution.

For many businesses, the main practical takeaway is that energy remains a competitive market in most regions, and you are generally free to choose from a range of suppliers and contracts. The challenge is understanding which option represents good value at a given point in time.

How Zembl supports your gas and electricity comparison

Zembl has been helping Australian organisations manage energy costs for over 15 years. Our role is to sit on your side of the table and make the quoting and switching process as simple as possible.

Our experts can:

• Review your recent bills for both fuels and identify whether you are on competitive rates
• Run a comparison across our trusted panel of Australian retailers for each eligible site
• Present clear, data-driven recommendations that show the potential annual saving before you decide
• Arrange the switch on your behalf if you approve, with no interruption to supply

For businesses, we also offer:

• Support for multi-site portfolios and complex metering arrangements
• Access to commercial energy procurement, intelligence, and efficiency services for higher-usage organisations
• Guidance on bringing renewable electricity options into your broader energy strategy

You can learn more about our broader business services on our business energy saving services page.

When an energy broker adds the most value

Some organisations have the internal capability to run their own energy tenders, but many do not. An accredited intermediary can be particularly useful when you:

• Operate more than one site across different states or network areas
• Spend more than a few thousand dollars per month on combined gas and electricity
• Have limited time in-house to track market developments or manage tender processes
• Need independent input for governance, board reporting, or ESG commitments

As outlined on our energy broker page, Zembl monitors the Australian energy market daily, runs competitive tenders for commercial customers, and provides ongoing support throughout the contract term.

Real-world savings examples

Energy cost reductions are not just theoretical. Zembl has helped a wide range of Australian businesses lower their bills by reviewing both fuels together and identifying better options from our panel of retailers.

• A regional hospitality venue that reduced its combined electricity and gas spend by thousands of dollars per year after consolidating contracts and switching to more suitable tariffs
• A small manufacturing business that gained clearer visibility over its total energy position and unlocked savings through a new electricity contract and sharper gas pricing
• A multi-site food and beverage group that used our procurement services to align contract end dates, simplifying renewals and improving budgeting accuracy

Results vary by business, region, and timing, but these examples show what is possible when energy is treated as a managed cost rather than a fixed overhead.

Frequently asked questions

How often should my business review its gas and electricity pricing?

As a guide, most organisations benefit from a formal review at least once a year, or several months before existing contracts expire. Significant operational changes, such as opening or closing sites or installing new equipment, are also good triggers for a fresh comparison.

Is there any risk to my supply if I change retailers?

No. In the NEM, physical supply is managed by the market operator and networks, not by your retailer. When you change provider, it is a commercial and billing change rather than a change to the wires or pipes serving your premises.

Can I get quotes if I am in a regional area?

Yes, subject to retailer availability and local network arrangements. Some regions have fewer competing retailers than capital cities, but it is still worth checking whether there is a more suitable offer for your type of business.

What if my business uses only electricity and very little gas?

You can still review both fuels together, but it may make sense to focus your procurement effort on the higher-cost area first. Our consultants will highlight where the largest potential savings sit and recommend a sensible order of priorities.

Can I combine energy savings with sustainability goals?

Yes. Many organisations are now looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions while keeping costs under control. Options can include shifting part or all of your electricity use to renewable sources, improving efficiency at site level, or exploring carbon-neutral gas products where available.

Next steps

If you would like help assessing your current gas and electricity arrangements, you can share recent bills with our team for an obligation-free comparison. Zembl’s experts will review your usage, check current market offers, and let you know what saving opportunities may be available.

To get started, speak with one of our specialists through our business energy page, or learn more about how we run tenders and negotiate on your behalf on our energy broker explainer.