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Compare Business Electricity Plans

Overpaying on business electricity is easy to do and hard to spot, especially when you are flat out running the place. GoSwitch lets you compare business electricity plans from leading retailers in one go. The service is free, so a quick rate check costs your business nothing.

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How much does business electricity cost in Australia?

Written by Clint Robinson, GoSwitch CEO
Published 10 July 20268 mins read

What your business pays depends on how much power you use, your network area, and your tariff, so there is no single national figure. The clearest way to judge a fair rate is the Default Market Offer, the reference price the Australian Energy Regulator sets each year.

Most small businesses do better on a competitive plan than the regulated default. The AER reports about 15 percent of small businesses remain on the Default Market Offer, with the rest on market offers (AER, June 2026). That gap is where switching pays off.

The AER counts you as a small business if you use under 100 megawatt hours of electricity a year. That is roughly a spend below $30,000. Energy consumption is the biggest single driver of your annual cost.

What drives your cost Why it matters
Annual energy use in kWh Higher consumption lifts your total bill and can move you onto a different tariff.
Network area Each distribution zone sets its own charges, so similar businesses can pay different rates.
Tariff type Single rate, time of use, and demand tariffs each price your usage differently.
Business size Staying under 100 MWh a year keeps you in the small business bracket with standard plan pricing.

Your exact rate depends on your network area, total energy use, and tariff type. Compare current business plans for your postcode to see real figures for your premises.

What business electricity tariffs mean for your bill

Your tariff decides how each unit of electricity is priced, and picking the right one can cut your bill without using less power. A kilowatt hour, or kWh, is one unit of electricity. Every plan applies a tariff structure to those units, plus a fixed daily supply charge for staying connected.

Tariff type How it charges your business
Single rate You pay the same price per kWh at any hour, which suits steady, predictable usage.
Time of use Peak, shoulder, and off-peak rates apply by time, rewarding businesses that can shift load to cheaper periods.
Demand charge An added charge applies based on your highest burst of usage in a set window, common where heavy equipment runs.
Controlled load A separate cheaper rate covers specific equipment like electric hot water, metered on its own circuit.

A time of use or demand tariff needs a smart meter, which records when you draw power rather than just how much. Knowing your tariff type makes comparing plans far less confusing.

Why business electricity costs differ from home power

Business electricity is not billed the same way as a home, which is the part many comparisons get wrong. Businesses often run on different tariff structures, can face demand charges a household never sees, and usually need a business meter to access business plans. A residential meter may limit you to residential plans.

The size of your operation shifts your options, too. A small business using under 100 MWh a year compares standard market plans. A large business with heavy load can negotiate tailored contracts and demand-based pricing.

Because your load profile is not a household’s, the right plan is the one matched to how your business actually uses power.

Viewing and comparing electricity plans

Comparing business electricity plans in three steps

Comparing business electricity plans from every available energy provider takes three steps and a few minutes, not an afternoon of phone calls.

  1. Enter your postcode and a few details about your energy usage, so the comparison reflects how your business runs.
  2. Review the plans available to you side by side, with usage rates, supply charges, and contract terms in one view.
  3. Choose the plan that fits, and GoSwitch sets up the switch with no paperwork and no disruption to your supply.
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Which discounts and fees should you check before switching?

A low headline rate can hide fees that wipe out the saving, so check the full picture before you commit. Look past the advertised price at these details:

  • Conditional discounts often depend on paying on time or by direct debit, so the rate can climb if you miss the terms.
  • Guaranteed discounts apply for the whole contract term without conditions, which makes them easier to rely on.
  • Exit fees and lock-in terms can make leaving early costly, so a plan with no lock-in contracts gives you more flexibility.
  • Solar feed-in tariffs credit your bill for surplus solar power you export to the grid, which matters if your premises has panels.
  • Paper billing and card surcharges quietly add up, so choosing e-billing and direct debit can trim the total.

A genuine electricity deal is the one with the lowest total annual cost once discounts, fees, and contract terms are weighed together.

Balance scale with light bulb and coins for comparing energy costs and savings

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Reading the Reference Price to spot a genuine deal

The Reference Price is the benchmark every offer is measured against, and reading it tells you fast if a deal is actually good. In New South Wales, South-East Queensland, and South Australia, the Australian Energy Regulator sets it as the Default Market Offer. In Victoria, the Essential Services Commission sets the Victorian Default Offer, or VDO. In the ACT, the ActewAGL standing offer plays the same role.

Each benchmark resets on 1 July every year. A plan advertised as a percentage below the Reference Price is judged against the current year’s figure (June 2026). Checking where your current plan sits against that benchmark carries no obligation to switch.

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Business electricity rates by state

Business electricity rates change from state to state, because networks and benchmarks differ across the country. GoSwitch compares business electricity rates and business energy plans across the five places where businesses can choose their retailer.

Pick your state to compare local plans:

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Energy plans by industry and business type

A cafe, a warehouse, and a medical clinic each use power differently, so the best energy plans vary by what you do. Your load shape, your trading hours, and any gas you use alongside power all change the right fit.

Hospitality and food businesses, for instance, can compare electricity and gas plans together, which suits how they actually operate. Cafes, restaurants, retail stores, offices, warehouses, and medical practices all sit on different load profiles, so the right plan rarely matches the one next door.

Small to medium businesses across these sectors can shortlist suitable plans without trawling retailer websites one by one.

Free, unbiased comparison with a real energy specialist

After you compare online, a GoSwitch energy specialist follows up in person to talk through your shortlist, which a plain price table cannot do. We compare plans from a wide panel of energy retailers, so business customers see real choice rather than a narrow set.

Our service stays free because retailers pay us a small commission when you switch, never you. That commission does not change what your business pays or how we work out your savings.

See business electricity plans for your postcode in minutes

Enter your postcode and compare energy plans for your business in minutes. Offers from retailers like EnergyAustralia, Red Energy, and Alinta Energy line up side by side. We can also compare your gas, internet, and health insurance, so your business sorts more than one bill in the same place. Start with GoSwitch and lock in a better business electricity rate today!

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Business electricity FAQs

Most business electricity switches finish within a few business days, and your power supply is never interrupted during the transfer. A short cooling-off period applies after you sign up, and the change is administrative, so nothing physical happens at your premises.

Yes, a 10 percent GST applies to business electricity charges and shows as a separate line on your bill. Businesses registered for GST can usually claim that amount back as a credit through their business activity statement.

An NMI, or National Meter Identifier, is the 10 or 11 digit number that identifies your electricity connection point. You will find it printed on your electricity bill, and it makes comparing and switching plans faster and more accurate.

Yes, your business can switch as long as the electricity account is in your business name. The main exception is an embedded network, common in some shopping centres or complexes, where the site controls supply and choice is limited.

No, you can compare business electricity plans with just your postcode and a rough idea of your usage. Having a recent bill handy makes the comparison sharper, and GoSwitch uses those details to match plans to how your business runs.

Your retailer arranges a connection at the new address, ideally a few business days before you move in. Comparing plans with GoSwitch before the move means your business starts on a competitive rate, not a default one.