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Fact Checked Red Energy crowned best business electricity provider
electricity is one of the biggest overheads for many australian businesses, particularly in light of rising energy prices. In fact, about two fifths of the businesses we surveyed ( 39 % ) said they tried to save energy where possible. As any business owner knows, running a successful company requires finding the best supplier at a competitive price. The lapp, of run, goes for energy. Why pay more for a serve than you need to ?
While many businesses look to cut binding on running costs, merely a small percentage of surveil respondents ( 26 % ) said their commercial enterprise has made a conscious attempt to use less might in the last class. 12 % of businesses have besides invested in tools to monitor and understand their energy use, with 24 % cutting back on world power usage during COVID-19. only 31 % of business owners believe they get a good deal on electricity, despite a minimal 12 % taking the inaugural to switch providers in an campaign to save money .
The needs of businesses are different to those of residential customers, so where do you even begin comparing energy providers for clientele ? Well, Canstar Blue per annum surveys hundreds of australian little businesses, asking them to rate their energy caller across key criteria like customer service, billing & cost clearness, payment plan options, on-line tools & advice, value for money and – ultimately – overall atonement. You ’ ll never very know how dear or bad an energy company is until you sign up and find out for yourself, but our review provides a helpful guide because the ratings are based on the real-world experiences of business customers barely like you. so, what did we find this class ?
Best Business Electricity Providers
Canstar Blue ’ second 2021 business electricity review saw seven major providers compared and rated in the follow order for overall customer satisfaction :
Taking over from Alinta Energy ’ s back-to-back wins is Red Energy, claiming top spot as the best-rated business electricity provider, scoring five stars across all research categories with the exception of on-line tools and advice. Red Energy scored five stars for self-service, payment plan options, customer servicing and prize for money, in addition to overall satisfaction .
An honorable mention besides goes to AGL. Finishing in second place overall, AGL was the merely supplier to achieve a five-star military rank in on-line tools and advice, in addition to handiness of payment which it shared a five-star rat with Red .
The average quarterly electricity bill for the businesses we surveyed this year was $1,140, which is a big lump of change no matter what character of commercial enterprise you ’ re in. The good news, however, is that there are many department of energy providers all desperate for your… occupation. so, read on as we provide details about the seven department of energy providers compared in this report, in summation to several others besides worthy of consideration .
About Business Electricity
Business energy has become boastful ‘ commercial enterprise ’ to electricity providers in Australia, not least because the custom needs of occupation customers are generally a distribute higher than your distinctive family ’ sulfur. While some providers publish specific department of energy rates for business customers, many rather operate on a personalize footing where rates are tailored or negotiated based on the specific customer ’ second needs .
In addition to the major energy providers, there a count of retailers that chiefly or entirely serve commercial enterprise customers, including :
- QEnergy
- Blue NRG
- Commander
- Powerdirect
- Shell Energy
- Next Business Energy
The advantage of these retailers is that they specialise in and understand the needs of business electricity customers. In addition to standard retail services, some of these department of energy companies besides undertake energy audits for customers to help them understand how they can manage their energy usage. They may besides provide personal account managers then you constantly have a particular contact to get in refer with. Of course, if you ’ re not matter to in these extras and services, and you ’ re simply looking for the cheapest price, you ’ ll motivation to shop around and get quotes from multiple providers .
Let ’ s now take a look at what the seven major providers in our 2021 recapitulation have to offer, a well as those business-focussed providers already mentioned .
Red Energy
Red Energy ’ south business plans mirror its residential offerings. In its line-up is one standard plan with no passing fees, or another design that give customers the opportunity to earn Qantas points upon sign-up and paying bills in wide. Business customers can besides choose to have their gas supplied through Red Energy .
- Red Business Saver: This is Red Energy’s standard plan that comes with no exit fees or contract term for electricity and gas. It also has flexible payment options.
- Qantas Red Business Saver: The Qantas Red Saver plan comes with additional Qantas points
- Red Solar Business Saver: A plan for businesses with a solar system that are after a higher feed-in tariff. This deals also comes without exit fees and includes flexible payment options.
AGL Energy
AGL ’ s set of occupation electricity plans are similar to those offered to residential customers. Its design range includes the Business Super Saver and Business Flexible Saver products. The beginning is a fixate pace contract with humble rates, while the second has variable rates .
- AGL Business Super Saver: This plan has supposedly low rates that are fixed for 12 months, meaning no price changes during this time. On this plan, customers will pay bills every 30 days. This plan has no lock in contract or exit fees.
- AGL Business Flexible Saver: This energy deal comes with variable rates and a 30-day payment cycle. Depending on where you live, this contract has a 12-month benefit period, after which customers may be moved to a different product. Better yet, there are no exit fees if you choose to leave AGL.
Origin Energy
Origin Energy has three market offers for business customers. One intersection comes with a fixate rates on your power bill, which means prices are guaranteed for 12 months. The early plan comes with variable rates for a benefit period of one year, while the final product is a basic design with rates the same as the Reference Price/VDO .
- Origin Business Go: This product gives business customers a guaranteed discount off their whole electricity bill. The plan has a benefit period of 12 months and businesses won’t be locked into any contract or have to pay any exit fees if or when they switch away from the plan.
- Origin Business Basic: This plan is suited to businesses who want a no-fuss plan that doesn’t require much maintenance. The trade-off is that it doesn’t come with any discount off the Reference Price/VDO.
- Origin Business Go Variable: A plan with variable rates on a 12-month benefit period. Business Go Variable has no exit fees and is a no lock-in contract.
Alinta Energy
small business customers have the option of signing up to Alinta Energy. If you ’ re a SME ( small to medium enterprise ) in NSW, VIC, QLD or SA, Alinta ’ second roll extends to provide electricity and flatulence, while WA-based businesses can besides be supplied double fuel, which includes flatulence .
- Business Deal: This plan is said to have straightforward low rates and doesn’t come with any conditional discounts or bill credits. Business Deal is available on a single rate or time of use tariff, with options for controlled load if appropriate to your business. It has no exit fees or lock-in contracts and comes with flexible payment options.
EnergyAustralia
EnergyAustralia is another power retailer that offers business customers a similar scope of products to residential customers. Its offers include total Plan, Carbon Neutral and Business Balance. Rates, fees and discounts vary across unlike locations, thus be sure to check EnergyAustralia ’ sulfur price fact sheets for more details .
- Total Plan – Business: The Total Plan includes a guaranteed discount
- Business Carbon Neutral: This deal also has fixed rates and comes with a guaranteed discount off usage and supply charges. The main difference from the plan above is that it carbon offsets electricity usage.
- Business Balance Plan: This is a variable rate product that features a smaller unconditional discount off the entire bill. The Business Balance Plan has no exit fees.
Ergon Energy
A new entrant to Canstar Blue ’ s ratings this year is Ergon Energy. Servicing customers in regional Queensland, Ergon offers a complete range of options to suit a assortment of businesses, including small to big, solar and grow tariffs. Ergon Energy tends to offer one design for modest business customers, which features variable rates, no passing fees and no paper charge fees .
- Small Business Electricity Plan: A variable rate product with a quarterly billing cycle. This plan can suit a range of different business energy consumption needs and is available in single rate or time of use with demand and controlled load tariffs.
Synergy
Heading west is Perth power supplier Synergy, which slings three plans to prospective occupation customers. Each merchandise comes with alone sell points for businesses, including discounts for bundling with natural accelerator .
- Business Saver: Small discount for having paperless billing, setting up an online account and paying by direct debit. Business Saver has variable rates on a two-year contract.
- Business Flexi: A variable rate product where customers sign up for two years and will be ‘rewarded the best rate for their business’.
- Business Flexi Plus: This deal is almost identical to the standard Flexi plan above, however offers lower rates during the middle of the day for those connected to a flexible pricing tariff.
Other Business Electricity Providers
QEnergy
QEnergy specialises in clientele electricity for small and medium-sized businesses within NSW, VIC, QLD and SA. It besides has residential energy plans on offer. Businesses looking to sign up to QEnergy have a few plans to choose from, with differing sign-up criteria and multiple tariff options. Something that makes QEnergy stand out for small businesses is its commitment to energy-efficiency and sustainability .
Blue NRG
Blue NRG has a distinct concentrate on SMEs ( small to medium-sized enterprise ) in Victoria, NSW and South Australia. This retailer first launched in Victoria in 2012, but has since expanded to the aforesaid states. It doesn ’ thyroxine appear to offer discounts, bill credits or sign-up incentives, but in exchange customers don ’ thymine pay recognition poster fees. The web site prompts you to contact the provider directly for a quote .
Commander
commanding officer is first and foremost a business electricity retailer in South Australia, Victoria and NSW. With this retailer, you ’ ll score the best value by bundling your electricity with other services, such as agency call plans and internet. Commander is presently offering a market offer, american samoa good as a plan equal to the Reference Price/VDO .
Powerdirect
While Powerdirect has made an obvious attempt to advertise its residential electricity plans in recent times, what this retailer is better-known for is its business department of energy services. Backed by AGL, it operates across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia. Powerdirect appears to have one plan available for Aussie businesses, the Business Discount Saver, which comes with a undertake discount on your total placard .
Shell Energy
Shell Energy is a commercial enterprise power supplier offer services in sweeping electricity, natural gas vitamin a well as environmental energy solutions. Shell acquired companion business provider ERM Power in 2019, and is now one of Australia ’ south largest business electricity suppliers. It has deals for belittled to bombastic businesses, including a farseeing tilt of energy services such as solar, demand response and ability monitor .
Next Business Energy
next Business Energy has been powering australian businesses since its launch in 2014. It is privately listed, in its own words “ 100 % australian operated energy ”, and services businesses in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and the ACT. Signing up to this retailer will besides give you access to Nextconnect, it ’ randomness department of energy traverse and management app .
Small Business Electricity WA
away from Synergy, the department of energy providers in our 2021 reputation chiefly consist of retailing electricity to businesses in QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and the ACT. Energy markets outside of these areas face tighter regulations, and subsequently have fewer suppliers .
Businesses in Perth and the surrounding areas can alone choose their electricity company if they are deemed ‘ contestable ’. That is, they consume more than 50mWh of electricity per year ( that ’ s approx. 137 kWh/day ). contestable customers have several options, including :
- Synergy
- Alinta Energy
- Perth Energy
- Infinite Energy
- Kleenheat
perth business customers that use less than 137kWh per day however, have no choice but to sign up with Synergy. This will include many small restaurants, cafe, stores and the alike. similarly, customers do not have much option outside of Perth, with most areas only supplied by Horizon Power. For more, see our WA Energy guide .
Small Business Electricity TAS
Tasmania ’ s electricity retail market remains reasonably tightly-regulated, which means it international relations and security network ’ thymine bustling with competition. Unless you have a big business that consumes lots of department of energy, your lone options remain Aurora Energy – the government-owned electricity and boast retailer – or newer entrants to the grocery store, 1st Energy and Future X Power. big businesses using more than 150mWh/year may have other options. For more details, see our Tasmania Energy Guide .
Small Business Electricity NT
only very large companies can choose their electricity supplier in the Northern Territory. For most customers, Jacana Energy is the only option. Business tariffs are government regulated in the NT and include a flat rate duty called the ‘ Everyday Business ’. It besides offers a unique duty called ‘ Business 6 to 6 ’, which applies a higher rate from 6am through to 6pm and a lower rate from 6pm to 6am. This makes the design a particularly attractive tariff for businesses that operate at night. Some specialize tariffs may besides apply for charity organisations and caravan parks .
Small Business Electricity Regional QLD
While businesses on the Energex network in the Brisbane area of southeast Queensland have lots of energy retailers to choose from, those on the Ergon Energy network in regional areas do not have a fortune of option. In most cases, businesses in these areas will have to sign up with Ergon Energy, although in some locations, QEnergy may be an option. It ’ s best to call QEnergy directly to see if the retailer is available in your area .
Which business electricity provider should you choose?
Having the ability to choose your electricity supplier can be both a bless and a curse. On the one pass, it means retailers will offer competitive deals to win your custom-made. While on the other hand, it means you need to be proactive and regularly compare retailers to ensure you ’ re still getting the best deal on electricity. The moment you take your ability costs for granted, the here and now you fall into the trap of paying excessively much. And that ’ s where many Aussie businesses now find themselves .
If you have not compared electricity providers recently, then your energy bills could be unnecessarily cutting into the penetrate pipeline of your business. The doubt then is, which electricity company is best ? While Red Energy won this year ’ sulfur award for having the most meet business customers, all of the major retailers that featured in this year ’ sulfur report are absolutely feasible electricity providers, albeit with different prices, features and other incentives .
Remember that every clientele is singular, and the needs of your company may be unlike to those of another. What ’ randomness authoritative is that you understand how your business uses exponent, you think about what you could do to be more energy-efficient, and regularly shop around to ensure you ’ re on the best bargain that suits your business. even if you think you ’ re already on a dependable deal, it never hurts to look around .
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About the author of this page
This foliate was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue ’ s Energy Editor, Jared Mullane. He ’ s an expert in all things utilities, including electricity, boast and urine, helping to make complicate subjects easier to understand for consumers. A trail diarist, Jared is normally one of the first to break energy-related news, whether it ’ s the latest changes in the industry, price movements, or the next best deal you need to know about .
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