How we classify your business – small-to-medium, or large, is determined by your energy consumption. Your business classification does affect the energy plan and rates your business is eligible for.
There’s no minimum amount of energy you must consume to be eligible for small business energy rates, but there is a threshold – known as a “maximum annual consumption threshold” – that determines whether your business moves from the small-to-medium category into the large category.
Consumption amounts
Electricity
If your business uses less than or equal to (≤) the amount of electricity listed in the table below, it’s likely that you’re operating a small business.
State | Electricity in megawatt hours | Spend per annum |
VIC | ≤ 100 MWh | $30,000 |
NSW | ≤ 100 MWh | $30,000 |
QLD | ≤ 100 MWh | $30,000 |
SA | ≤ 160 MWh | $48,000 |
Natural gas
In all states, we tend to classify a small business as one whose annual consumption is less than 1 terajoule (TJ) each year.
Overall, annual usage above these thresholds will generally place you in the large business category. We say ‘generally’ because some customers sit right on the dividing line and those accounts will likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Find more on our small business energy rates at Compare plans. Here you can compare, choose and sign up to an energy plan. If you have any questions before you do, message us – an agent can help you out.
What if my business sits right on the threshold?
All businesses have different energy needs and we know how important it is to make sure you have the plan that suits yours.
If your business sits right on the threshold of small and large, we’ll look at some of the following factors to determine where you are best placed:
Your annual consumption
How many business sites you have (in most states, more than 5 = large business)
Which group will offer you the best cost-benefit
Whether your distribution network (Energex, Ergon Energy, Horizon Power etc.) consider your business to be on a small or large site
Get in touch
If you’re not sure how your business might be categorised, we’d love to hear from you. Provide us with your National Metering Identifier (NMI) and we can work out your annual consumption for you.
Call our Business Support Centre on 1300 661 544 or send us a message.
We can work with you to determine where you fit and find the best energy plan for your business.
Commercial and industry customers
If you can tell from these usage numbers that your business will definitely fall into our large or commercial business category, take a look at our Commercial energy management page, or give us a call on 13 23 34 to confirm your business size and discover the right energy plan for your business.