Small and large businesses operate very differently, with energy needs differing for every business.
When looking for the best energy deal for your business, you need to consider the size of your business and how this impacts your energy needs.
The size of your business matters
The size of your business is a significant factor in your energy usage and costs. Small businesses use less energy than large businesses.
When reviewing your energy plan, it’s important to keep this in mind when looking at how your energy is charged and what this may mean for your business. The daily supply charge is the cost of getting electricity to your business site, even if you don’t use any, while the usage charge is the cost of electricity you use.
If you’re not the biggest user of energy, you should pay attention to the supply charge on your energy bill. This may be costing more than your usage charge.
For small businesses, every expense counts. Choose an energy plan that doesn’t include additional fees. As a small business owner, you are more likely to be the person dealing with your energy provider, so you may also want to make sure your energy retailer provides you with the support you need in the case of a problem, so you aren’t wasting time chasing them up.
For large businesses, you will be using more energy, so you want to get the best price on your usage charge. It can be easy for large businesses to use more energy than is necessary, especially if you’re not reviewing your consumption and costs regularly. You may need to have someone within your business whose job it is to manage your energy usage and review your energy plan.
Know how much energy your business is using
Your energy usage may not be what you think, and you may be able to find an energy plan that’s a better fit for your business, simply by reviewing your energy usage.
Many Australian businesses are overpaying on their energy bills simply because they don’t take the time to properly review them and compare rates offered by various energy retailers. High energy prices can impact your business’ profit, so you need to make sure you’re not paying more than you should be.
Make sure you understand your energy bill and where your costs are coming from. This can show you where you could be saving, and may help you determine if your energy plan is right for the size of your business.
Business owners often struggle to find time to manage their business energy, but understanding the amount of energy your business uses is essential for helping you cut down on costs and reducing the energy intake of your business.
Improving your energy usage
All businesses have different energy demands. Size, site location, number of employees, and operating hours can all impact energy usage and costs.
No matter the size of your business, look for energy efficiencies you can make, from investing in more efficient equipment, to adopting energy saving practices in the office, such as turning off light and heating and cooling systems when not in use.
Conduct an internal assessment of your energy consumption and check the energy efficiency of your office appliances. This will help you identify areas where usage may be able to be reduced.
Depending on the size of your business, energy costs may take up a large part of your budget, but taking control of your business energy may lead to significant savings.
For more information on how you can save on energy, check out our blog on quick ways to reduce your energy usage.