Guides
Energy stuff, explained without the jargon.
40 plain-English guides to the lines on a commercial energy bill that cost the most. Written by us, for business owners, not for other brokers.
Everything else, by topic.
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- News
Smarta Switch Australia is open
- Switching
Business electricity broker Australia
- Bills and charges
Business energy bill help
- Multi-site and C&I
C&I energy procurement Australia
- Bills and charges
Demand charges explained
- Bills and charges
How to lower your commercial electricity bill
- Bills and charges
Why is my business power bill so high?
- Switching
Energy Made Easy for business
- Switching
Fixed vs variable business electricity
- Switching
Is a commercial energy broker worth it?
- Switching
Letter of Authority explained
- Bills and charges
Load factor explained for business electricity
- Multi-site and C&I
Multi-site business energy contracts
- Bills and charges
Business energy audit checklist
- Bills and charges
How to read a commercial electricity bill
- Renewals
Why your renewal offer is always above market
- Switching
How long does it take to switch business energy?
- Renewals
Energy contract renewal, 90-day checklist
- Bills and charges
Power factor correction for business electricity
- Bills and charges
Queensland business electricity tariffs explained
- Renewables
Switching energy retailers with solar or battery
- Bills and charges
Peak, shoulder and off-peak explained
- Bills and charges
Business electricity cost per kWh in QLD
- Gas
Commercial gas pricing Queensland
- Bills and charges
Network charges vs retailer charges explained
- Switching
Switch business energy before your contract ends
- Switching
Business electricity contract types explained
- Jargon buster
How to find your NMI number
- Switching
How to compare business electricity quotes
- Jargon buster
kVA, kW and kWh explained
- Switching
Brisbane business electricity market update 2026
- Bills and charges
Default Market Offer explained
- Switching
Energy contract when selling a business
- Jargon buster
Embedded networks explained
- Bills and charges
Environmental charges on your energy bill
- Jargon buster
Interval data and smart meters explained
- Jargon buster
Large vs small market energy customer explained
- Switching
Switching business energy when you move premises
- Jargon buster
What is the National Electricity Market (NEM)?
Nothing under that topic yet.
Quick answers
Just after a quick answer?
The short ones we get asked most. Tap a question to open it.
How exactly are Smarta Switch paid?
When we move your account to a new retailer, that retailer pays us a commission, partly upfront, partly as a trail over the life of the contract. We don't charge you a fee, mark up your rate, or add anything to your invoice. Ask us the exact dollar amount on any specific deal, we'll tell you.
Will my power get cut off when I switch?
No. Switching retailers doesn't touch the wires or your meter. Same poles, same wires, same network operator (Energex for nearly all SEQ). You just get a different name on your invoice, and a better number.
How long does a switch take?
Typical SEQ small-business switch: 10–20 business days from signing the Letter of Authority. We send the LoA, you sign, we lodge with the new retailer, they handle the meter-data hand-off with the network. Your old contract ends, the new one starts.
Can I bundle gas and electricity on one bill?
Often, yes. Several retailers will price gas and electricity together on one account. Sometimes the bundled discount is real, sometimes splitting them across two retailers wins on price. We test both ways before recommending either.
What's a demand charge and why is mine so high?
Demand charges are the highest 15- or 30-minute usage peak in the month, multiplied by a $/kVA rate. If you've got AC cycling on at the same time as kitchen equipment, that peak compounds. The fix is usually a tariff that prices demand more fairly, or moving you off demand-tariffs altogether if your usage is too small to need them.
Am I on the right small-business tariff?
Probably not. Retailers don't migrate you automatically when better tariffs become available. We look at your usage profile, your peak demand, and your trading hours, then map you to the tariff your bill actually wants.
When should I renew my contract?
60–90 days before your current term ends. Don't let it roll over to default rates, those are usually 15–30% higher than what's available on the market. Send us your bill 60 days out and we'll re-quote.
Should I be on time-of-use or flat-rate?
Depends on your usage pattern. Cafes open 6am–2pm usually win on flat-rate. Gyms with split 5–9am and 4–8pm windows usually win on TOU. We test both with your real meter data, not a generic assumption.
Still not sure what your bill is telling you?
Send it over. We will read it and tell you straight, including when you are already on a good rate.