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.

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Quick answers

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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.

All 26 questions, in the FAQ

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