Business energy for SMEs: 7 practical ways to cut your bills in 2026
1. Escape any out-of-contract rate today
If you're on a deemed or out-of-contract tariff, you're paying 40-80% more than you need to. The single largest saving most SMEs can trigger is escaping this state. Get a whole-of-panel quote today — the switch itself will still take 4-6 weeks but the meter is running on the wrong rate every day until then.
2. Lock a fixed rate when wholesale is low
Watch wholesale gas and electricity prices, or ask a broker to. When the market falls, that's when fixed rates for new business contracts fall too. A 24-36 month fix at a genuinely low point compounds savings over the whole contract length.
3. Check your VAT rate
If you're a charity, non-profit, or use below the low-usage thresholds (33 kWh/day electricity, 5 therms/day gas), you may qualify for 5% VAT instead of 20%. That's a 15% saving on your total bill for zero operational effort. Complete a VAT declaration with your supplier.
4. LED lighting
The unglamorous classic. A full LED retrofit typically pays back in 12-24 months and reduces lighting energy by 50-70%. Better yet, do it before your next renewal so the lower usage baseline is quoted on.
5. Fix draughts and heating controls
For gas-heated premises, a controlled thermostat with a night setback, plus basic draught-proofing, delivers 10-20% savings for very little capital. TRVs on individual radiators tighten it further.
6. Match your meter to your load
If you run significant overnight loads (refrigeration, laundry, forklift charging) on a single-rate meter, a two-rate meter upgrade can save 15-25% on those loads. Suppliers will often install the new meter free at contract signature.
7. Set a renewal reminder the day you sign
Rollovers are the single biggest destroyer of the savings you just fought for. The day you sign a new contract, put a reminder in the diary for 6 months before the end date. That's your window to compare and re-fix without any pressure.
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