Business electricity in Victoria
Victoria has more electricity retailers competing for business customers than any other state, and five separate distribution networks. That combination means two businesses a few kilometres apart can be on different network tariffs and see very different plan economics.
Because the retail market is dense, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive offer for the same site and usage profile can be wide — which is exactly why comparing on your own meter data matters.
- Wholesale market
- National Electricity Market (NEM)
- Network operators
- AusNet Services, CitiPower, Powercor, Jemena Electricity Networks, United Energy
The five Victorian networks
CitiPower supplies the Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs. Powercor covers western Victoria and the Geelong region. Jemena Electricity Networks serves parts of Melbourne's north-west. AusNet Services covers eastern Victoria and Melbourne's outer east. United Energy serves the south-east of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.
Each network publishes its own tariff schedule. A comparison built on the wrong network's tariff will produce a number that cannot be realised on your actual meter.
Demand tariffs in Victoria
Many Victorian business sites — particularly those with larger connections — are on demand-based network tariffs, where part of the charge reflects the maximum demand you draw in a billing period rather than only the total energy you consume.
Demand charges are set by the network, not the retailer. When a comparison only accounts for energy rates and ignores demand, it can understate the cost of a plan at a site with a peaky load profile. That is why we ask for your bill rather than a rough usage estimate.
How to compare plans in VIC
Start from a recent electricity bill for the site you want to compare. The bill gives us the usage, the billing period and the network tariff that a comparison for a Victoria site needs in order to reflect how you are actually charged.
Upload a bill and compare business electricity plans — free, and it takes about a minute. New to all this? Start with how to read a business electricity bill or browse the full set of business electricity guides.