The short version
- Small businesses often get only 5 business days' notice of a price rise.
- Since 1 July 2026, retailers can raise a small customer's market-contract prices only once every 12 months. That makes July the month to watch.
- Work out the rise in dollars a year, not cents. Then get a comparison on your actual usage before the next bill.
What the rules say (NSW small business, 2026)
If your business uses under 160 MWh of electricity a year, you're a small customer in NSW, and these protections apply to you:
- Notice: at least 5 business days before a price increase, or 20 business days if your contract has a fixed price period.
- One rise a year: from 1 July 2026, retailers can't increase prices on a market contract more than once every 12 months.
- Expiring benefits: if your plan's discounts or benefits change or end, you shouldn't pay more than the standing offer price.
Large customers (over 160 MWh a year) negotiate under their own contracts, with fewer protections. If that's you, read the contract's price-change clause.
Work out what the rise actually costs
Price letters list cents per kWh and cents per day, which hides the real number. Turn it into dollars a year:
- Find your daily usage - on most bills it's "average daily usage" in kWh. Say it's 300 kWh a day.
- Take the rate increase - for example, 26.1c going to 34.7c is +8.6c/kWh.
- Multiply - 300 kWh × 8.6c × 365 days is about $9,400 a year extra, before any supply-charge change.
That example isn't made up. In July 2025, a Sydney hospitality venue we look after had its rate jump about 33%. We had it on a new plan within four weeks. When rates rose again in July 2026, we moved it within two weeks. It has saved $22,524 since November 2023. More on that venue.
Your options after a price rise letter
| Option | When it makes sense |
|---|---|
| Ask your retailer for a better plan | Quick to do. Retailers often have cheaper plans than the one you're on. Your bill's "Could you save money on another plan?" message only shows that retailer's own plans, though. |
| Switch retailer | When another retailer is cheaper on your actual usage. Same meter, no interruption, usually done within a few weeks. |
| Change tariff | If your usage pattern no longer suits a flat or time-of-use tariff. This can matter as much as the retailer. |
| Stay put | Only if a comparison shows you're already on a competitive rate for your usage, which is rare straight after a rise. |
Don't forget the second half: watching
Switching once is only half the job. The businesses that keep saving are the ones that re-check every time a price-change letter arrives. That's the part we take off your plate: when your retailer moves its rates, we re-check the market and move you again if it's worth it.
Send us the letter and your bill
Forward us the price-change notice and your latest bill. We'll tell you what the rise costs you in dollars, and what the market can do instead. There's no retailer commission. Our fee is a share of what we save you, agreed in writing first.
General information only, current as at October 2026. Rules are set by the AEMC and AER and can change; large customers and customers outside NSW may have different rules. The worked example is illustrative. Savings depend on your usage, location, tariff and contract.
Common questions
How much notice does my retailer have to give before a price rise?
For small business customers in NSW, retailers generally have to give at least 5 business days' notice of a price increase, or 20 business days if your contract has a fixed price period. That's not much time, so act when the letter arrives.
Can my retailer put prices up more than once a year?
From 1 July 2026, new AEMC rules limit retailers to one price increase on a small customer's market contract every 12 months, usually in July. Large customers (over 160 MWh a year) are not covered by this.
My discount is ending. Will I pay a lot more?
It could be noticeable. Under the same 2026 rules, if your plan's benefits change or expire, you shouldn't pay more than the standing offer price. That can still be well above the best market offers.
Can I leave after a price rise?
Usually, yes. In NSW most exit fees were banned from 2018, but fixed-price contracts and contracts bundled with equipment can still carry them. Check your contract's exit terms, or send it to us and we'll check.