The short version
- When a business energy contract ends, you usually move onto the retailer's ongoing rates, without the discounts you had.
- Your retailer must tell you 20 to 40 business days before a fixed-term contract ends. That's only 4 to 8 weeks, so don't wait for the letter.
- Start comparing 3 to 4 months out, sign about 2 months out, and check the exit fees and rollover terms before you sign.
What actually happens when your contract ends
For small businesses in NSW (using under 160 MWh of electricity a year), the National Energy Retail Rules require your retailer to send you a notice between 40 and 20 business days before a fixed-term contract ends. It has to tell you the end date, the prices you'll move to, and your options.
Your power doesn't stop. What changes is the price. Unless you sign something new, you usually roll onto the retailer's ongoing rates. These rarely include the discounts you had, and retailers can raise them.
The gap can be big. One Sydney hospitality venue we work with was paying 36.5c/kWh on its old retailer's rates when it came to us in November 2023. We moved it to 27.1c/kWh, a 25% cut on the same usage. Since then it has saved $22,524 across four switches. See the full case study.
The 6-month checklist
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 months out | Find your contract end date. It's on your contract and sometimes on your bill. Gather your last 12 months of bills, or at least the latest one. |
| 3-4 months out | Get a comparison based on your actual usage, not a generic "average business" estimate. Peak, off-peak and supply charges all matter. |
| About 2 months out | Pick the offer, check the terms (see below) and sign. This gives the switch time to go through before your old rates end. |
| End date | The new retailer takes over. Same meter, no interruption. Check your first bill against the agreed rates. |
| Every price change | Retailers can change ongoing rates (commonly from 1 July). Re-check when a price-change letter arrives. |
What to check before you sign a new contract
- Rates on your usage pattern - a low peak rate is worth little if most of your usage is in a different time band. Compare flat and time-of-use options on your real data.
- Daily supply charge - this can make up a large share of a small site's bill, and it varies between retailers.
- Conditional discounts - "pay on time" or "direct debit" discounts only count if you'll actually meet the conditions.
- Exit fees - NSW banned most exit fees from 2018, but fixed-price contracts and contracts bundled with equipment can still have them.
- What happens at the end - check what rate you roll onto when this contract ends, so you're not back here paying more in 12 months.
- Gas too - if you use gas, compare it at the same time. Gas pricing is usually tiered by usage block, so compare each step, not just the first rate.
Doesn't my bill already tell me if there's a better offer?
Partly. Under the AER's Better Bills Guideline, retailers must show small customers a "Could you save money on another plan?" message. It only compares that retailer's own plans, though. It won't tell you whether another retailer is cheaper.
Prices fell this year. Should mine have?
The AER's Default Market Offer, the price cap on standing offers, fell for NSW small businesses from 1 July 2026: roughly 9-11% for flat-rate tariffs and more for some time-of-use tariffs, depending on your network. If your renewal offer is higher than last year, ask why.
Want us to handle it?
Send us your latest bill. We'll price your actual usage across retailers, check the bill for errors and wrong tariffs, and send you a plain-English summary. If you go ahead, we do the paperwork. We don't take retailer commissions. Our fee is a share of what we save you, agreed in writing first.
General information only, current as at October 2026. Rules differ for large customers and outside NSW. Savings depend on your usage, location, tariff and contract.
Common questions
Will my power be cut off when my contract ends?
No. Your supply continues. If you don't sign a new contract, your retailer keeps supplying you, usually on its ongoing rates, which are often higher than what you were paying.
Do I need to tell my current retailer I'm leaving?
Usually not. Your new retailer arranges the transfer. It's still worth checking your contract for a notice period or exit fee first.
Can I switch before my contract ends?
Often, yes. In NSW most exit fees were banned from 2018, but contracts with fixed prices or bundled equipment can still carry them. Check your contract's exit terms before you switch early.
How long does it take to switch business electricity?
It usually takes a few weeks. You keep the same meter, the same network and the same power supply. Only the retailer and the rates change.
What if my business uses more than 160 MWh a year?
Then you're a large customer in NSW. Large customers have fewer consumer protections, and rates after a contract ends can be much higher, so start looking 3 to 6 months before the end date.