The short version
- Centres use most of their energy 7am-6pm, which is right across peak and shoulder rates, so the rate you pay in those hours matters most.
- If your power bill comes from the landlord or centre manager, you may be in an embedded network, which has different rules.
- Daytime usage also makes centres a natural fit for solar, once the retail rate is right.
- A childcare centre in South East Sydney was saving about $2,427 a year after our review, around 29% of its bill.
Real result: a childcare centre in South East Sydney
Childcare centre, South East Sydney. We priced the centre's actual usage across retailers, checked the bill for errors and the wrong tariff, and moved it to a better plan. No change to the site, the meter or the power supply.
Anonymised client. Annual saving estimated from the client's bills compared with its previous rates. Individual results vary.
Why childcare energy bills run high
- Heating and cooling all day - rooms have to stay comfortable for babies and toddlers, so air-conditioning runs most of the day in summer and winter.
- Commercial kitchen - ovens, cooktops, dishwashers and fridges for meals and bottles.
- Laundry - washers and dryers running daily, often in peak hours.
- Long opening hours - most centres are open 10-12 hours a day, five days a week.
None of this can be switched off to save money. That makes the rate you pay and the tariff you're on the main levers.
What we check for childcare centres
- Peak and shoulder rates - where most of your usage falls. We compare flat and time-of-use on your actual data.
- Daily supply charge - this can be a big share of a single centre's bill, and it varies between retailers.
- Contract end date - a rolled-over contract quietly costs more. What to do when your contract is ending.
- Price-change notices - most rises land in July. What to do with a price rise letter.
- Gas - if your kitchen or heating runs on gas, we compare each usage block.
- Billing errors - wrong network tariff, estimated reads and fees that don't belong.
In a shopping centre or business park? Read this
Some centres sit in buildings where the landlord or an operator buys power in bulk and on-sells it to tenants. This is an embedded network. Signs you're in one: your bill comes from the building owner or a company you didn't choose, not a retailer like AGL, Origin or EnergyAustralia.
In an embedded network, prices are generally capped at the standing offer price, which is often higher than the best market offers. Moving to a retailer of your choice can be possible, but it may need metering changes. It's worth checking the numbers first, and we can do that for you.
How we get paid
We don't take retailer commissions. Our fee is a share of what we save you, agreed in writing before anything changes. If we can't save you money, you pay nothing. Across our clients, the average saving has been 20% on energy costs.*
*Average of historic savings achieved for our clients compared with their previous rates. Savings depend on your usage, location, tariff and contract, and past results do not guarantee future savings. General information only, current as at October 2026.
Common questions
We lease our centre. Can we still change retailer?
Usually, yes. If the electricity account is in your name, you can choose your retailer. If the landlord or centre manager bills you for power, you may be in an embedded network, which works differently. Send us a bill and we'll tell you which applies.
We run several centres. Can you review them together?
Yes. Multi-centre operators often have each centre on a different retailer and end date. We review each one on its own usage and line them up where it helps.
Will switching interrupt power at the centre?
No. Your supply, meter and network stay the same. Only the retailer and rates change, so there's no downtime for families or staff.
Is solar worth it for a childcare centre?
Often it's a good fit, because centres use most of their power during daylight hours. We can assess solar alongside your retail rates, with estimates based on your own usage.