The short version
- Manufacturing loads run in peak hours, so the peak rate and the tariff type drive your bill.
- Price rises hit factories hard. One client's peak rate went up to 70.9c/kWh after a July rise.
- A 4-site Sydney kitchen and joinery maker has saved $18,776 since August 2025.
Real result: a 4-site kitchen and joinery maker
- Aug 2025 - we audited the bills for all 4 sites and moved them to a cheaper plan. That saved $15,472 by June 2026.
- Jul 2026 - the new retailer put prices up, with peak rates up to 70.9c/kWh.
- Sep 2026 - we moved them again within 2 months, onto a 20% discounted plan worth about $7,350 a year at current usage.
Anonymised client. Figures to 30 September 2026, estimated from retailer bills and agreements. Individual results vary.
Where small manufacturers overpay
1. Peak rates on daytime loads
Compressors, CNC routers, dust extraction and edge banders all run during the working day. A few cents on the peak rate adds up fast across a year of shifts.
2. The wrong network tariff
Your network tariff sets how supply, usage and any demand charges are worked out. Sites that have grown, added machines or changed shifts are often still on the tariff that suited them years ago.
3. Demand charges
Some tariffs charge on your highest usage in a period. Starting several big machines at once can set that peak. Knowing whether you're on a demand tariff is the first step.
4. Multiple sites, multiple deals
A factory, a showroom and a warehouse can easily be on three retailers with three end dates. Nobody watches all three.
5. Price rises nobody re-checked
Most rises land in July. What to do with a price rise letter, and what to do when your contract is ending.
Beyond the bill: compressed air and solar
Compressed air leaks are among the most common energy losses in workshops, and they're cheap to find and fix. A factory roof with a daytime load is also often a strong case for solar. We can look at retail rates, efficiency and solar together, with estimates worked out on your own usage.
General information only, current as at October 2026. Savings depend on your usage, location, tariff and contract, and past results do not guarantee future savings.
Common questions
We run machinery all day. Is time-of-use bad for us?
Not always. It depends on how much of your usage falls in peak versus shoulder and off-peak hours, and on the rates on offer. We compare flat and time-of-use on your actual interval data.
We have several sites. Can you review them all?
Yes. Multi-site businesses often have each site on a different retailer, rate and end date. We review each site on its own usage and line them up where it helps.
Do demand charges apply to us?
They can, depending on your network tariff and how much power you use. Demand charges are based on your highest usage in a period, so one start-up surge can cost you all month. We check your tariff and whether it's the right one.
Is solar worth it for a factory?
Factories with daytime loads are often good candidates, because the panels produce when your machines run. We can assess solar alongside your retail rates, with estimates based on your own usage.