Ask most business owners when their energy contract ends and you’ll get a pause, then a guess. It’s not a date anyone circles on the calendar. In November and December it’s worth knowing, because getting it wrong shows up in every bill that follows.  

 

Why the end of the year is different  

Based on our customer data, around 60%* of large business energy contracts expire in November or December. Large means about 100,000 kWh a year or more, or a bill above roughly $3,000 a month.  

With that many businesses going to market at once, retailers get busy, offers take longer and there’s less room to negotiate. Add the Christmas shutdown, and a decision that should take a week can drag into the new year.  

 

What happens if you miss it  

The power stays on, but your contract price doesn’t. You roll onto default rates, which our data shows have run up to 57%^ higher than negotiated rates. On a $5,000 monthly bill, that’s up to $2,850 extra a month until a new contract is signed.  

 

The countdown  

  • 90 days out: Find your end date. It’s on your bill or retailer portal, listed by NMI for each meter. If you have more than one site, check them all. A Letter of Authority lets Zembl do this for you.

  • 60 days out: Get your data together. Twelve months of usage shows retailers how and when you use power, so they can price it accurately. Note anything that’s changed, like new equipment, extra sites or solar.  

  • 30 days out: Compare and decide. Weigh up price, contract length and green energy options, and make sure whoever signs off is around before the Christmas break.  

Already inside 30 days? A new contract can still come together quickly, but every week counts.  

 

Small or large, the approach differs  

Smaller businesses on quarterly bills can usually compare and switch in a single call. Larger businesses do better going to market through a tender, where retailers compete for the contract.

 

How Zembl helps Business NSW members  

Zembl deals with Australia’s largest energy retailers every day. For smaller businesses, that means a free, 10-minute bill comparison. For larger businesses, it’s an obligation-free tender, offers compared side by side and turnarounds often as little as four business days. Either way, we keep track of your end date so next year’s renewal isn’t a surprise.