Time of Use Tariff - could it be the tariff for your business?

In October 2024, our research revealed a surprising insight: most customers aren’t interested in time of use (TOU) tariffs. But here’s the twist – while interest may be low, the potential for savings is high. For businesses across all sectors, TOU isn’t just a tariff option; it’s an opportunity to reduce energy costs and operate more efficiently.

What is time of use and how can it impact my business?

TOU tariffs charge different rates for your usage depending on the time of day. Typically, electricity is more expensive during peak hours (when demand is at its highest) and cheaper during off-peak times (outside of 4pm – 7pm). While this might sound like a minor detail, it can have an impact on your monthly prices – especially if your business can shift energy use to lower cost periods.

Why businesses haven’t embraced time of use… yet

As mentioned, our research showed that many businesses don’t see the value in TOU tariffs. That’s understandable – without clear guidance or tools, it’s hard to know how to take advantage of them. But with the right approach, TOU could become the tariff for saving your business money.

Let’s explore how different sectors can make TOU work for them.

Sector Spotlights: Making time of use tariff work for you

Retail & Hospitality:

• Challenge: High energy use during customer-facing hours.
• Solution: Shift tasks like washing, refrigeration defrost cycles or dishwashing to off-peak hours. Use smart thermostats and lighting systems to reduce peak-time consumption without affecting customer experience.

Manufacturing & Warehousing

• Challenge: Energy-intensive machinery and long operating hours.
• Solution: Schedule high-load operations during off-peak periods. Consider energy storage battery systems to power operations during peak times using cheaper, stored energy.

Agriculture

• Challenge: Energy use tied to irrigation, processing and storage.
• Solution: Automate irrigation to run during off-peak hours. The use of solar panels with battery storage can reduce reliance on the grid during peak times.

Interested in our time of use tariff?

Whether you run a bakery, a farm, a café or a hotel, shifting some of your energy use to off-peak times could lead to real savings. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and support a more sustainable energy grid.

That’s why we’re looking to partner with small businesses who:

• Have some flexibility in when they use electricity
• Want to reduce their energy bills
• Are open to trying new ways to be more energy-efficient

If you’re interested in learning more and would like to trial this, we’d love to hear from you. Fill in your details here and we’ll select random small businesses to be part of this exciting journey and contact you on more information.