Tariff facts

Tariff 22C

Tariff 22C is a business time of use tariff that is suitable for customers with a low percentage of usage in the 4pm to 9pm weekday period.

How is T22C different to T20?

Tariff 20 is a general use tariff, where you are charged the same usage rate, regardless of when you consume energy.

On the other hand, tariff 22C would be best suited for business customers with significant usage in the off peak /shoulder periods, and minimal usage in the peak period (4pm to 9pm on weekdays).  While customers with some peak usage can still save on tariff 22C, the key is having significant usage in the off peak/ shoulder periods.

It's important to note, the supply charge will increase as the usage increases (please refer to the tariff comparison table which contains the band charging structure below).

Is tariff 22C right for your business?

Tariff 22C suits businesses who:

• Have minimal usage during the peak period (4pm to 9pm weekdays).
• Can move usage from peak to off peak / shoulder times
• Have operating hours outside the peak period, industries like manufacturing, bakeries or schools.
• Can gain commitment from everyone in the business/ organisation to turning off / turning down appliances during the peak period.

How much does tariff 22C cost per year, compared with tariff 20?

Customers who only use tariff 22C during the off peak periods can save when compared with tariff 20. On the other hand, customers who only use tariff 22C during the peak periods (4pm to 9pm weekdays) will pay more when compared with tariff 20. While very few customers are 100% peak or 100% off peak, these two extremes give a guide on the maximum and minimum bill impacts of this tariff.

There are two reasons why the bill impacts vary:

1. The more you use during the off peak and shoulder periods, the more you save on tariff 22C, compared with tariff 20.  This is because the off peak and shoulder usage rates on tariff 22C is lower than the anytime usage rate on tariff 20.
2. Tariff 22C has an inclining block structure for the supply charge, increasing at 20,000 kWh per annum intervals, resulting in a 5 band charging structure (determined by the distributor). Users whose bills are higher than 20,000kWh per annum, (on a per bill basis) will have a higher supply charge associated with that bill. For a customer with a high percentage of off peak usage, the savings on the off peak usage may offset the higher supply charge. A customer with a high percentage of peak usage, the higher usage and supply charges on tariff 22C combine to accentuate the bill increase, compared with tariff 20.

Tariff Comparison

Below compares the differences in prices between tariff 20 and tariff 22C. All rates include GST.

Case Studies

Peak/Shoulder user

Jane runs a sporting club which requires lighting on the field from 6pm to 9pm every evening. While Jane can access shoulder rates on the weekend, she will pay peak rates from Monday to Friday. All rates include GST.

Jane saves $2354.80 per annum on tariff 20 compared with tariff 22C (based on 14000kWh per annum, rounded to nearest cent)

Off peak user

Pete has a smash repair shop that only operates between 9am to 4pm each day and has no usage outside that period, therefore fully taking advantage of the off-peak rates for tariff 22C. All rates include GST.

Pete saves $2081.83 per annum on tariff 22C compared with tariff 20 (based on 10000 kWh per annum, rounded to nearest cent)

Tariff 34

Tariff 34 is a small business-controlled load tariff. The benefit of tariff 34 is a lower usage rate, because supply may be interrupted or turned off for up to 6 hours a day. It’s like tariff 33 which is commonly used for hot water and pool pumps.

How is tariff 34 different to Tariff 33?

• Tariff 34 is a primary tariff, while tariff 33 is a secondary tariff.
• Tariff 34 does not require the equipment to be hardwired, unlike tariff 33
• Tariff 34 is only available to small business customers while tariff 33 is available to BOTH small business and residential customers, but as a secondary tariff
• Tariff 34 users tend to have larger business or farming style equipment, including irrigation pumps and electric vehicle chargers.

Is tariff 34 right for your business?

Tariff 34 suits businesses who:

• Have equipment that can cope with outages
• Have a plan in place during an outage (e.g. backup diesel generator, or laptop computer has enough battery power for up to 6 hours, or close the business for the time of outage)
• Do not have customer impacting/ time critical equipment – e.g. a café would not put coffee machines on tariff 34 during service hours as it is subject to outages without warning
• Have “set and forget” equipment (EV chargers, lights) that can turn back on once supply is restored.

Tariff 34 application process / checklist

Simply go through this checklist to see if tariff 34 is right for you.

Are you in a dynamic control or time switch area? Visit Network's demand management page for business customers to find out.

While customers in a time switch area can still apply for Tariff 34, they cannot apply for Tariffs 60A or 60B if they are reclassed from a small to large customer. Ergon Energy Distribution are required to reclass if a connection (NMI) have more than 100 MWh p.a. in usage over the previous 12 months

Do you have equipment that can handle outages without damage?

Do you have equipment totalling over 7.5kW or 20 Amps Inductive for a single-phase load?

If yes, you'll need a contactor installed (at your own expense). See: Qld Electricity Connection Manual. For example, a 20 Amp Tesla EV charger would not need a contactor, but a 32 Amp charger will.

Customers must notify their retailer of any change of more than 30 kW to the load connected to its interruptible supply tariff, including if the change is a reduction.

Are you a residential customer? You cannot access tariff 34, please visit our residential tariffs page for tariffs available to you.

If you are a business customer already on tariff 31 or tariff 33, you can convert to tariff 34, however the relay/ time switch equipment will need to be updated to the tariff 34 business receiver channel.

Your electrical contractor can assist you in signing up to tariff 34. This is a similar process to installing / signing up to a controlled load tariff such as tariff 33.

Please understand that applications are subject to network approval and where applicable, the installation of a contactor.

If tariff 34 is not right for you, you can consider a continuous supply tariff, possibly tariff 20 (anytime) or tariff 22 B/C (time of use).

Tariff comparison

The below tables compare the differences in prices between tariff 34, tariff 20 and tariff 22C. All rates GST inclusive.

^  Comparison shows supply charge for customer with annual consumption up to 20MWh. Supply charges per day for T22C are Band1_0-20 MWh p.a. Band2_20-40MWh p.a. Band3_40-60 MWh p.a  Band4_60-80MWh p.a.  Band5_80-100MWh p.a. 

^ Tariff 34 is a small business-controlled load tariff. The benefit of Tariff 34 is a lower usage rate, because supply will be available for a minimum of 18 hours per day for customers  but may be reduced in an emergency. Times when supply is available is subject to variation at the absolute discretion of Ergon Network.

Case studies

Top up supply

While Jane has several connections, she has one on tariff 34 which is occasionally used to pump water into a holding dam. The pump is only used for less than 18 hours a day to keep the holding dam full. Her crops are not impacted as the holding dam is on a continuous tariff.

Jane saves $1191.17 per annum on T34 compared with T20 (Based on 10000 kWh per annum)

Day time user with fixed times

Pete has a shop that only operates between 9AM to 4PM each day and cannot afford outages during this time, making tariff 34 unviable. However, Pete can take advantage of the day time off-peak rates for tariff 22C.

Pete saves $2081.83 per annum on tariff 22C compared with tariff 20 based on same usage (Based on 10000 kWh per annum)

Tariff 60A

A primary load control tariff suited to business operations/equipment that can manage up to 6 hours of outages per day without notification.Power is available for a minimum of 18 hours each day. The times when power is switched off may change from day to day and vary in duration.

During the outage period, supply is not available to any equipment at the connection point.

This tariff is only available in areas where the distribution entity’s standard load control signalling operates. Access to the tariffs may be subject to a network impact assessment by the distribution entity and an outcome that supports customer access.

To switch to this tariff, there may be additional setup costs and you will need to engage an electrical contractor. This tariff is not available to customers connected to the Essential Energy network within Queensland.

Tariff 60B

A secondary load control tariff suited to business operations/equipment that can manage up to 6 hours of outages per day without notification when used in conjunction with a continuous supply-tariff. Power is available for a minimum of 18 hours each day. The times when power is switched off may change from day to day and vary in duration.

During the outage period, supply is not available to any equipment at the secondary load control circuit.  However supply remains available to equipment at the primary tariff circuit.

This tariff is only available in areas where the distribution entity’s standard load control signalling operates. Access to the tariffs may be subject to a network impact assessment by the distribution entity and an outcome that supports customer access.

To switch to this tariff, there may be additional setup costs and you will need to engage an electrical contractor. This tariff is not available to customers connected to the Essential Energy network within Queensland.

Expired tariffs

Obsolete tariffs 21, 20L, 22 (Large), 37, 62, 65 and 66 expired on 1 July 2021 and customers were moved to a suitable alternative tariff.

These tariffs ended as part of government-driven tariff reform in Queensland, aimed at reflecting the real cost of providing electricity. Tariff reform has been ongoing for a number of years.

ETAS fact sheet

The Queensland Government has announced an initiative to assist regional businesses transitioning from obsolete to standard, cost-reflective electricity tariffs where they will have significant increases to their electricity bill costs.

View our fact sheet