Industry
Grocery Retailer
Energy Procurement
- Estimated annual saving: $34,200 ($124,000 over full 45-month contract signed)
- 35.5% reduction in total electricity costs
- SME tariff replaced with a Commercial & Industrial pricing structure
- Rates locked in for 45 months.
Ginni Market
Ginni Market is a busy independent grocery, fresh meat, and fruit and vegetable store operating from a large warehouse premises in Wantirna South Victoria. The business operates substantial refrigeration and lighting loads year-round, making electricity one of its most significant ongoing operating costs.
The Challange
When Spinifex Energy engaged Ginni Market, they were sitting on an SME retail tariff that was not appropriate for a business of their size and consumption profile. At over 307,000 kWh annually, the site had outgrown the small business tariff structure it was on, but without a proactive procurement process there was no mechanism to capture the savings available at the Commercial & Industrial tier. Their contract was approaching expiry with no competitive process underway.
Identifying the Opportunity
Spinifex assessed the site’s consumption profile and identified that the annual load comfortably qualified for Commercial & Industrial pricing — a tier with materially lower energy rates than standard SME products. We ran a structured tender across our panel of leading Australian energy retailers to determine the best available C&I offer.
• Identified that the site’s load profile qualified for Commercial & Industrial pricing, unlocking a more favourable rate tier.
• Ran a competitive tender across our panel of leading Australian energy retailers.
• Secured a 45-month agreement with the lowest rates offered during the competitive tender — the standout offer was 35.5% below the previous tariff
• Stepped pricing structure locks in rates through to mid-2029, providing multi-year cost certainty
The structural shift from an SME tariff to a C&I agreement was the key driver of savings — not simply switching retailers. This is a common opportunity for businesses in the 200–500 MWh annual consumption range that have never had their tariff structure reviewed.
The Results
The result was a substantial reduction in electricity costs, driven by the correct tariff structure rather than just a better retail rate:
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Estimated annual saving: $34,200 ($124,000 over the full 45-month term)
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35.5% reduction in total electricity costs versus the previous SME tariff
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Commercial & Industrial pricing structure secured — appropriate for the site’s consumption profile
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Rates locked in for 45 months, providing certainty through to June 2029
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Business can now plan and budget with confidence over a multi-year horizon
A lot of small and medium businesses are paying SME rates when their consumption clearly qualifies for something better. One tariff review changed the economics entirely for Ginni Market.
Think your business could be on the wrong structure?
Contact Spinifex Energy to find out how much you could save: tom@spinifexenergy.com.au | +61 419 108 638 | spinifexenergy.com.au
