Industry
Large Format Retailer
Energy Procurement
- Estimated annual electricity cost reduction: $20,150
- 27% saving on total energy costs (incl. GST)
- Transitioned from SME to C&I (Large Market) billing structure
- Locked in competitive rates for up to 4 years
Silly Solly’s
Silly Solly’s is a well-known discount variety and frozen food retailer operating out of Singleton, NSW. With a large retail footprint and extended trading hours seven days a week, electricity is one of the business’s most significant ongoing operating costs — making energy procurement a high-priority lever for improving the bottom line.
The Challenge
When Silly Solly’s came to Spinifex Energy, they were being billed under a standard SME (small-to-medium enterprise) retail energy structure — the default arrangement for most businesses that have never actively managed their energy procurement.
While SME plans offer simplicity, they come with significant limitations: higher unit rates, shorter or no contract terms, and no access to the competitive wholesale and broker-negotiated pricing available in the Large Market (C&I) space. For a business with the consumption profile of Silly Solly’s, this structure was costing them considerably more than necessary.
Our task was to assess whether Silly Solly’s qualified for a transition to the C&I (Commercial & Industrial) large market, and if so, to run a competitive tender to secure the best possible rates before their existing arrangement rolled over.
Identifying the Opportunity
A review of Silly Solly’s electricity accounts quickly confirmed that their consumption profile made them eligible for C&I market access — a significant structural upgrade that most businesses in their position are unaware of, let alone actively pursuing.
The C&I (Large Market) structure offers several key advantages over standard SME billing:
- Access to wholesale and broker-negotiated rates not available to SME customers
- Longer contract terms — up to 4 years — allowing businesses to lock in favourable rates with price certainty
- The ability to run a competitive tender across multiple retailers simultaneously, ensuring the market is tested properly
- Greater transparency and flexibility in rate structures compared to bundled SME products
With Silly Solly’s now positioned in the C&I space, we ran a competitive energy tender across a panel of retailers, timing it to take advantage of favourable market conditions and secure the best available rates.
The Results
- The transition to the C&I market, combined with a competitive tender process, delivered a substantial improvement in Silly Solly’s energy position:
- We reduced Silly Solly’s energy expenses by an estimated $20,150 per year.
- A 26.9% reduction in total electricity costs — a material improvement to the business’s bottom line.
- Rates locked in for an extended term of up to 4 years, providing price certainty and shielding the business from future market volatility.
- The entire process was handled by Spinifex Energy — fast, simple, and with zero disruption to daily operations.
For businesses like Silly Solly’s, the move from an SME to a C&I energy structure is one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort changes available. Most business owners simply don’t know it’s an option — and that’s exactly why having the right broker in your corner matters.
Think your business could be on the wrong structure?
Contact Spinifex Energy for a free assessment — we’ll identify exactly where you stand and what’s achievable.
