Large market electricity bills can be confusing, but with some basic knowledge and a dedicated energy expert in your corner, the structure becomes much clearer, which is essential when making decisions about your energy contracts.

A large market bill is typically made up of four sections: Energy Charges, Network Charges, Environmental Charges, and Regulated & Metering Charges. The look varies by retailer and usage size, but the core structure stays consistent.

Energy Charges
This is the usage component of your bill. Broadly, “peak” is daytime usage and “off-peak” is nights and weekends, with some bills also including “shoulder” periods. Exact times vary by state, network, and retailer, and are listed on your contract – or your broker can confirm them. This matters most for organisations with unusual hours, such as a school running early morning programs.

Network Charges
These are pass-through costs covering the poles, wires, and infrastructure that deliver power to your site, typically making up 40-60% of your bill. You can’t choose your network – it’s determined by location. Tariffs are based on usage volume and timing, and many large sites are also charged for “demand,” the highest point of usage in a given period. A good broker can assess whether you qualify for a cheaper tariff and monitor this ongoing, since tariff structures can shift once or twice a year.

Environmental Charges
Government pass-through charges that fund renewable energy and efficiency schemes, including large- and small-scale renewable schemes and state-based schemes (like VEEC in Victoria). Certificate prices are fixed, but the applicable percentage is set annually and multiplied by monthly usage.

Regulated & Metering Charges
This covers AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator) administration fees and metering charges. Large market meters record usage at 5-minute intervals, providing detailed visibility into consumption – valuable data when a broker cross-checks it against retailers’ billing to catch costly errors.

How Choice Energy Can Help
For schools managing multiple campuses and enrolment-driven usage, navigating these charges can be complex. Choice Energy’s dedicated experts secure competitive contracts, identify tariff and demand-charge savings, and flag billing errors on your behalf. This ongoing service keeps watch for tariff changes throughout the year. We’re proud to support Catholic schools as a Digital Gold Sponsor, and our team is here to help your school make confident energy decisions.

To get the process started, you can send a copy of your latest energy bill to Alycia McCarthy via email (alycia.mccarthy@choiceenergy.com.au) or call her on 0478 670 420 for more information.