Home How We Help Be more efficient Manage Costs How To Read Your Energy Bill Like An Expert

Manage Costs

How To Read Your Energy Bill Like An Expert

Understanding your energy bill is crucial. Read Zembl's guide to get a breakdown of everything you need to know to help you stay informed and potentially save on costs.

04 Jun 2024

By Zembl Energy Experts for small to commercial sized businesses

Energy bills can be a bit of a headache especially since each retailer has their own style of bill. But no stress, they all share the same basic information. The Energy Experts at Zembl have whipped up this guide to help you get a handle on the numbers and charges, so you're always in the loop.

METER ID NUMBERS

Electricity and gas meter numbers are important as they make sure all the right information is connected and feeding into your account. This ensures that you only pay for the energy you consume. Here are a couple of key ID numbers to be aware of on your bill:

National Meter Identifier (NMI): Think of it like a unique fingerprint for your energy bill. Your NMI confirms the type of meter you have, where your supply is coming from, and what kind of energy user you are.

Meter Identification Reference Number (MIRN): This is similar to your NMI however this is for your gas specific meters. This is applicable to meters in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, or Western Australia. And if you're in New South Wales, your gas meter is known as a Delivery Point Identifier (DPI).

METER READS

The meter read information on your bill is used to inform your retailer of your actual energy consumption, which is used to calculate your energy charges. Here's what’s covered in this section of your bill:

Meter number - this is the meter ID number within the account. See above for further detail on the different meter ID numbers.

Read date – this tracks when your meter reading was last taken.

Meter read type - this tells you how your usage was measured, this could be actual, interval, or customer.

Start and end read - where your meter reading started and ended during the billing cycle.

Usage in kilowatts (kWh) - how electricity usage is measured.

Usage in megajoules (MJ) - how gas usage is measured.

ACTUAL VS. ESTIMATED READINGS

Your bill could show two kinds of readings:

Actual – these are the readings taken at the place of the meter.

Estimated – are made using past data from your meter.

If you receive an estimate, there is a chance that the reading could be too high or too low compared to what you actually used. But, don't worry! Once your meter gets read the next time, your bill will be adjusted. For example, if your estimated reading was higher than your actual consumption, after your next actual reading you'll receive a credit or refund for the difference on your next bill.

TYPES OF CHARGES

Usage charges

Electricity usage charges – you're billed in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh), but some places might show it as a dollar amount, like $0.31.
Gas usage charges – here, the cost is in cents per megajoule (c/MJ).
Consumption charges – this is a flexible charge based on the amount of energy you use.

Meter type-related charges

Your meter type matters because it affects the charges on your bill, and it's determined by the distributor in your area. Here's what's included:

‍Single rate

You get billed at the peak rate for all your energy use, no matter what time it is during the day. Also, peak times can change depending on the day of the week.

Time of use (TOU)‍

You are charged different rates at various times of the day. This includes peak, off-peak, and shoulder periods. Peak times high-demand periods, while off-peak times are the low-demand periods. Shoulder times are the in-between periods that bridge peak and off-peak for a TOU tariff, and they can change depending on who's distributing your electricity.

Controlled load‍

This relates to certain appliances that consume higher than average energy, like hot water systems and underfloor heating, which get metered at a cheaper rate. These energy-hungry systems usually run during off-peak times. By having a controlled load tariff for them, you make sure they don’t bump up your energy bill too much.

Demand Charges

These charges relate to how intense your electricity use is. Your meter checks how much energy you're using in KW, usually within a 30-minute stretch. The highest spike in use over the month or billing cycle will be susceptible to a demand charge. So, if you've got all your appliances running at the same time, you're going to see this charge go up. To combat this, we recommend spreading out when you use your energy throughout the day and avoid turning everything on all at once. A big spike in use means a higher demand charge.

Supply Service Charges (Daily charges)

This charge is what you pay every day to keep the power running to your place. It helps cover the infrastructure costs your provider pays to keep things running smoothly. This is calculated based on how many days you’ve used electricity or gas and is presented on your bill as cents or dollars per day (c/day).

Graphs

Your electricity company may present a chart or table so you can see how your usage stacks up against others with similar sized homes or businesses in your area. Plus, your bill might also come with a graph that breaks down your average daily electricity use and costs over the last year, making it easy to see how your usage has changed over time. This is a great way to see where your consumption has spiked and what changes you can make to reduce your bill.

OTHER INFORMATION YOU MAY SEE

Greenhouse gas emissions‍

Some retailers give you a heads-up on the greenhouse gas emissions your electricity racked up during the billing period.

Next scheduled read date‍

Your bill will show when your next meter reading is due. Your energy provider might pop by to read your meter, but you can also send in your reading online or give them a call with the numbers.

Individual retailer bill guides

Every energy retailer does their own thing when it comes to bills, but they've got useful guides to help you figure them out. These guides can be found on the individual retailers website.

LET THE EXPERTS LEND A HELPING HAND

Have you got further questions about your bill? Or seen a rouge charge? Reach out to the Energy Experts at Zembl and they can help you make sense of what you’re seeing.

REVIEW AND SAVE WITH ZEMBL

You’ve now seen that the Energy Experts at Zembl know the data and the detail of your energy bills. Beyond this, they have helped My Business members save an average of $1,866 per annum on their energy bills*. How? Working with a panel of trusted Aussie retailers, Zembl saves businesses time and improves their bottom line by finding, securing and doing all the legwork of their business energy review. Request a review of your accounts with them now and see how much you could save.

Contact them direct on 1300 957 721 or drop them an email at hello@zembl.com.au don’t forget to mention you’re a member of MyBusiness as their service will be at no cost or obligation to you.

Contact them direct on 1300 957 721 or drop them an email at hello@zembl.com.au don’t forget to mention you’re a member of MyBusiness as their service will be at no cost or obligation to you.

Zembl Energy Experts for small to commercial sized businesses

Zembl helps businesses big and small buy better energy, saving them time and improving their bottom line. With over 14 years’ experience, their Energy Experts understand the data and the detail when navigating the complex energy market and manage all the legwork for their customers.

CONTACT OUR BUSINESS ENERGY EXPERTS

Take back control with a free energy consultation. No matter your business size or industry, we have specialists who can help you with your business energy costs.

Get started

Energy

Operations