Energy costs affect every industry differently. Usage patterns, operating hours, equipment loads and risk exposure all influence how electricity and gas should be procured.
This guide explains how key Australian industries manage energy, the common challenges they face, and why sector-specific energy strategies matter.
Why Industry-Specific Energy Procurement Matters
Different industries use energy in very different ways. Industry-specific energy procurement ensures pricing structures, contract terms and risk exposure align with real usage — reducing costs and avoiding unsuitable plans.
Hospitality Energy Explained
Hospitality businesses such as restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels are typically energy-intensive, with usage concentrated around peak service hours.
Common energy challenges in hospitality:
- High evening and weekend consumption
- Energy-intensive equipment (ovens, refrigeration, HVAC)
- Thin margins sensitive to price increases
A tailored energy approach helps hospitality venues avoid peak pricing penalties and manage volatile costs.
Franchise Energy Explained
Franchise businesses often operate multiple sites under a single brand but face fragmented energy contracts and inconsistent pricing.
Common energy challenges for franchises:
- Different contracts across locations
- Lack of consolidated reporting
- Limited visibility over total energy spend
Centralised energy procurement helps franchises achieve consistency, scale benefits and clearer oversight across all sites.
Retail Energy Explained
Retail businesses consume energy across extended trading hours, often with high lighting, heating and cooling requirements.
Common energy challenges in retail:
- Long daily operating hours
- Seasonal demand fluctuations
- High exposure to standing or rollover rates
Matching retail energy contracts to actual usage profiles helps reduce unnecessary costs and improve forecasting.
Strata Energy Explained
Strata-managed buildings such as apartment complexes, mixed-use developments and body corporate properties have shared energy needs that differ from single-tenant commercial sites.
Common energy challenges in strata:
- Shared meters across common areas (lifts, lighting, car parks)
- Difficulty allocating costs fairly between owners or tenants
- Limited visibility over total energy usage and performance
- Exposure to rollover or default rates due to unclear accountability
Strata-specific energy strategies focus on transparent billing, accurate usage tracking and contracts aligned to common-area consumption, helping owners’ corporations control costs and reduce disputes.
Manufacturing Energy Explained
Manufacturing businesses are typically high-load energy users, with electricity and gas costs forming a significant part of operating expenses.
Common energy challenges in manufacturing:
- Large baseload and peak demand charges
- Energy-intensive machinery
- Exposure to wholesale price movements
Manufacturers often benefit from structured procurement, demand analysis and longer-term planning.
Healthcare Energy Explained
Healthcare facilities require continuous, reliable energy supply to support critical operations and patient care.
Common energy challenges in healthcare:
- 24/7 operational requirements
- High compliance and risk sensitivity
- Limited tolerance for supply or pricing disruption
Energy strategies in healthcare prioritise reliability, transparency and long-term cost stability.
Why a One-Size-Fits-All Energy Plan Doesn’t Work
Using the same energy plan across different industries can result in:
- Paying for unsuitable pricing structures
- Exposure to unnecessary volatility
- Missed opportunities for savings
Energy procurement should reflect how and when energy is actually used.
How Industry-Specific Energy Strategies Reduce Costs
Sector-aligned energy strategies help businesses:
- Match contracts to usage patterns
- Avoid rollover or standing offers
- Improve budget certainty
- Support long-term planning
This approach becomes even more important for multi-site or growing organisations.
