The information provided here is designed to inform agricultural businesses participating in the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension (ESPPE) and considering switching to a new load control tariff. A load control tariff is a tariff where the supply of electricity can be temporarily interrupted by Ergon Energy network. These new tariffs complement an existing load control tariff, Tariff 33. 

New load control tariffs 

Three new load control tariffs were made available in regional Queensland from the 1st of November 2020. 

• Tariff 34 small business customers – a primary load control tariff for (those using less than 100 megawatt hours per year)  
• Tariff 60A large business customers – a primary load control tariff for (those using 100 megawatt hours or more per year)  
• Tariff 60B large business customers –a secondary load control tariff for (those using 100 megawatt hours or more per year)  

Note # Existing tariffs 

You should carefully consider the suitability of a controlled load tariff for your operations – for example, any pumps relied on for firefighting, or equipment that is used for safety or security purposes, may not be suitable for controlled supply connection. Further, as a customer you will need to consider the technical requirements, operational impacts and set up costs associated with load control tariffs, such as new meters that may be required.  Also, consider that devices such as irrigation pumps can be switched off at times during the day. 

Small business load control tariffs

Tariff 34 

• Tariff 34 is a small business-controlled load tariff.  
• The benefit of Tariff 34 is a lower usage rate, because supply may be interrupted or turned off for up to 6 hours a day. The times when power is switched off may change from day to day and vary in duration. 
• During the outage period, supply is not available to any equipment at the connection point. 
• To switch to this tariff, there may be additional setup costs and you will need to engage an electrical contractor. This tariff is not available to customers connected to the Essential Energy network within Queensland. 
• Tariff 34 is a primary tariff which means it can be the only tariff on a grid connection. 

How is tariff 34 different to tariff 33? 

• Tariff 34 is a primary tariff, while Tariff 33 is a secondary tariff. A secondary tariff is any tariff that is not a primary tariff and can be accessed only when it is in conjunction with a primary tariff. 
• Tariff 34 does not require the equipment to be hardwired, unlike Tariff 33. 
• Tariff 34 is only available to small business customers, while Tariff 33 is available to both small business and residential customers as a secondary tariff.  
• Tariff 34 is commonly used by larger businesses or for farming equipment, including irrigation pumps, while Tariff 33 is commonly used for hot water and pool pumps. 
• A farm may opt to use Tariff 33 plus a primary tariff (instead of tariff 34 for the whole site) if there is equipment at connection point that is suitable for load control plus other equipment (for example, a workshop or cold storage etc) that needs to remain on standard (i.e., non load control) primary tariff. 

Large business load control tariffs 

Large business customers (connection which use 100 megawatt hours (MWh) or more per year) must be in a part of the network that has the communication system for load control to be eligible for the primary or secondary version of this tariff.  

The majority of Queensland has this communication system active, however parts of northern inland Queensland and western Queensland do not. 

The Ergon Energy Network enables a large business customer to enter their NMI to determine whether their local network has the communication system that allows them access to controlled load, see HERE 

Tariff 60A  

• A primary load control tariff suited to large business customers with operations/equipment that can manage up to six hours of outages per day without notification. Power is available for a minimum of 18 hours each day. The times when power is switched off may change from day to day and vary in duration. 
• During the outage period, supply is not available to any equipment at the connection point. 
• This tariff is only available in areas where the network provider’s standard load control signalling system operates. Access to the tariffs may be subject to a network impact assessment by network provider and an outcome that supports customer access. 
• To switch to this tariff, there may be additional setup costs and you will need to engage an electrical contractor. This tariff is not available to customers connected to the Essential Energy network within Queensland. 

Tariff 60B 

• A secondary load control tariff suited to large business customers with operations/equipment that can manage up to six hours of outages per day without notification, when used in conjunction with a primary continuous-supply tariff. Power is available for a minimum of 18 hours each day. The times when power is switched off may change from day to day and vary in duration. 
• During the outage period, supply is not available to any equipment at the secondary load control circuit. However, supply remains available to equipment at the primary tariff circuit. 
• This tariff is only available in areas where the network provider’s standard load control signalling system operates.  
• Access to the tariffs may be subject to a network impact assessment by network provider and an outcome that supports customer access. 
• To switch to this tariff, there may be additional setup costs and you will need to engage an electrical contractor.  
• This tariff is not available to customers connected to the Essential Energy network within Queensland. 

More information 

• View Ergon Energy Retail’s website for fact sheets, case studies, comparisons and FAQ’s on the load control tariffs HERE.
• Contact your electricity retailer to find out: 
  • If any of the new load control tariffs are suitable for your business. 
  • How to apply for a new load control tariff. 
• Contact energysavers@qff.org.au for more guidance on tariffs options