Traditional energy sector fixed costs rising rapidly. Businesses urged to reduce reliance on the grid

A growing and largely misunderstood cost is quietly driving electricity bills higher across Australia and most businesses don't even realise it.
 

Energy expert Jack Kapoor is warning that network charges, not energy prices, are now the biggest contributor to rising power costs for commercial and industrial users.
 

"The real issue is not the cost of electricity itself, it is the cost of accessing and using the network," Kapoor said.
 

"These charges are increasing rapidly and are becoming the dominant driver of total energy spend."
 

He said demand charges, peak usage penalties and capacity-based pricing are reshaping how businesses pay for energy.
 

Kapoor is the founder and CEO of Agile Energy, a leading provider of solar energy solutions for the commercial sector including health, aged care, education, manufacturing, logistics, food processing, retail, transport and office space. The business also installs solutions for medium and high density living such as apartments, hotels, etc.
 

"You can have a competitive energy rate and still end up with a very high bill because of how your business consumes power," he said.
 

Kapoor said many businesses are unknowingly exposing themselves to these costs.
 

"If you are using large amounts of energy during peak periods, you are being penalised heavily and those penalties are growing. This is where the real money is being lost," Kapoor said.
 

He said the impact is particularly severe in manufacturing, logistics and industrial sectors.
 

"These businesses are being hit hardest because their operations often require high energy use at the exact times the grid is most constrained," he said.
 

Kapoor warned that traditional approaches are no longer enough.
 

"Negotiating with retailers will not protect you from these costs," he said.
 

"You need to control when and how you use energy, otherwise you are at the mercy of the system."

He said businesses that fail to adapt risk falling behind.
 

"This is not a small shift, it is a fundamental change in how energy is priced. If you don't understand it, you will continue to overpay," he said.
 

"While solar delivers meaningful cost savings for businesses, the greatest financial gains are realised when energy usage and storage are actively managed to reduce overall load and minimise consumption during peak periods.
 

"Smart systems are now able to assist businesses to achieve this with little effort and recalibration."
 

About Agile Energy
 

Agile Energy is one of Australia's fastest-growing clean-energy companies, delivering large-scale solar, battery and electrification solutions for the commercial, industrial, healthcare and property sectors. The company designs, finances, builds and operates integrated clean-energy systems that help businesses reduce costs, decarbonise operations and participate in virtual power networks. With deep engineering expertise, financial discipline and a long-term ownership mindset, Agile Energy is redefining how organisations generate, store and trade electricity creating measurable financial and environmental performance across Australia's transition to a smarter, more resilient energy future. Further information can be found at: agileenergy.com.au