Agribusiness rates and charges

What qualifies as agribusiness?

Agribusiness is a land used for farm operations and must be used for approved agricultural purposes as classified by ANZSIC class 01.

Your business is allocated an ANZSIC code when you register for your Australian Business Number. To find out your ANZSIC code, contact the Australian Taxation Office (external link).

Examples of approved farm operations include horticulture, dairy, keeping or breeding stock, growing fruit, vegetable, grain or other produce, and handling and packing of these products.

A farm does not include processing of farm products, retailing of farm products, intensive animal husbandry, forestry, aquaculture or garden centre operations.

Agribusiness on General Commercial Tariff 22

This tariff is best for businesses that consume up to 10,000 kWh (or units) per quarter.

Prices include GST

You can work out your load profile to determine whether you are better off on a demand tariff or an energy only tariff (such as this Tariff 22). Load profile is the ratio of the total energy used (divided by the number of hours) to the maximum demand (or load) placed on the system within the same period.

Unmetered supply

Unmetered supply can be required for electric fences. An unmetered supply must have its equipment hard wired. Once complete your electrician will submit electrical works request (EWR) papers requesting an unmetered supply for an electric fence.

There is no quarterly charge for electric fence consumption however the services charge will still apply.

Irrigation pumps

Large irrigation pumps that can be used on a timer to pump overnight should be connected to Irrigation Tariff 75 to take advantage of the overnight (OffPeak) rate.

The irrigation time of use tariff applies to new installations from 1 July 2012. From 1 April to 30 September peak rates apply from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday, shoulder rates apply from 7am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday, and OffPeak rates apply at all other times. From 1 October to 31 March shoulder rates apply from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday and OffPeak rates apply at all other times.

The following tariffs are now obsolete, please contact Aurora on 1300 13 2045 for more information.

* The night rate (Tariff 73) is to be available for not less than 10 hours between 8pm and 7am. In general the night rate will be available for 10 hours, but subject to network constraints and at Aurora's discretion, an 11 hour window may be available on request. For individual customers the starting and finishing times for the night rate will be staggered and may commence at any time between 8pm and 9pm and end at any time between 6am and 7am, subject to the 10 hour minimum availability.

Prices include GST

Curtilage Discounts

Curtilage discounts apply to farm outbuildings and non-irrigation pumps that are fed from the same transformer as your residence. From 1 July 2008 they are only available to installations which received them prior to 1 July 2008. No new curtilage discounts will be available after 1 July 2008. Between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011, the discount will rebate 70% off the fixed charge for Tariff 22. For more information call the Business Call Centre on 1300 13 2045 or contact us via our online form.

Explanatory notes

Fixed Charges consist of meter reading, billing costs, part of the meter capital cost and some of the costs of maintaining and connecting to the electricity distribution system.

Demand Charge is an annual charge that contributes towards the cost of transmission and distribution.

Energy Rate is the charge for each unit of electricity (kWh) that covers the cost of generating the electricity and some of the transmission and distribution costs.

Goods and Services Tax (GST): prices include GST.

Quarter means a period of 91 days.

For more information on business electricity rates and charges, call 1300 13 2045 or view the electricity tariffs brochure (PDF 213Kb).