An energy buyer is responsible for purchasing electricity and gas for a business, aiming to secure the best price, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. Whether they’re part of a company’s in-house team or work with an external consultant, energy buyers make sure businesses aren’t caught off guard by unexpected spikes in energy costs or contracts that quietly roll over into expensive rates.
And in today’s climate—where every cent counts and energy markets shift without warning—that job matters more than ever.
Why do businesses need an energy buyer?Because energy isn’t just about flipping the lights on—it’s one of the biggest operating expenses for many businesses. From bakeries running ovens before dawn, to data centres running 24/7, the way a business uses power affects more than just the bottom line.
An energy buyer steps in to:
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Lock in competitive pricing before market rates climb
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Understand and manage usage patterns
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Reduce exposure to unnecessary fees
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Improve sustainability outcomes without blowing the budget
It’s not just about saving money (though that’s part of it). It’s about gaining control over a cost that often feels unpredictable.
What does an energy buyer do each day?If you imagine their job is just to sign off on electricity bills, you’d be way off.
A typical energy buyer will:
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Monitor daily or weekly energy usage across sites
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Compare retailer pricing offers and identify timing opportunities
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Negotiate new energy contracts before expiry to avoid automatic rate hikes
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Track regulatory changes, like updates from the AER or state-based feed-in tariffs
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Forecast energy budgets for finance teams
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Collaborate with engineers or site managers on equipment or operational changes
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Oversee environmental targets such as carbon reporting or renewable energy goals
Some days they’re buried in spreadsheets. Others, they’re walking through warehouses or plant rooms trying to understand exactly when and how energy is being used.
What’s the difference between an energy buyer and an energy broker?It’s easy to confuse the two—both work with energy contracts, and both aim to get better rates. But they’re not interchangeable.
Feature Energy Buyer Energy Broker Employed by Business (internal) Independent or 3rd party Role Strategic, ongoing management Deal facilitation Focus Holistic: pricing, sustainability, compliance Contract pricing and procurement Paid by Business Usually by energy retailer (commission)Think of it this way: the energy buyer is your full-time energy strategist. The energy broker is the contractor they call in to run the numbers, source rates, or negotiate a specific deal.
In smaller businesses, an energy broker often acts like a virtual buyer—especially where there’s no in-house expertise. But the key difference lies in strategy versus transaction.
How do energy buyers reduce costs?A good energy buyer doesn’t just chase the cheapest rate—they look deeper. For example:
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They might shift high-use equipment to run during off-peak hours
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Or split contracts by region to take advantage of local retailer pricing
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Or bundle gas and electricity to gain better leverage
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They often monitor demand charges and restructure usage patterns to avoid penalties
Here’s a real example: a Melbourne manufacturing business found that their demand charges were almost 40% of their bill. Their energy buyer worked with the operations team to stagger machine starts, reducing the peak load by 18%. That move alone saved them $27,000 a year—without changing provider.
Can energy buyers help with renewable energy?Yes, and increasingly—they’re expected to.
In a lot of businesses, the energy buyer is the person responsible for:
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Procuring GreenPower or renewable-backed energy contracts
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Sourcing solar PPAs (power purchase agreements)
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Ensuring emissions data is tracked for ESG reporting
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Evaluating the business case for battery storage or electric vehicle fleets
A Sydney school recently tasked their energy buyer with hitting net-zero energy usage by 2030. They started by switching to a renewable plan and installing solar. But the biggest change? Scheduling air conditioning to avoid demand spikes—saving money and emissions.
That’s the thing about energy buyers: their work often lives quietly behind the scenes, but their impact is loud.
What skills do energy buyers need?Energy buying is a weird mix of commercial acumen, technical knowledge, and future thinking. Here’s what helps:
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Negotiation skills – Contracts are full of traps, and timing is everything.
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Data fluency – Spotting trends, forecasting costs, and identifying anomalies.
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Market knowledge – Understanding price drivers, regulation, and rebates.
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Communication – Explaining kilowatt hours to non-technical stakeholders.
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Project coordination – Aligning multiple departments for efficiency goals.
And—perhaps most importantly—a healthy dose of curiosity. Energy markets move fast, and what worked last quarter might cost you this one.
FAQDo all businesses need an energy buyer?
Not all—but any business spending five figures a year on energy should have someone watching it closely, whether in-house or outsourced.
Can a broker act as my energy buyer?
Yes, in many smaller businesses, a trusted energy broker fills that role. Just make sure they’re comparing multiple retailers and explaining their fee structure clearly.
Is energy buying all about cost?
No. Risk management, compliance, and sustainability are just as important—sometimes more so.
Energy buying doesn’t sound glamorous. It’s not usually the kind of thing that headlines a staff newsletter. But ask any CFO who’s just avoided a six-figure energy blowout, and they’ll tell you—it matters.
In a world where energy markets are unpredictable and sustainability is no longer optional, having someone focused on how, when, and why you use energy isn’t just helpful. It’s strategic.
And whether that person sits in your office or works as an external energy broker, what they do will shape your bills, your emissions, and your peace of mind for years to come.