Charting Farmers' Experience of Tariff Switching

Electricity tariffs are complicated.

Changes to tariffs structures and rates have impacted the profitability and competitiveness of agricultural businesses. We want to hear your voice toward understanding how energy tariffs and energy retailers can better serve agriculturalists across Queensland and New South Wales.

The University of Queensland has partnered with Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) to understand the impact of tariffs switching on agricultural operations by working with farmers in Queensland and New South Wales, in order to assist them in the decision-making process and support greater inclusion of farmers’ needs in the design of more flexible tariffs.

Our goal is to better assist farmers by understanding how you choose electricity tariffs, helping to reduce costs on-farm. The study also aims to promote the greater inclusion of farmers’ needs in the design of more flexible tariffs.

The research is approved under UQ's Human Research Ethics (HE000538).

Project Outcomes

This project in collaboration with Queensland Farmers Federation is now complete. We surveyed 35 farmers from across Queensland and New South Wales to understand when and why they switched tariffs, parriers and facilitators to the process of switching tariffs and whether they felt better or worse off after switching tariffs. The rationale, methods, results and implications are contained within this report, published October 2022.

The findings have been distilled into a webpage with information, tips and tricks for farmers navigating energy tariffs and an opportunity to share your own story of agricultural energy tariffs.

Final Report Web Resources