Powering productivity: Why reliability matters to small businesses

Most small business owners don't spend much time thinking about electricity.

Until it's not there.

For a retailer, a power outage can mean EFTPOS terminals stop working. For a childcare provider, it can affect heating, cooling and the ability to provide a comfortable environment for children. For an accommodation business, it can mean guests can't shower, toilets don't work and bookings need to be cancelled.

As part of TasNetworks' Revenue Reset engagement, we spoke with small businesses across Tasmania about the role electricity plays in their day-to-day operations and what matters most to them when it comes to the future of the network.

While the businesses were diverse, the message was remarkably consistent: reliable and affordable electricity matters.

The impacts can last far longer than the outage

One accommodation operator described how a planned outage scheduled between 8am and 4pm can affect much more than the eight hours shown on the notification.

Without electricity, water and sewerage systems can't operate. Guests can't check in. Accommodation needs to be blocked out before and during the outage. A café and restaurant may not be able to open at all.

As the business explained:

“An 8 hour outage has the ability to impact the business for around 36 hours.”

Other businesses shared similar experiences.

One retailer said power outages affect everything from EFTPOS transactions to refrigeration. A childcare provider highlighted the importance of reliable electricity for maintaining services for children and families. Professional services businesses spoke about their reliance on cloud-based systems, phones and internet connectivity to serve clients and keep staff productive.

Reliability matters, but so does cost

Reliability wasn't the only issue raised.

Many businesses described electricity as one of their largest operating expenses and expressed concern about the impact of rising costs.

For some, electricity costs influence investment decisions. Others spoke about adjusting how they use heating, cooling or equipment to manage expenses. Several participants identified affordability as one of the biggest challenges facing their business.

One business owner summed it up simply:

“The core challenges are electricity cost and certainty.”

More information, better planning

Another strong theme was communication.

Businesses told us that planned outages are easier to manage when there is enough notice and clear information about timing and duration. Several participants said that even small improvements in communication could help them reduce disruption, better manage customers and plan around interruptions.

Many also highlighted the importance of understanding what options are available to them, whether that's retailer choice, solar, batteries or other ways of improving resilience.

Looking ahead

What stood out most from these conversations was how directly electricity affects the businesses that keep local communities running.

A power outage isn't just an interruption to supply. It can mean cancelled bookings, lost productivity, disrupted services and customers who can't be served.

The insights shared through the Small Business Forum are helping TasNetworks better understand those day-to-day impacts and the role the network plays in supporting businesses across Tasmania.

As we continue developing our Revenue Reset proposal, these conversations will help inform how we plan for a network that remains reliable, affordable and capable of supporting small businesses into the future.