SEC supports Victorian schools to save on their energy bills

SEC is supporting Victorian schools to save money on their electricity bills, partnering with them to review existing network charges to find savings.

Tootgarook Primary School is a small, vibrant learning community nestled near the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay. With around 150 students across six classes from Foundation to Grade 6, the school is proud to provide personalised learning, where every child is known, supported and celebrated.

In July 2025, Tootgarook Primary School started buying its electricity from SEC, which retails 100% renewable electricity to more than 4,000 Victorian Government sites and operations, including hundreds of public schools.

As a part of its service to customers, SEC provides network tariff optimisation where it reviews network charges at least once every twelve months. Network charges represent on average around 40% of energy bills.

For Tootgarook Primary School, SEC worked with the Department of Education to review network tariffs. After identifying potential savings, it advocated for change with the electricity network provider. The change brought a significant reduction in their electricity bills – around $610 per month or more than $7,300 a year.

SEC General Manager, Customer, Suzanne Retschko said the company was committed to delivering value to its customers, including Victoria’s government schools.

“By taking the time to listen and understand our customers’ needs and concerns, we can work through solutions to deliver savings that make a real difference for schools and communities,” said Ms Retschko.

The school’s business manager, Melisa Peterson, said the new network charge doesn't include a rolling demand charge, a charge that had previously driven up energy costs.

“These savings mean we can redirect money back into our classrooms, whether that’s laminating sheets for our teachers or even providing food for the kids,” said Ms Peterson.

For Kuyim Primary School, in Pakenham, the savings have been even greater.

The school uses about 150 megawatt hours of electricity a year. SEC account managers discovered it had been placed on a network tariff designed for large industrial sites using up to 750 megawatt hours a year.

SEC worked with the local electricity network to reclassify the school and alter its tariff. This reduced the school’s total electricity bill by around $4,500 a month, or $54,000 a year.

SEC also advocated on behalf of Wulerrp Secondary College, in Clyde North, which faced unexpectedly high electricity bills of around $22,000 a month, when it opened earlier this year.

SEC discovered the school’s capacity charges were set well above its needs. It advocated on behalf of the school, asking the local electricity network to reduce its capacity allocation from 2020 kilo-Volt-Amps (kVA) to a number closer to the school's actual usage. The change saved the school $6,000 a month on its electricity bills, freeing up funds for other uses.

Ms Retschko said these are three examples of SEC working with its customers to provide service excellence and to proactively identify ways to reduce energy bills where we can.

“We go the extra mile to identify opportunities, challenge unnecessary costs, and help direct savings back to where they belong—in this case, into classrooms,” said Ms Retschko.

Learn more about  SEC’s commitment to renewable generation.