> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.termina.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart: business electricity rates API

> Get the cheapest business electricity rates for an Australian postcode in one request. No API key needed. Then re-cost every plan at the business's own annual usage.

## 1. Request rates for a location

No sign-up or API key is needed. Ask for a postcode:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl "https://api.termina.com/v1/rates?postcode=2000"
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  r = requests.get("https://api.termina.com/v1/rates", params={"postcode": "2000"})
  data = r.json()
  print(data["summary"]["cheapest"])
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  const res = await fetch("https://api.termina.com/v1/rates?postcode=2000");
  const data = await res.json();
  console.log(data.summary.cheapest);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## 2. Read the answer from `summary`

`summary` is written to be read directly:

```json theme={null}
"summary": {
  "usage_kwh": 10000,
  "checked_at": "2026-10-16",
  "cheapest": {
    "offer_source": "termina_buying_group",
    "network": "ausgrid",
    "annual_cost_inc_gst": 2862,
    "vs_benchmark_pct": -36.7,
    "benchmark_abbreviation": "DMO"
  },
  "cheapest_public": {
    "retailer": "Future x Power",
    "plan_name": "SME Cable Small Biz 25",
    "annual_cost_inc_gst": 3413,
    "vs_benchmark_pct": -24.5
  },
  "coverage": { "plans_compared": 353, "plans_public": 311, "retailers_public": 22 }
}
```

In words: for a business using 10,000 kWh a year on the Ausgrid network, the cheapest rate is $2,862 a year incl. GST through the Termina buying group, 36.7% less than the Default Market Offer. The cheapest public plan is Future x Power's at $3,413.

<Info>
  `summary.cheapest` always matches the first plan in `plans` on page 1, so the answer and the table never disagree.
</Info>

## 3. Re-cost at the business's own usage

10,000 kWh a year is the default, the AER's small business reference usage. If you know the business's usage, pass it, and every plan and the benchmark are re-costed:

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.termina.com/v1/rates?postcode=2000&usage_kwh=25000"
```

For time-of-use and demand tariffs you can also pass `peak_share`, `shoulder_share` and `max_demand_kw`. See [How rates are costed](/rates/methodology).

## 4. Page through every plan

Plans come 10 at a time. Pass `pagination.next_cursor` as `cursor` for the next page, until `pagination.has_more` is false:

```bash theme={null}
curl "https://api.termina.com/v1/rates?postcode=2000&cursor=eyJvIjoxMCwicCI6e30sImQiOltdfQ"
```

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Choosing a location" icon="location-dot" href="/rates/locations">
    Postcode, NMI, network, city or state, and what to do when a postcode has two networks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Using Termina with AI agents" icon="robot" href="/rates/ai-agents">
    The recommended flow for agents helping a business
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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