Energy Source & Distribution spends five minutes with Nectr head of C&I and risk management Karina Jewell.
Karina, please tell us a bit about yourself:
I’ve worked in the energy industry for over 16 years. I first joined Nectr’s growing Merchant Energy team in 2021. In my role today, I’ve supported the growth of the company’s Commercial and Industrial business, helping organisations find better energy solutions. I began my career in the accounting team at Transgrid and later moved into network pricing, which gave me a great opportunity to learn about some of the technical aspects of the energy market from some incredibly knowledgeable engineers. I then joined Alinta Energy, working with the Wholesale team, providing input to some of their C&I deals and supporting the energy traders. It’s been a fantastic journey across the full spectrum of the Australian energy market—covering generation, transmission, wholesale and retail—working in state-owned corporations, privately owned businesses, and a fast-growing startup. I’ve been fortunate to gain exposure to almost every aspect of the market.
On a personal note, I relocated from Sydney to the Gold Coast two years ago and now live on an acre with my partner, three alpacas and an Italian greyhound. I love the beaches here and enjoy taking my dog paddleboarding.
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You were recently appointed head of C&I and risk management at Nectr. What does this role entail?
My role is all about finding the right balance—delivering the best possible outcomes for customers, brokers, and sales agents, while ensuring the company manages its risk effectively and remains commercially strong. It’s a constant juggle between customer value, commercial viability, and risk mitigation. I also plan out strategies that will keep Nectr on a path of sustainable growth whilst remaining agile and responsive to shifts in the energy market and customer needs.
What are the benefits and challenges of servicing the C&I sector from an energy retailing standpoint?
One of the biggest benefits of the C&I sector is the ability to create tailored solutions. Unlike small customer segments, where regulatory frameworks often limit flexibility, the C&I space allows us to take a bespoke approach—understanding each customer’s usage patterns, renewable energy goals, and operational requirements to design a solution that truly fits. For example, I developed an innovative SME product for members of the NSW Pharmacy Guild, structuring the plan similarly to a C&I deal. We’ve also used Nectr’s renewable portfolio to offer PPAs that provide long-term price certainty to customers. As Australia accelerates its transition to renewable energy, Nectr is well positioned to support businesses—large and small—with creative, customer-centric solutions.
Can you tell us about the unique energy pricing structure you’ve developed for Nectr’s C&I customers?
We introduced a “super peak” pricing structure, which features higher rates during a five-hour window that aligns with the early evening spike in wholesale price, and significantly lower rates for the rest of the day. It’s a straightforward, easy to understand model that reflects the real costs in the wholesale market and encourages customers to shift demand away from the most expensive times. This approach supports broader market goals like reducing strain during peak demand periods. It aligns well with emerging strategies to shift demand away from peak periods, all aimed at making the grid more efficient and sustainable.
Is there anything you’d like to see change from a regulatory standpoint that would make your job easier or provide better outcomes for Nectr’s customers?
One major challenge for industrial customers is that retail time-of-use pricing bands were established decades ago—long before the advent of rooftop solar and large-scale renewables—and haven’t been updated since. The traditional peak period was defined as the middle of the day, but now, due to the ample supply of solar, that’s often the cheapest time to supply energy, sometimes even resulting in negative wholesale prices. Despite this, many business customers like schools or manufacturers, who use a lot of daytime energy, are still paying peak rates. At Nectr, I’ve introduced cost-reflective pricing models to better serve these customers. It’s about ensuring they’re no longer penalised for using energy when it’s the cheapest times to supply. Updating regulatory pricing structures would allow the broader market to reflect this new reality and benefit more businesses.
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Finally, what do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I love travelling and discovering new places. I’m lucky to live in an area with great bike paths, hiking trails and waterways, so I like to get out and explore these when I have free time. I have also been doing a lot of gardening in my new place, we’re trying to grow some of our own food but have to watch out for the alpacas, as they are always quick to sample any leaves that are within access.
