Compare electricity plans in QLD

How to choose the right QLD electricity plan for you

Canstar Blue makes it easy to compare electricity plans in QLD. Compare electricity rates and other features with our comparison tool and find a deal that’s perfect for you. Here’s how it works:

1. Enter your postcode into our comparison tool or upload a past bill and press the search icon on the right-hand side.
2. Filter results by provider, contract length, conditional discount, billing frequency and plan features. If you have a controlled load, edit the blue text in the white box above the tool and change your tariff type in the ‘refine your search section’.
3. Sort results by value rank, customer satisfaction or price.
4. Find your perfect plan and click the green ‘See offer’ button to sign up on the provider’s page.

Who is the cheapest electricity provider in QLD?

Sumo and Alinta Energy are currently some of the cheapest providers in QLD. However, it’s worth noting that this list is constantly changing due to power providers regularly shaking up their offers.

The cheapest electricity provider one day may not be so price competitive next month, so it’s important to regularly compare your rates to ensure you’re on the best deal possible.

Who has the best electricity rates in QLD?

Usage rates in SEQ vary between 26-37¢/kWh, with a reasonable supply charge sitting at about 92-137¢/day.

In regional QLD, residential customers will generally be on tariff 11, with a flat usage rate of 34c/kWh and a supply charge of $1.36. As of 1 July 2025, the usage rate will change to 32.9c/kWh and the supply charge to $1.68.

But ultimately, the best rates will be those suited to the specific needs of your household:

• If you are a lower usage household, you may benefit from cheaper supply charges.
• If you are in a high-usage household, it may be worth looking for the cheapest usage rates.

What are the types of tariffs in QLD?

Tariffs describe the method by which your electricity company charges you. In QLD, several electricity tariffs are available, including:

• Single rate: Electricity rates are the same regardless of the time of day.
• Time of use: Different rates depending on when you use electricity — peak, off-peak, and shoulder periods.
• Demand: Lower supply and usage charges with an extra ‘demand charge’ in peak usage periods.
• Controlled load: One or more appliances, such as your hot water system, are metered separately to the rest of the house.
• Supply economy: Electricity is available for 18 hours a day.
• Smart control: A controlled load tariff with restricted operating hours, typically for customers on a demand tariff.

What energy rebates and concessions are available in QLD?

Financially vulnerable households in QLD have options for support in paying their electricity bills.

Here is a list of rebates and concessions provided by the government for Queenslanders.

• Federal Government’s Energy Bill Relief Fund extension: Australian households can claim an additional $150 off electricity bills in July 2025.
• QLD Government Cost of Living Rebate 2024-25: Queenslanders who are eligible can claim up to $1,000 off electricity bills from 1 July 2024.
• QLD Electricity Rebate: An annual payment of $372.20 to seniors, pensioners, veterans and asylum seekers to help with their electricity bills.
• QLD Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme: A one-off payment of up to $720 once every two years to vulnerable households having difficulty paying their energy bill in the event of an emergency or short-term financial crisis.
• QLD Electricity Life Support Concession: A payment of $1,024.48 per year for those relying on oxygen concentrators and $686.01 per year for people needing kidney dialysis machines.
• QLD Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme: A payment of up to $502.98 per year for eligible households suffering from body-temperature regulation issues.

What is the Default Market Offer (DMO) in QLD?

The Default Market Offer (DMO) is a price cap for residential properties on standing offer plans in deregulated states, including QLD. The DMO is set by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) every year, switching over on July 1.

The DMO shields customers who aren’t active in the energy market from overpaying for electricity.

It serves as a clear reference point to compare market offers against, which typically come with cheaper usage rates and conditional discounts, such as sign-up bonuses.

The ‘reference price’ column in our comparison tool above shows the percentage difference in price between each market offer and the DMO in QLD.

If you haven’t switched energy plans in the last 12-24 months, chances are that you are paying the equivalent of the DMO in your area.

What are the distribution zones in QLD?

QLD has two distribution networks that run and maintain the power supply in the state. They are:

• Energex: Covering most of South East QLD, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton Bay.
• Ergon Energy: Servicing all households north of Gympie or west of Gatton.

In the Energex region (South East QLD), the electricity market is deregulated, meaning there’s pricing competition in the state and households are free to choose their energy provider from more than 25 options.

In contrast, households on the Ergon Energy network (those who live outside of South East QLD) have electricity pricing regulated by the QLD Competition Authority and aren’t able to choose their preferred energy provider.

Most Satisfied Customers Award – QLD Provider

Red Energy has held the crown for the last two years, scoring top marks in five research areas. 

Each year at Canstar Blue, we release an annual satisfaction rating for electricity providers in QLD. In this report, providers are ranked based on value for money, customer service, bill & cost clarity, ease of sign-up, focus on environmental sustainability, online tools and advice and overall satisfaction.

Outstanding Value Award – QLD Providers

In 2024, Powershop was awarded for Outstanding Value in QLD thanks to its price consistency during the observation period.

Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value Awards are based on our unique value rank methodology and highlight the electricity providers that offer superior prices, value and features for consumers in each eligible state or territory.

Learn more about electricity in Queensland

Why compare QLD electricity plans with Canstar Blue?

About our energy experts

Tara Donnelly, Utilities Editor

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology. She has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, and has authored over 500 Canstar Blue articles. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC , The Australian Financial Review, 4BC Radio and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Tara has been nominated for multiple awards for her technology reporting, including Canstar Blue’s highly commended recognition for Best Consumer Technology Coverage in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident. You can read more of Tara’s published articles and follow Tara on LinkedIn.

Meet the Editorial Team

Breanna Gream, Data Insights Team Lead

Bachelor of Business (Finance) with Distinction & Bachelor of Mathematics (Applied Computational Modelling) with Distinction, QUT

Breanna Gream is Canstar’s Data Insights Team Lead, responsible for developing the methodology and delivering Canstar Blue’s Value Ranking and determining Outstanding Value award winners for the energy and telecommunications sectors. Breanna completed a double Bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Finance, and Mathematics, majoring in Applied Computational Modelling, at the Queensland University of Technology.

Breanna enjoys using her skills to help consumers find more suitable utilities plans by transforming complex calculations into a Value Rank that provides a simpler way to compare different products. She most recently developed Value Ranking methodologies for wireless broadband plans and solar energy plans, to make it easier for households to identify plans that provide good value not just in terms of prices but also the features they offer. Breanna’s work on Value Ranking plays a key part in determining the winners of Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value awards for electricity, gas, solar, phone and internet brands.

Many of the articles published by Canstar Blue feature calculations also undertaken by Breanna and her team, which converts pricing data into easy-to-understand cost forecasts and average price information for readers.

During her time at Canstar Blue, Breanna has developed an in-depth knowledge of product, market and regulatory changes across the electricity, solar, gas, internet and phone sectors, and particularly likes keeping Canstar Blue’s methodologies up to date and reflective of the ever-changing utilities environment.

When Breanna’s not crunching data, she’s likely to be somewhere remote – two of her favourite things to do are hiking and mountain climbing.

Meet the Research Team