Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Compare electricity plans from some of the biggest providers across Australia to help you find the best value for money.
Our electricity comparison service is free to use and only requires a postcode to get started. Plus, we’ll never ask for your phone number!
We include a unique ‘value score’ that ranks electricity plans based on other value-add features in addition to price. Learn more.
To compare electricity plans, enter your postcode into our comparison tool and select your suburb from the drop-down list. If you have a recent bill handy, you can input your energy usage details for the most accurate quotes. If you don’t have a bill, you can still compare plans based on typical pricing in your area.
You will see a list of plans available in your area. By clicking on two or three of them, you can use our three-way compare tool to dive deeper into the specific details of each plan. This allows you to directly compare the usage and supply rates, as well as any other incentives that may be available.
The following average electricity bills are taken from our customer satisfaction ratings research published in 2021. The annual costs reported include households of all sizes and should only be considered as a general guide.
Average Annual Electricity Bill by State/Territory
Read more about average electricity bills.
Peak and off-peak electricity times refer to separate usage rates that are charged for different times of the day. This type of pricing structure is only available to customers on a time of use tariff. A flexible pricing tariff means customers are charged three separate electricity usage rates for either ‘peak’, ‘off-peak’ or ‘shoulder’ periods, and is common for households with smart meters installed.
There are a few scenarios in life which could leave you scratching your head trying to figure out who your energy provider is. Whether you’ve moved into a new place and have stayed with the previous occupant’s energy provider, or the energy bill responsibility has just been passed down to you and you’re unsure of where to even start, don’t fret, there are a couple of things you can do to check.
To issue a complaint about your electricity retailer, you can contact the energy Ombudsman for your respective state or territory.
Before submitting a complaint to the ombudsman, try resolving the issue with your electricity retailer first. You and your energy company will usually be able to reach a solution without a need to take it further.
Most energy companies let you switch online in a process that often takes just a matter of minutes. Before you do this, however, make sure you’re not locked into a minimum term contract with your existing provider, because if you are, a cancellation or exit fee may need to be paid. If you have an open term contract, it will not be necessary to inform your current provider that you’re leaving – your new energy company will handle that for you. To switch energy providers, you will usually have to provide the following information:
Be aware, your new provider may carry out a credit check before signing you up. You can check your credit score for free here.
Once this is done, your local distributor will take a meter reading for your final bill with your old provider and to start a fresh billing cycle.
There are no costs for switching providers, nor do electricity retailers charge a sign-up fee. That said, if you are on a minimum-term contract, there may be exit fees for switching. Fortunately these fees are not terribly expensive, usually costing $20 to $80. For those moving house, there may be a reconnection fee of around $20-$50 if the new property has been disconnected from the energy network.
Switching energy providers at the same property should in no way affect your supply of electricity. This is because the distributor is simply changing which retailer it informs about your electricity usage – there is no need for any changes to your home’s electrical infrastructure.
There are generally two types of electricity plans on offer from retailers – market offers and standard retail contracts. Market offers are usually the most competitive plans advertised by electricity providers, and often come with cheaper rates, sign-up incentives and other value-add perks for customers. Both of these plan types can come with variable or fixed rates, as well as green energy options.
Market retail contracts are energy plans designed by retailers. These are almost always cheaper than the alternative standard retail contracts that are also offered, and are likely to include discounts, incentives and bonuses for customers. The main downside to market offers is that your retailer can change the prices you’re charged at any time, unless it is a fixed rate plan. The majority of these offers come with variables rates. Not all households in Australia will have access to market retail offers.
Standard retail contracts are plans with the terms and prices set by a state government. Retailers in deregulated electricity markets must provide a standard retail contract by law as a default option for customers who have yet to switch to a market offer contract. Standard retailer contracts have fixed prices for six month intervals, however the rates are generally higher than those of market retail offers and there are no discounts available. As such, standard offers are more expensive and are not intended as a viable alternative to market contracts.
A variable rate plan means the amount you are charged for power usage or supply can change at your retailer’s discretion. The majority of retail market contracts have variable rates, which are typically reviewed every 12 months. Variable rate plans are usually available on one or two-year contracts, but some providers do offer open contracts. Exit fees will often apply if you cancel the agreement. Variable rate plans generally provide the best value, but you must be sure to regularly review your options as charges and discounts change.
A fixed rate plan means the amount you are charged for energy usage and supply will not be changed during the term of your agreement. While prices on variable rate plans will change every year, fixed rate plans provide some certainty over the rates you will pay for electricity. However, your bills will still fluctuate depending on your usage habits. Fixed rate plans are only available on one or two-year contracts, meaning that you will be protected from any rate increases over that period. Only a handful of providers offer fixed rate plans, including AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia and Tango Energy.
Many retailers offer business and residential customers the option to have some or all of their energy usage reimbursed to the electricity grid from renewable energy sources. GreenPower plans are usually offered with 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% renewable generation. GreenPower plans involve paying a few cents extra per kWh, potentially making it rather expensive.
An electricity supply charge is a cost incurred for remaining connected to an energy network. Supply charges vary considerably from state to state, generally ranging in costs from 80c to $1.50 each day. Even if you don’t use any power, you will still need to pay the supply charge. Despite supply costs being a charge imposed by energy distributors, the rates will vary from retailer to retailer. As supply charges can heavily contribute to your bill, it’s important you check the energy price factsheet.
Electricity usage charges are what you pay for each kWh of electricity your household consumes – the more energy you use, the more you will pay. Usage charges generally cost around 20c/kWh to 40c/kWh, but prices vary significantly between states and depending on your provider. Usage charges will typically be the most costly element of your electricity bill, so it’s very important to understand what rate you are paying and whether you could find a lower rate with a different supplier.
A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit of measurement used for measuring electricity usage for billing purposes. Simply put, a kilowatt (kW) is a measurement of how much electricity an appliance demands in order to operate, while a kWh is the number of kilowatts that your household consumes over a period of time.
A tariff refers to the pricing structure of your electricity usage charges. Depending on your tariff, you may be charged different rates depending on when, or how, you use electricity. Tariffs can vary between energy retailers, but the most common electricity tariffs are:
The tariff available to you depends on your meter type. Old meters will usually be on single rate tariffs, while newer meters can take a number of usage measurements for multi-tariff rates.
Discounts are a percentage deduction made from your electricity costs at the end of each billing period. Energy discounts are only available on market retail contracts, and the amount you are discounted – if at all – will vary across different plans and electricity companies. Discounts you might commonly encounter include:
The discount amount, which can vary from as low as 2% up to 40% or more, will usually be taken off your electricity usage costs. However, some providers have discounts off your entire bill instead. Be aware that not all high-discount plans work out the cheapest overall options as some of the contracts with the highest discounts will also include the highest usage or supply charges, which can negate the overall savings. Failing to meet the conditions of your discount could also mean you are charged a fee. Also keep in mind that energy discounts have benefit periods and can expire.
A discount benefit period is the length of time that your energy discount will apply. In most cases, benefit periods last for 12 months, although some electricity retailers offer discounts over two years, or even ongoing. Once the benefit period ends, you will likely have to start paying the full, non-discounted rate for power, which could be considerably more. It’s best to treat big-discount plans as introductory offers and review your options at the end of the benefit period.
Each state and territory provides a number of government-mandated concessions designed to assist households experiencing hardship that affects electricity requirements or their ability to pay bills. Depending on the type of government concession or rebate, customers may be required to hold one of the following:
The names and availability of assistance schemes will vary across states, but they generally include:
Emergency relief assistance: Customers who are at risk of being disconnected due to a legitimate inability to pay their utility bill may be eligible to receive a one-off payment. This can only be applied every 12 or 24 months depending on your state.
Medical Energy rebate: Customers who require energy-consuming medical equipment or must regularly use heating or cooling appliances for medical purposes may receive an annual rebate. Some states such as Victoria instead supply a reasonable discount on your energy bill.
Other rebates, concessions and discounts: Depending on your state, several other assistance programs may be available to you if you are:
Bill smoothing is a payment scheme with which customers can pay fixed monthly, fortnightly or weekly installments towards their expected electricity bill. Your retailer will forecast your annual electricity requirements, given your history, to see how much you should be paying. Incorrect estimates will be settled in later bills. Bill smoothing is a great option for those who like a predictable budget. The idea behind paying the same amount each billing cycle is that you won’t be taken by surprise in peak energy usage seasons.
Electricity meters are devices that read your household’s energy usage. These are either an older accumulation meter or a newer digital meter, known as a ‘smart meter’. Smart meters are meters that provide energy usage information every half hour, allowing households and businesses to more closely monitor usage through apps and web portals, as well as benefit from flexible pricing tariffs.
Smart meters are installed in most Victorian homes and are becoming increasingly common in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. Some energy providers, such as Powershop, have built their business models around the use of smart meters. It is recommended that customers monitor their electricity usage through their smart meter to become better informed about their usage habits, which could result in reduced costs.
If a meter reader is unable to access your electricity meter (e.g. due to an aggressive dog), then the distributor will estimate your energy usage based on previous records and your retailer will charge you accordingly. If this is the case, an ‘E’ will be displayed next to your usage figure on your bill. If it is later learned that this was an incorrect estimate, you will be charged more or less accordingly on your next bill. This is not a problem for households with smart meters, given usage data is automatically transferred to your distributor. You may also be able to submit your own meter reading.
Energy Plans for Seniors & Pensioners
Peak & Off-Peak Electricity Times
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