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Challenger brand Alinta Energy, has taken a major step towards lowering its customers’ energy emissions after launching its first carbon neutral energy plan for households.
The provider, which is a household favourite among Queenslanders, is now offering carbon offset electricity and natural gas to households in New South Wales, Victoria, south-east Queensland and South Australia. Western Australian households are also eligible for the natural gas product.
Under the new Carbon Balance plan, customers will see 100% of the greenhouse emissions associated with their electricity or natural gas usage offset by Alinta Energy through the purchase of carbon-offset units eligible under the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.
The carbon offsets will be included in the usage and supply rates charged to customers under the Carbon Balance plan, so there are no additional costs for customers on their final bill.
Carbon Balance comes with variable rates on an ongoing contract. There are also no exit fees on this offer and monthly billing options are available.
For the full terms and conditions, it is best to visit the Alinta Energy website for more information.
We have included pricing estimates for the Carbon Balance electricity plan in NSW, VIC, SEQ and SA below. For specific rates in your area, it is best to head to our free comparison tool.
Alinta Energy Electricity Prices
Here are the Alinta Energy plans on our database for NSW. These are products from a referral partner†. 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 3911kWh/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 the Alinta Energy plans on our database for VIC. These are products from a referral partner†. 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 the Alinta Energy plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. 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 4613kWh/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 the Alinta Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. 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 4011kWh/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.
What is Climate Active?
Climate Active is an Australian Government-backed initiative that works to drive voluntary climate action from Australian businesses such as energy providers, banks and telcos. Companies that have a Climate Active certification can hold one at either a product, service or organisational level, depending on their processes, contributions and practices in the carbon neutral and renewable energy space.
In the case of Alinta Energy, the retailer has obtained Climate Active certification for its Carbon Balance plan. This means the provider purchases and retires carbon-offset units eligible under the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard, to offset the amount of energy used by customers on this electricity and gas product. The carbon offset units purchased and retired support Australian projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. These projects can vary from tree planting projects to solar, wind farm or hydro dam developments.
If I buy carbon neutral electricity, am I using green energy?
While purchasing carbon neutral electricity, such as that offered on Alinta Energy’s new Carbon Balance plan, helps to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, it doesn’t necessarily mean customers are using green energy in their home. This is because green energy and carbon neutral energy are two completely different things.
Green energy as a blanket term refers to electricity that has been generated from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro-electricity or bioenergy. Carbon neutral energy, however, refers to energy that has had its emissions offset through projects such as reforestation and improving energy efficiency standards. Carbon offset electricity is, for the most part, still generated from non-renewable sources, such as coal or natural gas, which means customers are still accessing and contributing fossil fuels to the electricity grid.
That being said, purely ‘green’ energy in Australia is also hard to come by, given that all electricity generation mixes are combined when it comes to delivering power to homes connected to the grid. Customers looking for more renewable energy sources then may be better off self-generating their own electricity through the likes of rooftop solar panels, or supporting GreenPower initiatives through their provider. These schemes allow households to match the electricity usage, like for like, with power from renewable generators. This renewable power is then fed into the electricity grid on that customer’s behalf, for all those connected to the grid to benefit from.
Interested in GreenPower plans instead? See plans from providers that offer GreenPower add-ons in your state below
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that have a GreenPower option and 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 3911kWh/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. The annual cost estimates for the plans below may not include the cost of GreenPower. The extra cost of GreenPower may vary between retailers.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that have a GreenPower option and 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. The annual cost estimates for the plans below may not include the cost of GreenPower. The extra cost of GreenPower may vary between retailers.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that have a GreenPower option and 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 4613kWh/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. The annual cost estimates for the plans below may not include the cost of GreenPower. The extra cost of GreenPower may vary between retailers.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that have a GreenPower option and 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 4011kWh/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. The annual cost estimates for the plans below may not include the cost of GreenPower. The extra cost of GreenPower may vary between retailers.
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