AGL Energy Review and Rates

Integrated energy company AGL is one of Australia’s oldest companies, originally established as the ‘Australian Gas Light Company’ to bring power to Sydney in 1837 – hence the AGL acronym. It’s now one of the biggest electricity and gas retailers in the country, with millions of gas and electricity customers.

Operating primarily in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and South East Queensland, AGL provides its customers with a wide range of electricity and gas services. It has also recently launched in the WA natural gas market and is one of the country’s leading providers of solar-specific energy plans. AGL also claims to be “the largest ASX-listed owner, operator and developer of renewable energy generation in the country”.

When it comes to its energy plans, customers are drawn to AGL through its partnership with flybuys, the AGL rewards program, online sign-up bonuses, and fixed rate power plans that see households lock in competitive rates for a set period of time.

In this review, Canstar Blue will examine AGL’s electricity plans, rates, discounts and incentives, showing what you can expect to pay if you sign up.

Compare Electricity Plans

AGL Electricity Prices

We outline AGL’s electricity plans in detail below to give you an insight into what you’ll actually pay. Read on for all the details, but first, here is a quick price comparison.

Victoria

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for Victoria. 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. 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.

NSW

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for NSW. 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. 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

Queensland

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for SE QLD. 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. 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.

South Australia

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for South Australia. 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. 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.

AGL Energy Plans

AGL offers a concise range of residential energy plans to suit varying preferences, with prospective customers able to sign up online or by calling the AGL customer service line. AGL now specialises in fixed rate electricity plans with a range of extra value-add incentives. Its variable rate plan comes with a guaranteed discount off usage and supply charges.

Customers additionally have the choice of adding one of AGL’s green products to their electricity plan, with AGL sourcing power equal to 10, 20 or 100 per cent of the customer’s entire household electricity consumption from renewable energy sources, approved under the GreenPower voluntary government accredited program. While all AGL market offers come with a solar feed-in tariff (FiT), the retailer reserves its most generous FiTs to those who sign up to ones of its solar-specific plans, which typically come with higher usage charges.

AGL’s residential market offer energy plans, which vary state by state, include:

AGL Essentials

As the name suggests, the AGL Essentials is a fixed rate plan with no flashy discounts or exit fees. The Essentials plan comes with competitive usage and supply rates for 12 months, and also has no exit fees. It also offers 10,000 flybuys points when you sign up. You’ll also get access to AGL Rewards. This plan is only available in Victoria.

AGL Essentials Plus

The ‘Essentials Plus’ plan comes with fixed rates for two years rather than just 12 months, but also has no discounts. What it does have, however, is a $75 online sign-up credit and a $40 yearly bill credit. This product also offers 10,000 flybuys points and access to AGL Rewards. This plan exists in NSW, QLD and SA.

AGL Essentials Saver

The AGL Essentials saver is the retailer’s newest plan, working out to be similar to the plan above- just without the fixed rates. When signing up online, this plan offers a $75 bill credit off your first bill. This plan has slightly lower rates than Essentials Plus.

AGL Seniors Plus

A low rate energy plan for concession card holders with fixed usage and supply rates for two years, the AGL Seniors Plus also gives eligible customers $120 in bill credits rather than discounts.

Where does AGL Energy operate?

If you’re wondering what services AGL is offering in your state, look no further than the table below. We summarise what you can expect to find from AGL in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, ACT and WA.

AGL Electricity Rates

AGL is generally a competitively-priced electricity retailer, often with great conditional value-add incentives like bill credits and flybuys points. Incentives aside, customers should also look out for other features of energy plans, such as competitive usage and supply rates. Be sure to pay close attention to which plans are available in your area because the cheapest product in one state may not be the best bet in another state.

To offer a guide as to where AGL sits among the cheapest energy companies in your state, Canstar Blue regularly compares electricity plans to show what households can expect to pay. The following annual costs for AGL are based on single rate tariffs and average energy consumption figures for households in each state. We show plans that are currently publicly available.

AGL Electricity Prices Victoria

In the table below, we show AGL prices on the Citipower network in Melbourne. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the VDO, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year, meaning the VDO is $1,334/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

~Price assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditions discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Citipower network in Melbourne, but prices will differ between distribution areas. September 2019.

See our Victorian electricity price report to see how AGL compares to other retailers in the state.

AGL Electricity Prices NSW

In the table below, we show AGL prices on the Ausgrid network in Sydney. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,467/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditions discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Ausgrid network in Sydney, but prices differ between distribution areas. September 2019.

See how AGL compares to other power providers in NSW with our state price comparison report.

AGL Electricity Prices QLD

In the table below, we show AGL prices on the Energex network in Brisbane. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,570/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 4600Wh/year. Estimated price includes any conditional discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Energex network in Brisbane, but prices will differ between distribution areas. September 2019.

How does AGL compare to other retailers in Queensland? See our QLD price comparison page.

AGL Electricity Prices SA

In the table below, we show AGL prices on the SA Power network in Adelaide. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,941/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditions discounts that may be available. Pricing based on SA Power network in Adelaide, but prices differ between distribution areas. September 2019.

How does AGL stack up in South Australia? Find out with our SA price comparison report.

Retired AGL Energy Products

In July 2019, AGL made changes to its product offerings to comply with regulatory changes, however some customers may still be on one of the retired plans noted below.

AGL Savers

This was, for some time, one of AGL’s flagship, big discount electricity plans on the east coast. This variable rate plan saw its pay on time discount reach more than 30%, with a 12 month benefit period before the discount disappeared.

AGL Smart Saver

Depending on which state you lived in, the AGL Smart Saver featured a small guaranteed discount off both usage and supply charges. The plan also offered 10,000 flybuys points for signing up online and access to AGL Rewards.

AGL Savers Home Connect

The AGL Savers Home Connect was similar to the Savers plan, but had a smaller discount. Instead, the Savers Home Connect discount applied to both usage and supply charges for a benefit period of 24 months, plus it came with an Amazon Echo Dot smart device when customers signed up online.

AGL Everyday

This plan featured a small discount but it applied to both usage and supply charges. In addition, the discount was also guaranteed, meaning customers would still receive a percentage off their bill even if payment was made a little late.

AGL Prepaid

AGL customers in Victoria had access to a prepaid plan, allowing payment of electricity in advance, with greater savings depending on how much was spent in advance. For example, customers who pay $50 upfront will receive a bonus credit of $10. See here for more details.

Solar Power with AGL

AGL Solar ended its residential installation service in 2018, however AGL says it still continues to help customers get started with solar and battery storage through third-party partners.

Residential customers in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia who already have solar can sign up to AGL’s Solar Savers deal. This plan rewards solar customers with up to a 18c/kWh feed-in tariff over a 24-month benefit period. Better yet, you’re not locked in with this contract, so there’s little risk if you give this deal a try and decide it’s not for you. AGL also offers a smaller feed-in tariff on its non-smaller products between 8.6c/kWh and 14.2c/kWh, depending on your state. You can read our full review of AGL solar here.

AGL Natural Gas

As the ‘Australian Gas Lighting’ company, AGL sells natural gas across the country, offering a suite of different products with large discounts and competitive rates. AGL’s residential gas plans include:

• AGL Essentials
• AGL Essentials Plus
• AGL Smart Saver
• AGL Savers
• AGL Set and Forget
• AGL Fixed Rate

AGL Essentials (natural gas)

This is a fixed rate plan, meaning gas prices won’t change for the one-year life of the contract. Customers on AGL Essentials will also receive 10,000 flybuys points when signing up online.

AGL Essentials Plus (natural gas)

Similar to the standard Essentials plan, the AGL Essentials Plus sees rated locked in for 24 months rather than just one year. The plan also includes 10,000 flybuys points, plus $20 bill credit every six months during the two-year contract.

AGL Smart Saver (natural gas)

The AGL Smart Saver is a 12-month variable rate plan that gives customers a modest discount off gas usage and supply charges. Additionally, the product offers 10,000 flybuys points for signing up online. The AGL Smart Saver is only available to customers in NSW.

AGL’s WA Gas Plans

AGL Savers (natural gas)

Only offered in Western Australia, AGL Savers is a variable rate gas plan with a generous pay on time discount off gas usage charges. The discount has been known to reach as high as 43%. The product comes with 10,000 flybuys points when signing up online, and gives customers one month of free gas.

AGL Set & Forget (natural gas)

Exclusive to WA customers, this variable rate product features a large discount off usage charges if bills are paid via direct debit. This discount has topped out at 44% off usage charges! The plan also includes 10,000 flybuys points when signing up online, as well as one month of gas free.

AGL Fixed Rate (natural gas)

The AGL Fixed Rate is a gas plan for WA customers where rates are fixed for two years. It comes with 10,000 flybuys points for customers who sign up online and competitive usage and supply rates.

AGL Rewards

AGL customers can join the AGL Rewards program, comprising special offers, discounts and benefits at over 1,600 participating businesses nationally, including discounts on a range of popular gift cards, as well as discounted movie tickets, up to 50% off at selected restaurants, discounted travel and accommodation, and reduced prices for certain attractions and theme parks.

AGL also provides its customers the opportunity to collect flybuys shopping rewards program points via a number of different offers. By signing up online, new customers can earn 10,000 bonus points straight away.

AGL Billing

In terms of invoice payments, AGL offers a range of options, with customers able to pay via the AGL website by either credit card or PayPal, by direct debit, BPay, Post Billpay, or in person at Australia Post offices, via post by cheque or money order.

AGL’s Bill Smoothing provides for the estimated total cost of a customer’s energy bills for the next year to be spread across equal monthly or fortnightly instalments, with weekly instalments also potentially available for direct debit customers.

AGL Online Tools

AGL provides a variety of tools for account management, with AGL Energy Online allowing customers to view and monitor their energy usage and bill details, receive bills via email, update personal details and organise a home or small business move. Customers can also manage their account via the AGL Energy app.

My AGL IQ, meanwhile, provides for customers to monitor and manage energy usage, track how much energy is being used, compare energy usage to similar homes (residential accounts only), build a personal energy-saving action plan, complete a home profile to receive more targeted energy saving advice and tips, and set goals and track performance against them.

Is AGL right for me?

As one of Australia’s largest energy companies, AGL is well-resourced to deliver competitive rates, plenty of value-add incentives, and a quality service to its customers. While AGL is not always the cheapest, it is one of few energy retailers with a rewards program and 24/7 phone support, which may provide additional ‘value’ depending on what kind of retailer you’re looking for. If you want to remain with AGL long-term, you may need to make the occasional phone call to ensure you’re still getting its cheapest offer.

AGL can probably be considered a safe bet for anyone wanting a reliable and well-rounded energy service, however, you will probably need to shop around if you’re looking for the cheapest electricity deal possible.

How do customers rate AGL?

In 2019, electricity customers in New South Wales gave AGL 4 out of 5 stars for overall satisfaction in our customer ratings report.

Click here to view how AGL was rated in our South Australian electricity provider ratings.
Click here to view how AGL was rated in our Queensland electricity provider ratings.
Click here to view how AGL was rated in our Victorian electricity provider ratings.