Canstar Blue’s annual review of electricity and gas providers compares AGL, Alinta Energy, ActewAGL, EnergyAustralia, Lumo Energy, Momentum Energy, Origin, Red Energy and Simply Energy on their bill & cost clarity, customer service, value for money and more.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Momentum Energy has maintained its top rating for electricity & gas providers in Australia. Momentum earned five-star reviews on factors including ease of sign-up, customer service and value for money, leading the way from eight other energy retailers for the second year in a row.
If you can pay for your electricity and gas with just the one provider – rather than two – it makes perfect sense, right? Well, only if you’re getting a good deal from that one retailer. When it comes to energy, it’s all too easy to ‘set and forget’ and end up paying too much, so you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled and regularly compare your options. Dealing with just the one provider for both electricity and gas may even increase your chances of becoming complacent, but as long as you’re getting a good deal, it could prove financially beneficial – and of course convenient.
Comparing electricity plans can be confusing, so throwing gas prices into the mix will make it even more difficult. That’s why Canstar Blue provides an annual review of electricity and gas (dual fuel) providers to help you make a better-informed decision. We’ve canvassed the opinions of more than 2,900 households across the country to produce the customer satisfaction ratings table you see above, with providers rated on factors including service and value for money. We want to give you a good idea of how these providers are rated by their existing customers, so you can decide whether or not you want to join them! Not all of these retailers operate in all parts of the country – and some only sell electricity in certain areas – so read on for specific details for your state. So, this is what we found…
Here are the best electricity and gas providers in Australia as rated by customers in Canstar Blue’s latest satisfaction survey:
Momentum Energy emerged a clear winner of our 2020 electricity and gas providers review, scoring five stars from customers across many research categories. It was four stars overall for Red Energy, Alinta Energy, Lumo Energy, AGL and EnergyAustralia, with Simply Energy, Origin and ActewAGL all scoring three stars overall.
Owned by renewable energy generation company Hydro Tasmania, Momentum was the only provider in our electricity and gas review to score five stars in areas including customer service, value for money and overall satisfaction. The Melbourne-based retailer has a reputation for ‘keeping things simple’ at a time when comparing electricity and gas plans can be anything but. And even though its plans avoid discounts, Momentum is often competitively-priced across the states that it serves.
At a time when power prices are a hot political issue, you won’t be surprised to learn that value for money was found to be the greatest driver of customer satisfaction identified from the survey, followed by bill & cost clarity and then customer service. Just because you’re getting a cheap price doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting good value from your retailer if it doesn’t respond to your emails or pick up the phone in a timely manner. That’s why our ratings are helpful because they provide a real-world insight into what you can expect from the providers compared. You’ll never know how good, or bad, an energy provider is until you sign up, so this is as close as you’ll get.
Keep in mind that – while our ratings include nine of the most prominent electricity and gas retailers – you may find others operating in your area. Read on for details.
New South Wales has become one of the most competitive states for the energy providers, with several now offering households both electricity and natural gas, helped by the deregulation of the electricity market in 2014 and the natural gas market in 2017. It’s expected that other retailers will follow suit in offering gas in the years to come, but for now NSW customers can choose from the following dual fuel providers:
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 gas deals on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Victorians currently have the greatest choice when it comes to electricity and gas providers, with the big three – AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia – becoming increasingly challenged by several smaller suppliers that continue to chip away at their market share. The following offer both electricity and gas packages in Victoria.
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 gas deals on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
South Australians have fewer electricity and gas options to choose from than households in other states, but there is still healthy competition if you choose to get both energy sources from one retailer.
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.
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for SA. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Adelaide and yearly gas usage of 11,875MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
In Queensland, the only four retailers that offer dual fuel electricity and natural gas plans are Origin, AGL, Red Energy and CovaU. They provide natural gas across much of south east and regional Queensland, but when it comes to electricity, Ergon Energy remains the sole retailer in regional areas. In the Brisbane area, there are about 20 electricity providers competing for customers, helped by the lifting of price regulations in 2016.
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 gas deals on our database for QLD. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Brisbane and yearly gas usage of 6,842MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
There are currently just three electricity retailers operating across Tasmania, namely Aurora Energy, 1st Energy and Future X Power. The Tasmanian energy market allows for other retailers to compete for customers, but so far only two have decided to take on government-owned Aurora. When it comes to gas, Aurora is joined in competition by Tas Gas.
Here are the published electricity deals from the retailers on our database for Tasmania. These cost estimates are based on a household with an annual electricity usage of 6,775kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff at a selected postcode in Tasmania, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Use our comparison tool for a more specific comparison in your area. This table includes featured products from a referral partner. Our database may not cover all deals available in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
The Western Australia energy market is rather more complicated than the eastern states, with just one electricity provider in the Perth area (Synergy) and just one in regional areas (Horizon Power). However, several companies now compete for gas customers – namely Origin, AGL, Kleenheat, Alinta Energy and Simply Energy.
Buying electricity and gas from the same provider certainly makes life a little easier, but you should only do so if you’re getting a good deal. Like signing up for any energy plan, be sure to read the fine print, including details of any conditional discount that may be available for getting a dual fuel package from the same provider. It’s pretty common for the retailers to offer sign-up bonuses with dual fuel packages, including discounts for paying bills on time, by direct debit, or for receiving bills via email. You could also get a rebate on your first bill by signing up online.
To make sure you’re getting a good deal overall, make sure you compare a wide range of electricity and gas plans from different providers, and always read their energy price fact sheets for the specific details on charges, fees and conditions.
Your electricity and gas bills will be made up of two main charges:
If you’re a small household that doesn’t use much energy, pay particular attention to the supply charges of your gas and electricity plans as these could make up a higher proportion of your overall costs. On the other hand, if you’re a large household with medium to high energy usage, pay particularly close attention to the usage charges.
Electricity and gas prices can change frequently, so regardless of which provider you go with, be sure to regularly review your options and don’t be afraid to challenge your retailer to give you a better deal.
Getting electricity and gas from the same provider can certainly be convenient, but here are some of the questions you may have before or after signing up.
Generally, your energy retailer will send you two separate bills for your electricity and gas, as each bill will have its own account number. Depending on your energy retailer, you may receive your electricity bill monthly, while your gas bill could come quarterly, for example.
You will receive two separate bills for electricity and gas given that your electricity and gas meters are read by different distribution companies at different times. These distribution companies then pass on the readings to your retailer for billing purposes. As a result, it’s most likely that you will receive gas and electricity bills at different times.
On paper, gas can be an incredibly viable option to power your home, but it has limited utility, while electricity can generate power for almost any application. Aside from rates, you should also take into consideration how much certain gas or electric appliances cost to purchase, and whether the running costs are worth the investment. If you’d like to learn more about how electricity prices compare to gas, read our handy guide.
Paying for electricity and gas with the same retailer does not necessarily mean you’ll be saving on your overall energy costs. In some cases, energy providers offer incentives on dual fuel plans, such as double up discounts, but they could still end up being more expensive in the long run than taking out electricity from one retailer and gas with another. That’s why it’s imperative to compare electricity and gas plans separately to ensure you’re getting competitive deals on both counts.
Some energy retailers may offer additional discounts for combining your electricity and gas, while others may provide other sign-up incentives, like customer rewards. Discounts aside, it’s always a good idea to check the fine print of the electricity and gas plan to make sure you’re not missing out on cheaper usage rates. However, in some cases, a discount could be the point of difference in choosing one provider over another, particularly if the usage rates are already competitive.
This page was originally published by Canstar Blue Editor-in-Chief Simon Downes. He’s been writing about the Australian energy industry for more than five years, covering the evolution of the competitive market, retailer behaviour, regulatory changes and what it all means for consumers trying to find a better deal. He’s passionate about helping Aussies better understand their options and highlighting the best new deals. Simon also acts as spokesperson for Canstar Blue and is one of Australia’s most prominent energy industry commentators.
The table below shows which retailers sell both electricity and gas – and in which states. Note that we only show the states where the retailers sells both electricity and gas. They may sell electricity only in other areas.
| Electricity and Gas Retailer | States | Dual fuel? |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland | |
| Origin | Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland, ACT | |
| EnergyAustralia | Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland, ACT | |
| Red Energy | Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland | |
| Alinta Energy | Victoria, NSW, South Australia | |
| Dodo Power & Gas | Victoria, NSW, South Australia | |
| Click Energy | Victoria, NSW, South Australia | |
| Simply Energy | Victoria, NSW, South Australia | |
| Amaysim Energy | Victoria, NSW, South Australia | |
| Lumo Energy | Victoria, South Australia | |
| Momentum Energy | Victoria | |
| GloBird Energy | Victoria | |
| Sumo | Victoria, NSW | |
| Powershop | Victoria | |
| CovaU | Victoria, NSW, Queensland | |
| ActewAGL | NSW, ACT | |
| Aurora Energy | Tasmania |
AGL is a household name in the Australian retail energy market, offering electricity and gas plans to customers in VIC, NSW, QLD and SA. AGL offers a wide range of electricity plans, some of which have yearly bill credits for doubling up with a gas plan. Some products feature fixed rates, bonus credits towards bills, as well as other sign-up incentives and customer rewards. Customers looking for a relatively high feed-in tariff are also in luck with AGL.
Origin continues to be one of the country’s leading dual fuel providers, offering numerous plans in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and ACT. Currently, Origin offers discounts off electricity and gas usage charges, as well as additional discounts for customers who sign up online. Customers have the option of choosing a plan with lower rates that are locked in for a benefit period of 12 months, meaning rates will not change during this period. Aside from natural gas plans, Origin also offers solar plans and LPG services across most of Australia.
EnergyAustralia is one of the ‘big three’ energy retailers in the country, offering a wide variety of electricity and gas plans to customers in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and ACT. Like AGL and Origin, EnergyAustralia offers plans with competitive gas supply and usage rates, as well as decent solar feed-in tariffs. All of EnergyAustralia’s plans have no confusing discounts or sign-up incentives, just the promise of ‘great low rates’, which are fixed for 12 months.
Red Energy is the best-rated electricity provider in NSW for the fifth year in a row from our review, highlighting the retailer’s commitment to providing Aussies with great service. Red Energy offers electricity and gas deals in VIC, NSW, QLD and SA, which have conditional discounts and a generous frequent flyer rewards program. For gas customers, Red Energy provides natural gas plans with pay on time discounts, plus its electricity plans come with competitive feed-in tariffs.
Alinta Energy is a major electricity and gas provider in NSW, VIC, and SA, which has proved to be a challenge to the big three – AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia. If you live in Victoria, Alinta Energy offers customers dual fuel plans with bill credits for customers who sign up to both electricity and gas. Moving away from big conditional discounts, Alinta Energy now focuses on straightforward plans with low electricity rates.
Dodo sells both electricity and gas plans to customers in NSW and VIC. Known primarily for telco, Dodo Power & Gas has maintained fairly competitive electricity prices, and has a decent variable rate market offer which has no confusing discounts. Dodo also offers double up discounts for those looking to purchase electricity and gas together, as well as internet.
Click Energy is relatively new to the gas market, offering electricity and gas plans for customers in VIC and NSW. Click Energy’s online business model claims to offer great value to customers looking for alternatives to the major energy retailers. Click Energy is renowned for straightforward plans with sign-up incentives, such as gift cards, as well as solar-related products with relatively high feed-in tariffs.
Simply Energy boasts a portfolio of over 500,000 customers in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC, with dual fuel plans for each of these states with the exception of QLD. Simply Energy has teamed up with each state’s auto clubs to provide customers with generous anniversary credits for eligible members, plus other incentives like free movie tickets. Simply Energy only offers gas plans that are bundled with an electricity plan, where further discounts apply off gas usage rates if bills are paid on time.
Amaysim Energy is best known as a mobile phone provider but is now building a solid reputation in the retail energy market with electricity and gas plans in NSW, VIC and SA. Despite Amaysim Energy owning Click Energy, the retailer operates independently, and provides a range of plans with no exit fees or confusing discounts. Besides dual fuel plans, Amaysim Energy also offers solar deals with feed-in tariff rates that may be quite appealing.
Lumo Energy services customers after combined electricity and gas plans in VIC and SA. Owned by Snowy Hydro, Lumo Energy offers a wide variety of energy plans packed with conditional discounts and other customer incentives. Lumo Energy also provides electricity and gas plans that are particularly great for renters or customers who move frequently, with no connection or reconnection fees. The retailer has a rewards program, however does not offer much in the way of solar-related products.
Owned by Hydro Tasmania, Momentum Energy has fast become one of Australia’s biggest renewable energy producers. Dual fuel plans are on offer to customers in Victoria only, and has steered away from large discounts, instead focusing on competitive rates. Natural gas plans come with no credit card or exit fees, similar to its electricity deals, and may offer a signup bonus credit off the first gas bill, depending on the plan.
GloBird Energy has emerged as a serious contender for electricity and gas plans in Victoria. GloBird Energy bases its model on cheap energy prices and big savings, rather than GreenPower options or helpful online tools. Claimed to be 100% Australian-owned, GloBird Energy offers discounts, low base rates, and highly competitive gas and electricity prices in the state. However, GloBird Energy has been criticised in the past for changing its gas prices more often than other retailers.
Sumo is another emerging gas and electricity retailer, offering great credits for customers in Victoria and NSW looking to double up. Aside from being an energy retailer, Sumo Power is also an NBN provider, which is handy for households that want to take advantage of its bill credits for bundling services, including internet with electricity and gas. With its electricity and gas plans, Sumo Power offers notable bill credits, as well as zero exit fees on its regular market offer plans.
Powershop is ranked Australia’s greenest energy company according to Greenpeace, offering both electricity and gas to customers in Victoria. However, gas plans are only available to customers who sign up to electricity as well. Powershop has an unconventional billing model compared to other retailers, allowing customers to pre-purchase Powerpacks, as opposed to receiving regular energy bills. Customers can buy energy in advance when rates are lower and opt for GreenPower packs, as well as receive average feed-in tariffs for solar customers.
CovaU is a fairly small energy retailer offering both electricity and gas to customers in NSW, QLD and Victoria. Many of CovaU’s energy plans offer households pay on time discounts, direct debit discounts, however it’s solar feed-in tariffs aren’t very competitive. While CovaU doesn’t offer much in the way of gas plans, the retailer does give customers access to a range of rewards including exclusive deals and sign-up incentives.
ActewAGL provides dual fuel options for customers in both NSW and ACT, which have guaranteed discounts for combining electricity and gas. Although ActewAGL only services the Essential Energy distribution network, prices will vary depending on where customers live. Additionally, ActewAGL also provides sells and installs solar-related products with a standard feed-in tariff, plus GreenPower options for environmentally conscious customers.
Aurora Energy is the only electricity provider in Tasmania allowing customers to combine with a gas plan. Aurora Energy offers households straightforward energy prices, along with no significant discounts or sign-up gimmicks. Customers with Aurora Energy have multiple tariff options which all come with different usage and supply charges, some of which are vastly cheaper than others. Aurora Energy also offers LPG services and provide GreenPower options.
It’s Canstar Blue’s mission to help you find a better deal on both electricity and gas. We do this in a number of ways, including price comparison tables for electricity, as well as our customer satisfaction ratings for both electricity and gas providers across Australia. Simply navigate the menu at the top of this page and select either electricity or gas in your state.
Our website helps you compare both electricity and gas providers on important factors like bill & cost clarity, customer service and value for money. Thousands of Australian consumers have taken part in our annual ratings to help you find a better deal.
You can also compare electricity and gas providers with our unique ‘value score’ feature which lists plans based on which offer the best overall value, rather than just the cheapest prices, based on our expert research and methodology. Enter your postcode into our selector, fill out a short questionnaire about your energy requirements, and you’ll see a selection of plans available in your area.
Click here for more details on our pricing and value scores methodology.
What is the best electricity and gas provider? Our survey of more than 2,900 households found:
Canstar Blue surveyed 12,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have the same energy retailer for their electricity and natural gas, and they pay the bills – in this case, 2,941 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
2019
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2017
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