Last updated: August 2022
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool, allows consumers to compare the estimated annual price of a plan against its included features for each of these three main categories:
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool compares single rate and single rate with controlled load plans. The following eligibility criteria are applied for electricity plans.
| Tariff Type | Description | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|
|
Single Rate |
Standard residential retail electricity tariff for general residential electricity supply. Consumers pay the same price for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) used, or pay a stepped usage rate for ‘blocks’ of electricity consumed. |
Plan must be available under a single rate tariff which may be called:
Does not include:
|
|
Single Rate with Controlled Load |
Residential electricity tariff dedicated to large, high energy-usage appliances that are often metered separately to the rest of the property and run on off-peak times (usually overnight). Controlled load tariffs may be used for hardwired appliances, such as, but not limited to, hot water systems, pool pumps, or, underfloor heating. |
Plan must be eligible under single rate tariff (as above) with the availability of a controlled load tariff, or, plans must be a controlled load specific plan, which may be called:
Does not include:
|
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool is based on an estimated annual electricity usage from the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Default Market Offer (OMO) Price Determination for residential customers. Usage is split out per distributor region and tariff type.
| State/Territory | Distributor region | Annual Usage Assumptions (in kWh)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Rate | Single Rate + Controlled Load | |||
|
NSW |
Ausgrid | 3,900 kWh | 4,800 kWh
single rate |
2,000 kWh
controlled load |
| Endeavour Energy | 4,900 kWh | 5,200 kWh
single rate |
2,200 kWh
controlled load |
|
| Essential Energy | 4,600 kWh | 4,600 kWh
single rate |
2,000 kWh
controlled load |
|
| OLD | Energex | 4,600 kWh | 4,400 kWh
single rate |
1,900 kWh
controlled load |
| SA | SA Power Networks | 4,000 kWh | 4,200 kWh
single rate |
1,800 kWh
controlled load |
Source: Australian Energy Regulator – Default Market Offer – Final Determination – May 2022.
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool is based on an estimated annual electricity usage from the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) Victorian Default Offer (VDO) Price Determination for residential customers. Usage is split out per distributor region and tariff type.
| State/Territory | Distributor region | Annual Usage Assumptions (in kWh)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Rate | Single Rate + Controlled Load | |||
|
VIC |
AusNet Services
CitiPower Jemena Powercor United Energy |
4,000 kWh |
4,000 kWh single rate |
2,000 kWh controlled load |
Source: Essential Services Commission – Victorian Default Offer – May 2022.
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool is based on an estimated annual electricity usage from the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission’s Utilities (Representative Consumption) Determination. Usage is split out per tariff type.
| State/Territory | Distributor region | Annual Usage Assumptions (in kWh)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Rate | Single Rate + Controlled Load | |||
| ACT | Evoenergy | 6,100 kWh | 6,300 kWh
single rate |
2,500 kWh
controlled load |
Source: Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission – Notifiable instrument Nl2022-311, Utilities (Representative Consumption) Determination 2022 – June 2022.
Canstar Blue’s electricity comparison tool is based on an estimated annual electricity usage from the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020. A household size of 3 people is assumed. Usage is split out for each climate zone and tariff type. For the Single Rate + Controlled Load assumptions, the single rate component uses the same figure from the Single Rate only assumptions. The controlled load component is then determined as 30% of the total usage.
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| State/Territory | Distributor region | Annual Usage Assumptions (in kWh)* | Climate Zone* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Rate | Single Rate+ Controlled Load | ||||
| TAS | TasNetworks | 9,474.61 kWh | 9,474.61 kWh
single rate |
4,060.55 kWh
controlled load |
7
8 |
Source: Australian Energy Regulator – Electricity and Gas consumption benchmarks for residential customers 2020 – June 2020. ‘Postcodes are mapped to climate zones as per the Australian Building Codes Board.
The plan’s display order (Value Rank) is determined by the Price Score and the Feature Score. Canstar ranks Electricity plans based on value for money. The Value Rank takes into account a plans’ estimated annualised price (the ‘Price Score’) and features offered as compared to the market (the ‘Feature Score’). The plans that are lower in cost and have a higher Feature Score will be ranked higher than plans which have higher cost and a lower Feature Score.
The Value Rank incorporates a Price Score weighted at 80% and a Feature Score weighted at 20%. Below is an example of how the Value Rank score is derived, using the figures from the Price Score and Feature Score.
The Price Score is based on the estimated annual price of a plan. The estimated annual price includes usage charges, supply charges, and any discounts included in the plan. The lowest cost plan will receive the top score with all other plans receiving a score relative to the lowest cost plan.
The following is a general representation for calculating the estimated annual price of a plan:
Annual Cost = Usage Charge (365 days) + Supply Charge (365 days) + Additional Cost – Discounts
The following assumptions are applied in the calculation of estimated annual price:
| Period | 365 Days. |
|
Usage |
Based on distributor or postcode usage assumptions. Usage assumptions are based on:
|
| Supply Charges | Considered over 365 days. |
|
Usage Charges |
Applied against the usage outlined with consideration to (where applicable):
|
| Controlled Load | Based on usage assumptions (as above), controlled load tariffs, and supply charges are applied. |
|
Discounts |
Where a discount is applicable they are applied against the appropriate (supply, usage or whole bill) charges.
Guaranteed discounts are applied against the appropriate charges to the full period considered. Conditional discounts, such as direct debit, on-time payment, electronic statement and other conditional discounts are applied against the appropriate charges and are assumed to be met 80% of the time. |
| Additional Costs | Additional cost of plan within the annual cost period which includes any annual fees, monthly fees or membership fees. Does not consider connection fees or account establishment fees. |
Canstar Blue’s Energy Feature Scores use a unique methodology that compares the functionality and flexibility of electricity providers and their plans. Over 100 features are captured on each plan and grouped into three categories as outlined below:
The plan with the highest Feature Score is allocated the maximum score, with all remaining products within the profile scored against it.
| Description | Weight | Examples of Features Captured |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Flexibility | 40% | |
| Renewable and Green Energy Offering | 50% | The presence of renewable initiatives such as solar and green offerings. |
| Contract Terms | 40% | Contract and fixed-price period. |
| Additional Inclusions and Initiatives | 10% | Rewards programs and bonus sign-up incentives. |
| Billing and Payments | 30% | |
| Billing | 40% | Billing options, frequency, alerts and notifications. |
| Payments | 60% | Payment options, payment and account fees and charges. |
| Customer Service and Support | 30% | |
| Enquiries | 35% | Availability of call centre, store, online support, and other support services such as hearing impaired, vision impaired, and interpreter services. |
| Self Service | 35% | Accessibility for customers to manage their account online; accessibility of bill statements (including historical), and usage insights. |
| Research, Tools & Education | 10% | Accessibility to educational material, tools and calculators, FAQs, and community forums. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 20% | Raw customer service score from Canstar Blue’s customer satisfaction rating (if no rating, then median score). |
The feature categories are displayed on Canstar Blue’s comparison tool as a rounded number between 1 & 10. The unweighted scores of the feature categories are used for this display purpose.
We endeavour to include the majority of product providers in the market and to compare the product features most relevant to consumers in our ratings. However, this process is not always possible and it may be that not every product in the market is included in the rating nor every feature compared that is relevant to you.
Canstar monitors changes on an ongoing basis; the Value Rank, Price Score, and Feature Scores of each plan are calculated every day.
Canstar ranks electricity plans based on value for money. Whereby, the Value Rank takes into account a plans’ estimated annual price and features offered as compared to the market. The plans that are lower in price and have a higher Feature Score will be ranked higher than plans which have higher price and a lower Feature Score.