Compare NSW Electricity Providers

Red Energy the highest rated NSW electricity provider

New South Wales customers are now spoilt for choice when it comes to picking electricity providers. The state has become one of the most hotly-contested for the retailers, which is good news for households looking for a better deal. However, with all this competition comes confusion. All electricity providers in NSW will promise you a great deal, but who can you really believe? You’ll obviously demand competitive rates, but what about good customer service too? To find out which energy companies are ticking all the boxes for NSW residents, Canstar Blue produces an annual customer satisfaction review, asking more than 2,200 bill-paying customers about their personal experiences with their electricity providers. Read on to find out which retailers performed well and how you can get a better deal.

This year eight different electricity providers feature in our ratings report, with customers offering their feedback on a range of important factors, including bill & cost clarity, tools & advice, customer service, value for money and environmental sustainability. But despite the increased competition between NSW electricity providers, Red Energy remains the retailer to beat – once again recording five stars for overall satisfaction, in addition to most other research categories. It is the fourth year in a row that Red Energy has come out on top in NSW.

• In addition to overall customer satisfaction, Red Energy achieved five stars on customer service, value for money, bill & cost clarity and environmental sustainability. It also scored three stars on tools & advice.
• Alinta Energy and Dodo Power & Gas recorded four stars for overall customer satisfaction. They also scored four stars across all other research categories, with the only exception being Dodo’s three stars for environmental sustainability.
• AGL, ActewAGL, Click Energy, EnergyAustralia and Origin all got three stars for overall customer satisfaction. There were some creditable results for customer service, but ActewAGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia scored just two stars on value for money.

This year’s review has highlighted a clear divide in customer satisfaction between NSW energy providers big and small. Some people may be sceptical about switching to a smaller electricity company, but these results suggest that doing so may be a smart move. While not necessarily a reflection of prices, Red Energy, Alinta Energy and Dodo customers generally report good ‘value for money’. You can see how they really compare on dollars and cents by searching for your suburb in our electricity comparison tool above. And read on for further details about the energy providers in this review and how you can get a better deal.

Cheap Deals on our Database

Here are the cheapest published deals from the retailers currently on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These costs are based on a typical three-person household living on the Ausgrid network in Sydney, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of price. Use our comparison tool above for a specific comparison in your area. Read on for further details on the retailers in our NSW ratings. These are sponsored products.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Electricity 2 40% discount off usage & supply charges for paying on time	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,479.73Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Simply NRMA Plus 21% pay on time discount for eligible NRMA members	2 YearsBenefit Period	$1,528.93Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	SmilePower Flexi No conditional discounts	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,548.41Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Mega Pack Pre-Paid approx 3 months of power 15% discount when product conditions are met	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,549.70Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Simple Saver No conditional discount	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,550.92Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Market Offer 30% pay on time discount off usage charges	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,563.00Annual Cost**	Go To Site
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

NSW Electricity Providers

Red Energy

Owned by renewable energy generation company Snowy Hydro, Red Energy operates across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, keeping things nice and simple with three electricity market offers for prospective customers to consider. All three come with variable rates and two include modest whole bill discounts for paying bills on time. Red Energy has teamed up with Qantas to offer frequent flyer points with two of its plans, with customers forgoing the conditional discount in exchange for additional Qantas points with one plan. Details below. There are no contract terms or exit fees and the discounts are ongoing. All Red plans also come with access to Red Energy Rewards, the retailer’s rewards program that can deliver discounts on various social activities, such as movie tickets, hotels and attractions. Red Energy is the highest rated electricity provider in our NSW review for the fifth year in succession. In addition to overall satisfaction, it got five stars for customer service, value for money, bill & cost clarity and environmental sustainability, with three stars for tools & advice.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Living Energy Saver 10% pay on time discount off entire bill	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,593.02Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Qantas Red Saver 10% discount, receive 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on energy when bills paid on time	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,605.72Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Qantas Red Plus Receive 7 Qantas Points per $1 spent on energy when bills paid on time	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,783.10Annual Cost**	Go To Site
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Alinta Energy

A major gas and electricity retailer in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, Alinta Energy is a new addition to our NSW electricity provider ratings for 2018, suggesting that it is increasing its presence in the state significantly. Alinta Energy remains based in Sydney, but was recently acquired by a Hong Kong-based conglomerate company. In terms of electricity plans, Alinta keeps things simple with one or two variable rate market offers in each state that it serves. They typically come with significant discounts off usage charges, with a benefit period of two years. Some plans require customers to pay their bills on time, but in some cases discounts are guaranteed. The large discounts help make Alinta Energy a generally price-competitive retailer in the states that it serves. In NSW, it achieved four stars for overall customer satisfaction and the same rating for all other research categories, including customer service and value for money. In addition to its strong showing in NSW, Alinta has emerged as the highest rated provider in Queensland.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Fair Deal 27 27% pay on time discount off usage charges	2 YearsBenefit Period	$1,514.71Annual Cost**
	Fair Saver 15 15% guaranteed discount off usage charges	2 YearsBenefit Period	$1,707.95Annual Cost**
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Dodo Power & Gas

Perhaps best-known as a phone and internet provider, Dodo completes the set of home services by also selling electricity and gas. Dodo operates in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, with a single variable rate market offer to its name, usually boasting a large conditional discount off usage charges. The discount is ongoing, but is dependent on paying on time. Dodo is owned by Vocus Communications, the company behind lots of names in the telco industry, including iPrimus. Dodo’s big selling point is that its customers have the convenience of dealing with just one company for all of their home services. It even sells insurance! As an electricity provider in NSW, Dodo Power & Gas has achieved four stars for overall customer satisfaction. It also recorded four stars for customer service, value for money, bill & cost clarity and tools & advice. It was given three stars for environmental sustainability.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Market Offer 30% pay on time discount off usage charges	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,563.00Annual Cost**	Go To Site
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

ActewAGL

Part owned by AGL, ActewAGL is the primary electricity provider in the ACT, while also servicing parts of regional NSW, including Queanbeyan, Shoalhaven and the south east corner of the state, covered by the Essential Energy network. ActewAGL offers large guaranteed discounts off electricity usage charges, with a benefit period of two years. However, rates and discounts can vary between geographical areas. This is the first year that ActewAGL has featured in our review of NSW electricity providers, scoring three stars for overall customer satisfaction. It also rated three stars for customer service and bill & cost clarity, but was deemed worthy of only two stars with regards to value for money, environmental sustainability and tools & advice.

AGL

Energy giant AGL typically offers three electricity market contracts for NSW households to choose between based on personal preference. Most AGL products come with notable discounts, but the conditions of these may vary. Discounts are usually applied to usage charges only and come with a 12 month benefit period. However, AGL also now provides a no discount product with fixed rates for 12 months. AGL customers could also benefit from the retailer’s association with the flybuys program, with one point awarded for every $1 spent on energy. Switching to AGL online could also see customers bag a bonus 10,000 flybuys points. In our NSW electricity provider ratings, AGL got three stars for overall satisfaction and the same score in most other research categories. The exception was bill & cost clarity where it rated four stars.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Essentials No conditional discount	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,536.61Annual Cost**
	Savers 23% pay on time discount off usage charge	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,560.58Annual Cost**
	Savers Home Connect 14% pay on time discount off usage charge	2 YearsBenefit Period	$1,703.45Annual Cost**
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Click Energy

Click Energy could probably be described as one of the biggest ‘second tier’ electricity providers in NSW and other states. A serious challenger to more established retailers like AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia, Click Energy claims that its online business model allows is to offer great value to customers. It typically offers one big discount market offer in each state, in addition to a specific product for owners of electric vehicles. However, Click Energy has a habit of regularly switching products, so today’s big offer could be different to what you’re offered tomorrow. A consistent theme is that Click’s electricity plans come with ongoing discounts off both usage and supply charges and no contract term or exit fees. Click’s rates are variable. Click Energy is now owned by phone and internet provider Amaysim – itself an energy provider. In our latest review of electricity providers in NSW, Click achieved three stars for overall satisfaction, bill & cost clarity and value for money. It scored four stars for customer service, but just two stars in regards to environmental sustainability and tools & advice.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost^^
	Click Agate 35% discount off usage & supply charges for paying on time and by direct debit	OngoingBenefit Period	$1,603.04Annual Cost**	Go To Site
	Solar Light 18% discount off usage & supply charges for paying on time and by direct debit 12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff	OngoingBenefit Period	$2,078.27Annual Cost^^	Go To Site
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

EnergyAustralia

EnergyAustralia offers NSW customers a fairly comprehensive range of products to consider, including a fixed rate electricity plan that sees rates locked in for two years. With this plan, EnergyAustralia claims it will pass on savings should the wholesale price of electricity drop during the two-year contract period. A large conditional discount is also applied to usage charges when bills are paid on time, but exit fees will apply if the contract is cancelled early. EnergyAustralia also provides two variable rate plans in NSW. The first has a large pay on time discount, while the second has a smaller but guaranteed discount. Discounts are applied to usage charges and there are 12 month benefit periods. No exit fees apply. EnergyAustralia also tends to offer online sign-up credit with some plans, but this is not always available. EnergyAustralia received three stars for overall satisfaction in our latest review of NSW electricity providers. It also rated three stars for customer service, bill & cost clarity and environmental sustainability. It achieved just two stars on value for money and tools & advice.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	No Frills No conditional discount	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,452.20Annual Cost**
	Secure Saver 26% pay on time discount off usage charge	2 YearsBenefit Period	$1,485.92Annual Cost**
	Anytime Saver 26% guaranteed discount off usage charges	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,531.82Annual Cost**
	Flexi Saver 20% pay on time discount off usage charge	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,628.37Annual Cost**
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

Origin

Origin provides arguably the most comprehensive range of electricity options for NSW residents, though with these options may come some confusion. Origin has three variable rate plans, with varying discounts and conditions based on personal preference. The biggest discount is offered with direct debit payments and email billing, while the next plan is for customers who would rather not pay by direct debit, but can still pay bills on time. Discounts are applied to usage charges. Both plans have 12 month benefit periods and no exit fees. The third variable rate deal from Origin includes a smaller but guaranteed discount, applied to both usage and supply charges. The benefit period is 12 or 24 months. Origin also offers the only fixed cost plan in NSW in the shape of its Predictable Plan. With it, customers pay the same price for their power every month for a year, regardless of their actual consumption. Specific quotes are offered based on the household’s usage history. Origin rated three stars for overall customer satisfaction, but recorded a creditable four stars for customer service and bill & cost clarity. However, it got just two stars for value for money and tools & advice, with three stars on environmental sustainability.

Brand	Features	Benefit Period	Annual Cost**
	Maximiser 16% direct debit discount off usage charges	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,651.71Annual Cost**
	Saver 13% pay on time discount off usage charge	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,698.71Annual Cost**
	Bill Saver 10% guaranteed whole bill discount	1 YearBenefit Period	$1,712.14Annual Cost**
View all electricity plans listed on Canstar Blue			**^^View important information

In addition to the market offer plans mentioned above, all eight providers also have standard electricity contracts in NSW. These are default plans that customers may be on if they have never switched energy retailers, or haven’t moved onto a new deal for several years. Standard contracts are significantly more expensive than the cheapest market offers.

List of Electricity Providers in NSW

Our NSW electricity provider ratings feature eight of the most prominent retailers, but it’s important to know that there are several others all competing for your business. Just because they didn’t get enough responses in our survey to be included in the ratings, doesn’t mean they’re not worth a closer look. Here is a list of all residential electricity providers operating in NSW.

• AGL
• ActewAGL
• Alinta Energy
• Amaysim Energy
• Click Energy
• Commander
• CovaU
• Diamond Energy
• Dodo Power & Gas
• EnergyAustralia
• Energy Locals
• Enova Energy
• Mojo Power
• Momentum Energy
• Origin
• Powerdirect
• Powershop
• QEnergy
• Red Energy
• Pooled Energy
• Sanctuary Energy
• Simply Energy
• 1^st Energy

About the NSW Electricity Market

There are many electricity providers in NSW now, but it wasn’t long ago that households in Sydney and the rest of the state were stuck with one of the big three energy companies – Origin, EnergyAustralia or AGL – with no other retailers able to challenge their dominance. It’s for this reason that they continue to supply 87% of customers in NSW, according to the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest industry report. If you don’t remember signing up with one of these companies, you were probably transferred over when one of them absorbed your old retailer.

• Integral Energy customers were transferred to Origin
• Country Energy customers were transferred to Origin
• TRUenergy customers were switched to EnergyAustralia
• Australian Power & Gas customers were switched to AGL

The NSW electricity market began to change in 2002 when the state Government introduced ‘Full Retail Competition’, meaning that smaller electricity retailers could provide alternative options for consumers. However, while Victoria lifted pricing restrictions in 2009 – and South Australia followed suit three years later – the NSW electricity market remained regulated by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal until 2014, so there was little or no financial incentive for customers to switch before then. This was a story replicated in Queensland where price regulations were only lifted in 2016.

Electricity price deregulation means the electricity companies are free to set their own plans, prices and conditions, resulting in a plethora of new entrants into the market. The benefits of deregulation are still up for debate, but the fact is that households in NSW have never had so many providers to choose from, presenting the opportunity for consumers to save if they shop around or just use new offers as leverage to negotiate a better deal with their existing supplier. However, in order to save, you must have at least a basic understanding of the different providers, contracts and plans available. Read on for details.

Electricity Contracts in NSW

The first step in saving money on electricity costs is to understand what type of energy contract you are on. There are two types of electricity contracts:

• Standard contracts: These are the old, expensive contracts that NSW households are likely to be on if they haven’t switched electricity providers in recent years. They are ongoing agreements, have basic regulated conditions set out by law and provide a choice of payment methods, with no exit fees. However, they do not provide any opportunity to save through discounts. Energy companies are required to offer a standing offer contract in addition to their market offers.
• Market contracts: These contracts have prices set by the retailers, come with varying contracts lengths and conditions, and provide the opportunity to save through conditional discounts, such as signing up online, paying on time, paying by direct debit and receiving bills via email instead of post. Some retailers offer several different market contracts to pick from, while others have a very concise range.

Canstar Blue’s electricity database shows that customers stand to save hundreds of dollars a year simply by switching from their retailer’s standard contract to its cheapest market contract, provided that they stick to the terms and conditions. The latest figures from the Australian Energy Regulator show that one in five (21%) households in NSW remain on a standard contract. Depending on your household’s typical electricity consumption, the difference between the most expensive standard contract and the cheapest market contract in NSW is as much as $1,600 a year. If you’re not sure which type of contract you have, consult a recent bill or contact your provider. Switching from a standard to market offer is a simple and easy way to save a significant amount, provided you’re able to stick to the conditions of any discounts.

Electricity Costs in NSW

Whether you’re on a standard contract or market offer, your electricity bill will be made up of two main costs – supply charges and usage charges.

• Supply charges are what you pay every billing period just for being connected to the electricity grid. Unless your retailer changes its pricing, these costs remain the same every time regardless of your electricity usage. Supply charges in NSW can vary from as little as 80 cents up to around $1.20 a day. Keep in mind that the retailers with cheaper supply charges may make up for these by imposing slightly higher usage rates, and vice versa.
• Usage charges are what you will pay for your actual electricity usage, meaning you could reduce your costs by paying close attention to your major household appliances, which typically use the most energy. As NSW has a deregulated electricity market, you can expect usage charges to vary between different energy providers. Usage charges of around 28-29 cents per kWh are likely to be the cheapest you will find for peak time usage, with some retailers charging as much as 40c. Cheaper rates are available at other times of day, depending on your tariff.

For most households, usage charges will make up the majority of overall costs. However, you should still pay very close attention to supply charges which can vary significantly between retailers and plans. For small households, it’s possible that supply charges will make up a higher proportion of overall electricity costs. This could also depend on where you live in NSW.

Electricity Distribution Networks in NSW

You may not realise that there are three different electricity distribution networks covering NSW. This is important because the network you live on could have a big impact on your bills, with distribution costs accounting for as much as 50% of your overall bills. The three distribution networks are:

• Ausgrid – covering inner, northern and eastern Sydney
• Endeavour Energy – covering southern and western Sydney
• Essential Energy – covering country and regional NSW

Electricity retailers will have different prices for their plans on each network, meaning that the amount an Origin customer – for example – pays on the Ausgrid network could be quite different to what another Origin customer will pay on the Endeavour network, even if their energy plans are the same. As a homeowner, there is little you can do about this. However, if you are renting a home and take energy costs seriously, you could look into different prices before deciding which suburb to move to, because it could save you a significant amount.

Electricity Tariffs in NSW

To get the best deal on your electricity supply, you’ll need to understand how different tariffs work and how they can impact your overall costs.  Some tariffs, however, will only be available if you have a smart meter installed at your property. Tariffs available in NSW are:

• Single rate tariff: With a single rate tariff, households will pay the same usage rates regardless of when they use power. You will pay the same rate per kWh whether you watch TV first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night. You can expect single rate tariff usage charges to cost around 30 to 32 cents per kWh, depending on how much power you use throughout the day. This is because the energy companies in NSW divide usage costs into ‘block rates’. You can use a single rate tariff no matter what type of meter you have.
• Time of use tariff: With a time of use tariff, households pay different usage rates depending on what time they use power. Days are broken into three different periods – ‘peak’, ‘off-peak’ and ‘shoulder’. Electricity is most expensive during peak times (i.e. the early evening) and then least costly during off-peak times (i.e. late at night until early in the morning). Shoulder rate costs are applied at all other times, with costs somewhere in between. In NSW, peak time costs can be as high as 60c per kWh, with off-peak rates as low as 15c. Households can only have a time of use tariff if they have a smart meter.

What are block rates?

If you have a single rate electricity tariff, you will pay the same usage charges no matter what the time of day, up to a point. This is because ‘block rates’ are applied to single rate tariff usage, with households charged differently depending on how much power they actually use. In most cases, households pay the highest prices for the first ‘block’ of power they use during the day (usually around 10 kilowatt-hours) and then less for each following block. There is usually only a marginal difference between the costs of these blocks, but they are still worth being aware of.

What is controlled load?

Regardless of whether a household has a single rate or time of use tariff, they will still be able to benefit from having a ‘controlled load’. A controlled load, or ‘dedicated circuit’ as it is often called, is a separate circuit that allows you to meter selected high-usage appliances independently from the rest of your property. A controlled load will usually just be used to power the electric hot water system in your home. Controlled load prices should be much lower than normal usage rates, but are only applicable for a few hours each day (between 6 and 8). Households can also add a second controlled load with other big appliances such as pool pumps. These can be applied for up to 16 hours per day, but the usage rates will be higher than the first controlled load.

Electricity Plans in NSW

The electricity providers in NSW bring a wide variety of different market contracts, usually differentiated by headline discounts or other sign-up incentives, such as ‘bonus credit’ when you sign up online. While some electricity providers offer multiple market contracts for NSW households to choose from, others have a far more concise range. Dodo Power & Gas and Alinta Energy have only one residential market offer each for NSW, while Red Energy has two. The big three retailers, Origin, AGL and EnergyAustralia, provide three or four market contracts each. These could include both variable and fixed rate plans.

• Variable rate plans: These market contracts have variable usage rates, meaning the amount you are charged per kWh could increase at your retailer’s discretion. While energy providers tend to review their prices just once a year, they can technically increase their rates any time they want, provided they give you prior notice. This is a good reason why you must pay attention to your bills, because price changes may simply be mentioned in your next statement.
• Fixed rate plans: These are plans with fixed usage rates for the term of the agreement, almost always two years. It effectively means you ‘lock-in’ a per kWh usage rate for the length of the contract. This protects you against any increases in charges, but you may find fixed rate plans come with higher rates in the first place as the retailer anticipates future price increases.

There are other electricity providers doing things a little differently in NSW. Pooled Energy, for example, offers specific electricity plans for households with swimming pools, combining its license as an energy retailer with its pool maintaining services – so your electricity retailer is also responsible for cleaning your pool! Meanwhile, Energy Locals gives customers an opportunity to donate to their favourite charity via their power pills.

Electricity Discounts in NSW

To make them stand out from the crowd, most electricity plans come with headline-grabbing discounts, usually off usage charges for either paying on time, paying by direct debit, getting bills via email, or for signing up online. Discounts of more than 20% are common in NSW, and while they will help you save on the base rates of your respective plan, it’s important to know that plans with large discounts do not always result in the cheapest overall prices. That’s why it’s very important to use an energy comparison tool that cuts through the marketing and offers a real guide as to which deals work out cheapest.

Energy Rebates in NSW

To help reduce electricity costs, there are a range of different energy rebates available for households in NSW. Customers with low incomes, dependent children and certain medical conditions may be eligible for financial support towards their gas and electricity costs.

How to get the best deal on electricity in NSW

To get the cheapest possible deal for your household, you will need to take into consideration all of the factors previously mentioned, including:

• The type of contract – standard or market offer
• How much you pay in usage and supply charges per kWh
• Whether you have variable or fixed rate usage charges
• What percentage discount you receive on your bill
• Whether you have a single rate or time of use tariff
• Whether you have a controlled load for water heating

When you spell everything out like this, it’s easy to see why many consumers find the subject of energy so confusing. However, in an effort to simplify matters, Canstar Blue’s cost comparison report for NSW shows overall estimated prices for many of the electricity providers mentioned in this report. Based on average energy consumption figures and market contract pricing for single rate tariff households on the Ausgrid network, we found customers could save as much as $700 per year by switching to the cheapest offer available. The ‘cheapest’ electricity provider doesn’t automatically mean ‘best’, but if the bottom line is all you worry about then our report is certainly worth a look.

Ultimately, it’s all about educating yourself on the options that are available to you. The energy retailers are required by law to publish all of their price fact sheets online, so use the information gathered in this report and check out the facts and figures with your own eyes. Our customer ratings also offer you an insight into how the big providers in NSW are performing in the eyes of those paying the bills, so be sure to keep these details in mind too. Good luck finding a better deal!

Compare NSW Gas Suppliers