Western Australia does things a little differently to the rest of the country when it comes to energy. There is a mountain of regulation regarding which retailers can supply gas and electricity, and where it can be serviced.
There’s a lot to take in and it can all get pretty confusing. That’s why Canstar Blue has made this guide to help our West Australian readers better understand if they have energy options, and if so, what they are. Before we get started, there is an important distinction to draw between customers who live within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) and those outside this area.
On this page:
What is the South West Interconnected System?
The SWIS is an electricity distribution network operated by Western Power. It covers the most populated area of Western Australia, from the south-west coast to as far north as Kalbarri (pictured). Only customers on this network may have the option to select their electricity retailer.
There are four other energy networks in Western Australia: South Region, North Region, Gascyone/Mid-West and the North West Interconnected System. Most customers on these networks will be restricted in their choice of energy supplier.
Can I choose my electricity retailer?
Western Australian energy customers fall into two categories: contestable and non-contestable. Contestable customers can choose their retailer, while non-contestable customers are supplied by Synergy.
Customers are non-contestable if they are within the South West Interconnected System and use less than 50 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity each year. As the average household only consumes around 6MWh per year, virtually all residential electricity customers and the majority of small business customers in the SWIS area are non-contestable.
A business which uses more than 50 MWh of electricity and operates on the SWIS is contestable and will have a choice of 11 electricity retailers:
- Advanced Energy Resources Retail
- Amanda Energy
- Blue Star Energy
- Kleenheat
- A-Star Electricity
- Synergy
- Alinta Energy
- Delorean Corporation Energy Retail Division
- Perth Energy
- Horizon Power
Horizon Power is the only retailer that supplies electricity (both business & residential) in most regional areas outside of the SWIS area.
Western Australia Electricity Prices
Electricity prices are government regulated for households and small businesses, as well as some large businesses. This means a government body sets the price for electricity and not the retailers. The government has upheld a uniform tariff policy for many years, meaning electricity usage and supply charges are the same across the state, regardless of location. While that’s good for regional customers where electricity is more expensive to supply, it pushes up the price of electricity for South-West customers.
The majority of non-contestable customers are connected by Synergy. The retailer offers three residential products: Home Plan, Midday Saver and Home Business Plan. The Home Plan has a flat rate tariff, the Midday Saver has a time of use tariff, and the Home Business Plan has a block rate tariff.
Synergy Electricity Prices
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| Product | Usage rate (incl. GST) | Supply charge (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Plan (A1) | 30.8120c/per unit | 110.4600c/day |
| Midday Saver | Off-peak rate: 22.5500c/unit
Peak rate: 51.2500c/unit Super off-peak rate: 8.2000c/unit |
123.00c/day |
| Home Business Plan (K1) | First 20 units per day: 32.1886c/unit
Next 20 (1,650 units) per day: 30.3335c/unit Over 1,650 units per day: 34.1999c/unit |
194.9200c/day |
Prices sourced from Synergy website, July 2023.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a smart meter to sign up to Synergy’s Midday Saver. Businesses customers will need to contact Synergy directly to receive a quoted price. You can learn more about Synergy electricity tariffs and find the right option for your household here. A dedicated EV charging tariff may also be available to eligible customers.
Horizon Power is the only choice of electricity retailer for the majority of Western Australians who live outside the south west area. Horizon Power has two residential products:
- A2 – Standard residential
- K2 – Part residential & part business
Horizon Power Residential Electricity Prices
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| Product | Usage rate (Incl GST) | Supply charge (Incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| A2 – Residential Tariff | 30.8120c/kWh | $1.1046/day |
| K2 – Combined Use Tariff | First 20 kWh per day: 32.1886c/kWh
Next 21-1,650kWh per day: 30.3335c/kWh Over 1,650kWh per day: 34.1999c/kWh |
$1.9492c/day |
Prices sourced from Horizon Power website, July 2023.
Customers on the Horizon Power network also have access to a Prepaid Power option. This allows households to pre-purchase their electricity through the Horizon Power app and keep track of usage. Bill-payers can also share power costs with others in the household or even among other households with this option.
Attentive readers will notice that Synergy and Horizon Power rates are very similar. Again, that’s because Western Australian electricity prices are set by the government. The only difference between the two energy companies is that residential customers outside the SWIS network won’t have access to a time-of-use tariff (Midday Saver).
Horizon Power offers eight business products with various rates and tariffs depending on the size and type of business. As an example, a charitable organisation is charged lower rates than a small business, while a small business is charged lower rates than a large business. You can see Horizon Power’s business products on its website.
Western Australia Solar Feed-in Tariffs
The solar feed-in tariffs offered by Synergy and Horizon Power in WA are generally much lower than the maximum rates offered in other states and territories.
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Synergy | 2.25c (off-peak/shoulder times) | 10c (peak times) |
| Horizon Power | 3c (off-peak/shoulder times) | 10c (peak times) |
Source: Respective retailer and WA government websites, July 2023.
Can I choose my gas retailer?
The Western Australian retail gas market is fully contestable, meaning natural gas retailers are free to compete in an open gas market. The price of gas is, however, regulated in some of the most populated areas of Western Australia, including Geraldton and surrounding areas, Carnamah, Albany, and the Perth metropolitan area extending north to Gingin and south to Busselton. These are indicated by the orange areas on the map pictured to the right.
Gas prices are not regulated outside these areas, meaning gas retailers are free to set their own usage rate. In addition to regulated gas rates, retailers may charge additional fees which aren’t regulated by the government.
WA Natural Gas Residential Suppliers
There are a plenty of natural gas retailers for businesses, however, only six retailers currently supply gas to homes. These are:
These gas companies are all licensed to retail gas in the Perth metropolitan area. Alinta Energy also services the Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Albany areas. Perth Energy is also now authorised to sell gas in the Perth area, but is yet to launch a residential service.
Western Australia Gas Prices
The state government has a residential gas price cap for small customers in WA. While all gas companies set their prices near this price cap, each retailer provides value offers through discounts to customers who pay their bill on time or pay using direct debit.
Customers in Albany and Kalgoorlie-Boulder are charged for their gas on a flat rate tariff, meaning the same gas usage rate is charged regardless of the time or amount used.
Perth Gas Prices
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for WA. These estimated annual costs are based on the ATCO Network in Perth and yearly gas usage of 7,672 (units), but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table contains products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Prices are for the Coastal Metropolitan area.
Standard Contract Maximum Prices – Albany
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| Usage rate | Supply charge |
|---|---|
| 19.63c/Unit | 26.98c/day |
Prices sourced from WA Government. Accurate as of July 2023.
Standard Contract Maximum Prices – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
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| Usage rate | Supply charge |
|---|---|
| 16.04c/Unit | 56.22c/day |
Prices sourced from WA Government. Accurate as of July 2023.
What’s next for WA?
With five or six natural gas retailers operating in Western Australia, the gas market has certainly begun to heat up. We have already seen this increased competition create a price war that’s led to incumbent gas retailers upping their game to provide better value for customers. But what about electricity? As it stands, there have been talks to deregulate electricity prices to open up competition, however nothing has been set in stone. It’s certainly a hot political topic in WA and the increase in gas retailers could be regarded as a sign that they’re gearing up for electricity competition in WA. This might just be speculation at this point, but the signs all point toward electricity deregulation within the next few years.
For now, if you’re a gas customer, then you need to take advantage of the state’s new-found competition. To find the best deal on WA gas, get started with Canstar Blue’s report on Western Australian gas suppliers via the link below.
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