Australian Owned Energy Companies

Which energy companies are REALLY Australian-owned?

Fact Checked Fact Checked

In this guide, Canstar Blue reveals which companies are really Aussie-owned to help you with your switching journey.

Australians love to support home-grown businesses. But when it comes to our energy retailers, it’s not always clear which ones really are Australian-owned and which are simply part of bigger international organisations. As an example, you may be surprised to learn that, despite its name, EnergyAustralia is not actually an Australian-owned company.

Shopping locally supports the domestic economy and fosters local job opportunities by keeping the profits in Australia. While being foreign-owned isn’t a bad thing by any means, our research over the years has found that many consumers lean towards Australian-owned brands when comparing similar products or services. That’s why we’ve produced this guide to Australian-owned energy companies, including plans and pricing from the retailers that appear to ‘keep it local’ when it comes to profits and even in terms of where their call centres are based.

Electricity Plans from Australian-owned Companies

If you’ve decided that you want to sign up to an Australian-owned energy company, here are the cheapest published deals from the retailers currently on our database that promote themselves as such. This is not an endorsement of these retailers – and not an exhaustive list – but provides a guide to what’s on offer from Aussie-owned power providers. Read on for a longer list of companies and details about their ownership.

NSW plans from Australian companies

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that market themselves as Australian-owned. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Plans are listed in order of lowest price first. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison. 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.

VIC plans from Australian companies

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that market themselves as Australian-owned. These costs are based on the Citipower energy network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Plans are listed in order of lowest price first. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison. 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.

QLD plans from Australian companies

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that market themselves as Australian-owned. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Plans are listed in order of lowest price first. This comparison assumes general usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison. 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.

SA plans from Australian companies

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that market themselves as Australian-owned. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Plans are listed in order of lowest price first. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison. 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.

Energy Company Ownership 2023

The following table lists the biggest electricity companies in Australia, including those that are entirely Australian-owned, those that are partly Australian-owned, and those that are entirely owned by foreign investors or businesses.

Energy Company Ownership
ActewAGL Partly Australian-owned
AGL Partly Australian-owned
Alinta Energy Foreign-owned
Amber Electric Australian-owned
Aurora Energy Australian-owned
CovaU Australian-owned
Diamond Energy Partly Australian-owned
Discover Energy Australian-owned
Dodo Partly Australian-owned
EnergyAustralia Foreign-owned
Energy Locals Partly Australian-owned
Ergon Energy Australian-owned
Future X Power Australian-owned
GEE Energy Australian-owned
GloBird Energy Australian-owned
Glow Power Unclear ownership
Kogan Energy Partly Australian-owned
LPE Australian-owned
Lumo Energy Australian-owned
Momentum Energy Australian-owned
Nectr Foreign-owned
Origin Energy Partly Australian-owned
OVO Energy Partly Australian-owned
Powershop Foreign-owned
Radian Energy Australian-owned
ReAmped Energy Partly Australian-owned
Red Energy Australian-owned
Simply Energy Foreign-owned
Smart Energy Australian-owned
Sumo Power Australian-owned
Synergy Australian-owned
Tango Energy Foreign-owned
1st Energy Australian-owned

Last updated: March 2023.

About these Energy Companies

ActewAGL

ActewAGL claims it is owned equally by Icon Water Limited and ASX listed AGL Energy Limited via subsidiary companies. On a distribution level, it is owned by Icon Water Limited and Jemena Limited.

AGL

AGL is one of Australia’s oldest companies, promoting itself as ‘Proudly Australian since 1837’. Today, AGL is an ASX listed company, meaning that ownership is mixed among shareholders. Most major shareholders are Australian investment companies.

Alinta Energy

Alinta Energy was purchased in March 2017 by a Hong Kong-based holding company – Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. With offices in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide the company is both a retailer and generator of power. Alinta Energy owns and operates power stations across Australia.  The company also continues to invest or underwrite large scale renewable energy projects across Australia including solar power, battery storage and major wind farm operations, including Western Australia’s biggest wind farm.

Amber Electric

According to its website, Amber Electric was founded in 2017 and is owned by co-CEOs Chris Thompson and Dan Adams. It is also backed by a handful of Australian investors including Square Peg Capital, Main Sequence Ventures and most recently CommBank.

Aurora Energy

Aurora Energy is 100% owned by the Tasmanian Government.

CovaU

CovaU is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TPC Consolidated Limited (formerly Tel.Pacific Limited), which is an Australian company based in Sydney.

Diamond Energy

Diamond Energy is more than 80% Australian owned and is supported by a small cornerstone investment from Hanwha Energy – a Korean energy company.

Discover Energy

According to its LinkedIn page, Discover Energy is “100% Australian-owned, and run by a group of innovators, IT geeks, and disruptors of the traditional energy supply chain.”

Dodo

Dodo is part of Vocus Communications – an ASX listed telecommunications company which also owns other brands, including iPrimus and Commander. It is unclear what the proportion of Vocus may be Australian owned.

EnergyAustralia

EnergyAustralia is wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based energy company CLP Group. Originally, EnergyAustralia was a state-owned enterprise of the New South Wales Government, but was acquired by CLP-owned TruEnergy in 2011. The NSW Government kept the distribution service of the old business, which was subsequently renamed ‘Ausgrid’.

Energy Locals

While Energy Locals is based and operated out of Australia, its investor Quinbrook operates in both Australia and the US. However, Energy Locals’ CEO and founder Adrian Merrick is said to be the company’s largest shareholder. Energy Locals’ head office is based out of Melbourne.

Ergon Energy

Ergon Energy is a Queensland Government-owned corporation. Ergon Energy and all its subsidiaries are Australian-owned.

GEE Energy

GEE Energy claims on its website that it is a ‘proudly independent, 100 per cent Australian owned and operated energy retailer’, with a call centre based in Brisbane.

GloBird Energy

GloBird Energy is claimed to be a 100% Australian owned company based in the Melbourne suburbs. The company describes itself as ‘fiercely independent’.

Kogan Energy

Whilst you’ve probably heard of Kogan, you may not know that this online retail giant has started selling energy, too. Whilst its headquarters are in Melbourne, it is ASX listed, meaning its ownership comes from both Australia and overseas.

LPE

Locality Planning Energy claims to be Australian owned, based in Maroochydore, Queensland.

Momentum Energy

Momentum Energy says it is 100% Australian-owned, as part of Hydro Tasmania – one of the country’s leading clean energy businesses.

Nectr

According to its website, Nectr was founded in Australia but is backed by Hanwha Energy Australia – a Korean energy solutions company.

Origin Energy

Origin Energy was founded as recently as 2000 following the demerger of the energy business from the building and construction arms of Boral Limited. Origin has a rich Australian history, however as an ASX listed company, it is owned by shareholders across the globe.

OVO Energy

OVO Energy hails from the United Kingdom, and currently operates in New South Wales, Victoria,  south-east Queensland and South Australia. AGL currently holds a 51% investment in the Australian extension of the company.

Powershop

Powershop is now owned by oil and gas multinational Shell. It was previously owned by a New-Zealand based renewable generational company.

Radian Energy

Radian Energy states it is 100% Australian-owned, founded by David Aaskov and Dr. David Ireland – both of who sought to “minimise the financial and environmental cost of energy.”

ReAmped Energy

ReAmped Energy is founded by Australian man, Jason Donald, who attracted investment support to start ReAmped. This investment in part came from New Zealand, though, according to ReAmped, many Australian employees also have part ownership of the company.

Red Energy & Lumo Energy

Red Energy and Lumo Energy are the retail subsidiaries of Snowy Hydro – an Australian energy generation and retailing company which also maintains the snowy mountains hydroelectricity scheme.

Simply Energy

Simply Energy is the Australian retail arm of Engie (formally known as GDF Suez) – a French-based multinational energy company with a network spanning 70 countries.

Smart Energy

Smart Energy claims on its website that it is 100% Australian owned and operated.

Sumo

Sumo claims that it is a 100% Australian-owned company and that its employees are local, based in Melbourne.

Synergy

Synergy is owned by the Western Australian Government with no other private interest. There is no suggestion of Synergy being privatised anytime soon.

Tango Energy

Tango Energy (previously Pacific Hydro) is a Melbourne-based energy company and renewable energy generation business. While the company was founded in Australia, it was acquired by China’s State Power Investment Corporation in 2016.

1st Energy

1st Energy markets itself as an Australian based provider according to its website, with business energy company, Shell Energy, holding a minor stake in it.

Does it matter if your energy company is Australian-owned?

While it’s good to know about the ownership of your energy providers – and where your money goes when you pay your bill – it shouldn’t dictate your decision in terms of which company you choose. Sure, it’s good if your money stays in Australia and is invested in the local community, or renewable energy solutions. But it’s also important that you pay a fair price and receive good customer service. A foreign-owned energy company is just as capable of providing those things.

Kelseigh Wrigley
Energy Specialist
Kelseigh Wrigley covers Australia's retail energy market, growing her industry specific expertise over the last 2 years. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology and has contributed her skills to online publications Hunter & Bligh and local radio station 4ZZZ.

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