Who is my electricity supplier?

The good news is, this information is generally readily available, and here at Canstar Blue, we’re here to help you find it.

What is an electricity supplier?

In the context of this article, an electricity supplier is the company that bills you for using power and being connected to the energy grid. Otherwise referred to as a ‘utility provider’, ‘energy retailer’ or ‘power company’, electricity suppliers are responsible for billing customers, usually on a monthly or quarterly basis.

There are more than 30 electricity suppliers operating across Australia in areas that have a deregulated energy market. This means in most states (and territories) or regions of a state, are open to private companies to enter and sell electricity to households and businesses.

How to find your electricity supplier

Here are three simple ways to work out which electricity supplier is powering your property:

1. Check your last energy bill

We get it. From your misso’s mum’s birthday to why you went to the kitchen just then, it can be hard to remember the ‘important’ things in life. The good thing is that, if you’ve simply forgotten who your electricity supplier is, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to find out. Check your emails or that drawer you keep loose papers in (we know you have one) for a recent bill. Right on the top you’ll be able to see which provider you’re with.

In the case below, it’s AGL. Congrats, you’re an AGL customer.

2. Talk to the last person to take care of the bill

If the responsibility of paying the electricity bill has just been passed onto you like a dusty family heirloom, you’ll need to pipe up and ask the last person to take care of it to fill you in on what you need to know. Ask for more than just the name of the energy provider, you’ll also need to get the bill transferred into your name – which means updating bank details and inputting your email address.

And in a situation where you’ve just moved into a new house and are unsure about your energy situation as a whole, it’s worth getting in touch with your landlord, or real estate agent, who can clue you in on what you need to do.

3. Call your electricity distribution network

If you’ve found yourself in a real pickle where you can’t find an old bill and have no contact with previous bill-payers, there are still things you can do to find out which provider is registered to your address. What you might not realise is that you’re actually supplied electricity through a location-based distribution network, not whichever retailer you choose. That’s just a logo on the bill.

By picking up the phone and giving your relevant electricity distributor a ring, you’ll be able to find info as to what energy supplier is sending bills to your address. Below are the general enquiries numbers of the networks within competitive energy markets in Australia, and information to help you figure out what number you should call based on your location.

Current as of April 2022.

If you live in Western Australia or the Northern Territory, where the local electricity markets are non-competitive, the need to make contact with your energy supplier is reduced slightly because power prices are regulated, meaning you don’t have a choice of retailer, and you won’t need to worry so much about paying more than you’ll need to. However, it’s still important to get in touch to make sure the account is in your name, your billing details are accurate, and you may even be able to benefit from a different electricity tariff that better suits your energy consumption habits.

Why should I care about who my supplier is?

Unlike us at Canstar Blue, you’re probably not living and breathing electricity – and we don’t expect you to be. A brand name might not mean much to you, but how much you have to pay when your electricity bill rolls around might. If you’re not sure what energy supplier you’re with, there’s a good chance you’re not on a competitive plan and could be paying much more than you need to. If you’re interested in finding out if you could be saving on your power bill, check out the deals below and see how your provider/plan stacks up against others in your area.

Compare Energy Providers

Hang on, aren’t the companies that bill me for using energy called suppliers, not providers? Well, basically they’re the same thing, and this also applies to the term ‘energy retailers’. Below are some of the cheapest electricity deals offered by energy suppliers. Click on your state to see prices.

Image credits: Jacker1991/shutterstock.com, CandyBox Images/shutterstock.com