who is my power distributor

Who Is My Energy Distributor?

In this Canstar Blue guide, we breakdown the different energy distribution networks in each state and territory in Australia.

Most of us know who our electricity retailer is – they’re the ones we begrudgingly pay hundreds of dollars to every few months. It’s less likely, however, that you know who your distributor is, or even what a distributor does for that matter.

It might seem like a bunch of useless energy jargon, but when things go wrong with your power supply, it’s important to know who your distributor is. Canstar Blue research also found that your distribution network may affect how much you pay for electricity.

Need to find your energy distributor fast? Skip to your state or territory now:

What is an energy distributor?

An energy distributor is responsible for delivering electricity and gas to homes and businesses across Australia. It is the distributor, not the retailer, who owns and maintains all the powerlines, poles, pipes and meters that make the transmission of power and natural gas possible.

Energy retailers, who we pay our bills to, play a very different role. Retailers buy electricity and gas from generators before reselling it to customers at a higher price. The price customers pay for electricity reflects the retailer’s service charge, the price of the electricity and gas itself, and the distributor’s transmission charges which the retailer collects on their behalf. Distribution costs can make up as much as 50% of your total energy bill.

electricity-process

Another way to illustrate this difference is to think about phone companies. There are plenty of mobile phone service providers (Virgin, Amaysim, Vaya etc), however these companies don’t own the network of phone lines and towers that make mobile services possible. This infrastructure is owned by the big telcos, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Those three companies allow the smaller providers to pay to use their infrastructure, and in return the smaller telcos get access to the best phone networks in the country.

In a similar fashion, your energy retailer is one of those smaller companies. While they’re the service provider you buy energy from, they usually don’t own the infrastructure that produces the power, or delivers it to your home.

Why is it important to know who my distributor is?

Because the distributor is responsible for the maintenance of the all the energy infrastructure, they are the first point of contact if something goes wrong. If you experience a power outage, for example, it is the distributor who must come out and fix it – not the retailer.

Most distributors will list any scheduled maintenance or reported network issues on their website and let you know when you might expect power back. They also have phone numbers for emergencies such as fallen powerlines or struck gas pipes, so it’s a good idea to know who to call.

A list of gas and electricity distributors

Not sure who your distributor is? Here’s a list of all the electricity and gas distribution networks across Australia.

Queensland

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

Energex Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & surrounds
Ergon Energy Country and regional QLD

Compare electricity plans on the Energex network

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. The next three tabs feature products exclusively from AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin.

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex energy network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are the EnergyAustralia plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Allgas Energy (gas) South of the Brisbane River, South Coast, Toowoomba & Oakey
Australian Gas Networks Australian Gas Networks (gas) – Nationwide

New South Wales

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

Endeavour Energy Southern/western metropolitan Sydney and surrounds
Essential Energy Country & regional NSW, southern regional QLD
Ausgrid Inner, northern & eastern metropolitan Sydney and surrounds

Compare electricity plans on the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Endeavour Energy network in Wollongong but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4913kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Essential Energy network in Coffs Harbour but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Central Ranges System Tamworth
Jemena Gas Networks NSW Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong and parts of country NSW
Wagga Wagga Gas Distribution Network Wagga Wagga

ACT

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

EvoEnergy Most of the ACT
Essential Energy A small portion of the ACT, plus Queanbeyan area

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

EvoEnergy All of the ACT

South Australia

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

SA Power Networks All of SA

Compare electricity plans on the SA Power Networks

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. The next three tabs feature products exclusively from AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin.

Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are the EnergyAustralia plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Australian Gas Networks SA Nationwide

Victoria

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

Citipower Melbourne City and inner suburbs
Jemena Northern and south-western suburbs
Powercor Australia Western suburbs and western Victoria
AusNet Services Outer northern and eastern suburbs and eastern Victoria
United Energy Distribution Southern suburbs and Mornington Peninsula

Compare electricity plans on the CitiPower, Jemena, Powercor, AusNet and United Energy

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Jemena network in Sunbury but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the United Energy network in Frankston but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Powercor network in Geelong but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the AusNet network in Warragul but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Australian Gas Networks Nationwide
Multinet Gas Eastern suburbs
AusNet Services Outer northern and eastern suburbs and eastern Victoria

Tasmania

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

TasNetworks All of Tas

Compare electricity plans on TasNetworks

Here are the published electricity deals from the retailers on our database for Tasmania. These cost estimates are based on a household with an annual electricity usage of 2,947kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff at a selected postcode in Tasmania, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. Use our comparison tool for a more specific comparison in your area. This table includes featured products from referral partners. Our database may not cover all deals available in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Tas Gas Networks All of Tas

Northern Territory

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

Power and Water Corporation All of NT

Gas

Distribution Network

Location

Australian Gas Networks SA Nationwide

Western Australia

Electricity

Distribution Network

Location

Western Power South West Interconnected System
Horizon Power Rural Western Australia

Western Australia gas customers should refer to the Economic Regulation Authority of Western Australia, or the Energy Ombudsman Western Australia for any energy-related queries.

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Jared Mullane
Energy Contributor
Jared Mullane covers Australia's retail energy market and has been cited as an energy expert by media outlets ranging from 9News, the ABC, The New Daily and 2GB. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Griffith University and has worked in the comparison industry for over half a decade.

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