Compare Gas Prices and Plans

Why compare gas prices and plans with Canstar Blue?

Gas tips from our expert

Selecting a gas provider might not seem like a big deal, but a little bit of research can go along way and potentially save you on your gas bills.

When you’re comparing plans, make sure you look at both the unit price of the gas, but also what’s known as the ‘supply charge’ which is the daily cost of being connected to the gas network. Also check for any hidden fees that might be buried in the fine print such as exit fees.

While price is important, particularly with the cost of gas on the rise, don’t forget the practical things like how often the provider bills you and whether the provider requires you to set up a direct debt.

Finally – stay vigilant. Gas prices can and do change and switching is relatively easy so if you do find the shine is coming off your gas provider, turn yourself into a new customer. Changing providers won’t mean you’re without gas while you switch over. Your new provider will do all the back-end paperwork to break up with your old provider and ensure the transition over doesn’t result in a break in supply.

It’s also worth remembering that you don’t have to roll your electricity and gas in together. You can have different providers for each so check to see if there’s value in splitting them up.

Sally Tindall, Canstar Director of Data Insights

About our gas plan comparison service

Our gas plan comparison service helps you compare the latest gas offers in your area, simply by entering your postcode. In addition to showing you the cheapest prices, our comparison includes a unique value score that shows you which gas plans offer the best overall value, rather than just the cheapest rates. This score is based on a combination of price and feature data. Compare plans now and stop paying more than you need to.

How to compare gas plans

Gas plans are fairly similar to electricity plans in design and layout. As such, the process of comparing gas plans is quite similar to that of comparing electricity plans. The only real difference is in some of the terminology used.

Keeping this in mind, there are a few key areas to consider when comparing gas plans. These are: 

• The usage rates: Represented as cents per megajoule (c/MJ), this refers to the cost you’ll pay for using gas in the home. 
• The supply rates: Represented as a charge per day, this refers to the cost you’ll pay for being connected to the gas mains. 
• Conditional discounts: This refers to any discounts that may be applicable on the plan if a certain condition is met, e.g. paying on time. 
• Contract length: This refers to how long your plan will be valid for. Benefit periods may also play into this if you have a discount or fixed rates. 
• Fees and charges: This refers to any additional charges that may occur as a result of an action, such as late payment, credit card payment, opting for paper bills or connection and disconnection fees when moving your home energy. 

Understanding which factors are most important to your household will help to make the comparison process run smoothly. For example, if your household is only using a small amount of gas each month or quarter then you may find it more worthwhile to look for gas plans with lower supply rates, as these would be making the largest portion of your bill. For a high-usage gas household however, a plan with cheaper usage rates would probably pay off more than a lower supply charge. 

It should also be noted that, just like your electricity contract, a 10-business day ‘cooling off’ period applies to your gas contract. This means you’re entitled to change your mind and end the contract without having to pay any fees, if you aren’t happy with the plan you’ve chosen or find a better deal elsewhere. 

Find the best gas prices available

No-one likes paying more than they need to on their gas bills. But, how do you go about finding the best gas prices for your household? Most times when you are comparing gas plans, you’ll be looking at the estimated monthly, quarterly or annual figure, but it could pay to look beyond this and investigate what your everyday usage and supply charges will be. These are the costs that ultimately decide what you’ll be forking out come your billing due date, so understanding these could reduce your chances of a nasty bill shock. 

To see what prices are available in your area, check out our cheapest gas price guides below. 

• Cheapest Gas Prices in NSW 
• Cheapest Gas Prices in VIC 
• Cheapest Gas Prices in SEQ
• Cheapest Gas Prices in SA

Compare the best-rated gas suppliers

Canstar Blue publishes annual customer satisfaction ratings for natural gas suppliers in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, as well as dual fuel energy providers and LPG suppliers. These are based on the feedback of bill-paying customers and rank providers based on factors such as value for money, customer service and overall satisfaction. We’ve listed our current award winners below to help you on your comparison journey.

• Best-Rated Dual Fuel Provider (National): Tango Energy
• Best-Rated Natural Gas Supplier in Victoria: Tango Energy
• Best-Rated Natural Gas Supplier in NSW: Red Energy
• Best-Rated Natural Gas Supplier in WA: Kleenheat
• Best-Rated Natural Gas Supplier in QLD: AGL
• Best-Rated Natural Gas Supplier in SA: ENGIE
• Best-Rated LPG Supplier (National): Supagas
• Most Trusted Natural Gas Supplier (National): Kleenheat