Compare NSW Gas Suppliers

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Alinta Energy rated best NSW gas supplier two years in a row

It’s time for households in New South Wales to start thinking more carefully about their choice of gas supplier. With the removal of gas price regulations in 2017, customers are now inundated with a raft of new providers and products, so it’s crucial to do your homework because a great deal could be waiting for you. All this extra competition should help put a downward pressure on gas prices in NSW, but it may also make the process of picking the right deal for you more confusing. To help you along the way, consider our customer satisfaction ratings. We’ve surveyed more than 1,100 bill-paying customers across NSW to find out what they think about their gas suppliers. Price is hugely important, but the best deal for you could also mean great customer service, helpful tools & advice, or having a retailer with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. So, which supplier is really cooking with gas in NSW?

This year, our review includes the big three gas suppliers in NSW – AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia – and their two biggest challengers right now – Red Energy and Alinta Energy. Gas customers across NSW have given us their feedback on their provider based on a range of important factors, with Alinta coming out on top this year. Alinta picks up where it left off from last year when it took over from Origin as the best-rated gas supplier in NSW, taking out top marks in most key areas, with Red Energy in second place and the big three following behind for overall satisfaction.

Best Gas Suppliers in NSW

Here are the best gas suppliers in NSW as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest satisfaction survey:

1. Alinta Energy
2. Red Energy
3. Origin
4. EnergyAustralia
5. AGL

When it comes to gas, NSW customers seem to be particularly impressed with Alinta’s value for money, bill & cost clarity and online tools & advice, where the retailer scored five stars. Alinta Energy was also the only provider in this year’s ratings to earn five stars for overall satisfaction. This adds to Alinta’s ongoing success in our annual review of electricity providers in Queensland where it has taken out the title for the past few years, so it must be doing something right.

Read on as we explore what the five gas suppliers in this review have to offer and how you can get a better deal from them. And while you’re here, you may want to compare their electricity and gas prices with our comparison tool below, or keep scrolling for a snapshot of cheap gas deals from our database.

Cheap Gas Prices NSW – quick comparison

NSW Gas Suppliers

Alinta Energy

Alinta Energy is an emerging energy retailer, serving most states for gas. In NSW, you’ll have one plan to choose from with this retailer that offers low, variable rates as well as no strict contracts or exit-fees. NSW residents who choose Alinta Energy for gas can generally expect quarterly bills and flexible payment options.

• This year’s winner, Alinta Energy, has excelled in most areas, scoring five stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, bill & cost clarity and online tools and advice. It took away four stars for focus on customer service, environmental sustainability and ease of sign-up.

Alinta Energy Gas Plan

Here are the Alinta gas plans on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. These are products from a referral partner†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

Red Energy

Red Energy is owned by renewable energy generation company Snowy Hydro, which is perhaps something to consider given that customers are especially happy with its focus on environmental sustainability this year. The retailer keeps things interesting with a few plans to choose from. One of these products boasts the added bonus of two Qantas points for every $1 spent on gas, but overall, Red Energy seems to focus on competitive rates rather than discounts. All Red Energy plans in NSW come with variable rates, no contract term or exit fees.

• Red Energy received four stars for overall satisfaction this year, with this score continuing through to value for money and ease of sign-up. It earned a notable five stars for focus on environmental sustainability, customer service and bill & cost clarity, but just three stars for online tools & advice.

Red Energy Gas Plans

Here are the Red Energy gas plans on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. These are products from a referral partner†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

Origin Energy

Integrated energy company Origin offers a comprehensive range of gas products for NSW households to consider, including a couple of variable rate deals with different plan features, as well as two fixed rate offers. The first plan comes with variable rates for a year, with conditions based on personal preference and the ability to manage their account from the Origin app. The next two plans pack fixed rates, giving the option to “set and forget”, with one of these deals including Everyday Rewards points upon signing up. All of Origin’s gas plans come without exit fees or lock-in contracts, regardless of the benefit period length.

• Origin earned four stars for overall gas satisfaction this year, as well as four stars for value for money, customer service, ease of sign-up, bill & cost clarity and online tools & advice. Its only three-star rating was for its focus on environmental sustainability.

Origin Gas Plans

Here are the Origin gas plans on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. These are products from a referral partner†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

EnergyAustralia

EnergyAustralia has a few gas plans for prospective customers to choose from, one of which even includes a guaranteed discount off both usage and supply charges for one year. The company also offers a standard variable rate gas plan. It brings no discounts or exit fees, and has zero late payment fees. EnergyAustralia customers can also opt in to carbon neutral energy, whereby the retailer offsets the usage portion of gas charges at no extra cost.

• EnergyAustralia scored four stars for overall satisfaction in our latest NSW gas review, plus on value for money, bill & cost clarity, online tools & advice and focus on environmental sustainability. It did, however, earn five stars for ease of sign up. For its customer service, it only scored three stars.

EnergyAustralia Gas Plans

Here are the EnergyAustralia gas plans on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. These are products from a referral partner†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

AGL

AGL has just two gas deals for households in the state to choose from. Both deals come with variable rates and no exit fees on a no contract term plan. AGL is one of several retailers to go down the no discount plan route, with these deals often working out cheaper than discounted offers. It also has its own rewards program called AGL Rewards where customers can access a range of lifestyle deals.

• AGL was awarded three stars for overall satisfaction in NSW this year. It also received three stars for customer service, online tools & advice, environmental sustainability, bill & cost clarity and value for money. It did, however score four stars for ease of sign-up.

AGL Gas Plans

Here are the AGL gas plans on our database for NSW. These estimated annual costs are based on the Jemena Gas Network in Sydney and yearly gas usage of 18,542MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. These are products from a referral partner†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.

About the NSW Gas Market

While AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia have the most residential gas customers in NSW – 89 per cent between them according to the latest industry report from the Australian Energy Regulator – households across the state have been able to switch gas suppliers for several years. Other providers such as Red Energy, Simply Energy and Dodo are also competing for customers, though some retailers usually only offer gas when customers also sign up for electricity.

Before the complete removal of gas price regulations in 2017, AGL, Origin and Actew AGL were required by law to offer regulated gas contracts in NSW, which were agreed with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. These regulated tariffs were provided in addition to their standard and market offers, which all gas suppliers in the state are now free to offer.

NSW Gas Contracts

The path to gas savings starts with understanding what type of contract you are on and which is the best bet for your needs. With the removal of regulated gas contracts in NSW in 2017, all households will be on either a standard or market contract.

• Standard contracts: All gas providers are required to offer standard contracts. While they have prices set by the retailers, these can only be changed every six months, plus the company has to adhere to a robust set of customer protection rules set in legislation. Standing offers are ongoing and have no exit fees.
• Market contracts: These are contracts set out almost entirely by the energy retailers. This means that prices can be changed at any time, there are set contract periods, and exit fees might apply. However, these contracts also provide the opportunity for customers to save through conditional discounts and other sign-up incentives.

While standing offer plans provide some protection against price increases, Canstar Blue research shows that households will almost always save by switching to market offers, provided that they stick to the terms and conditions. Households previously on a regulated contract will have been switched onto their retailer’s standard contract following gas price deregulation in NSW, unless they have explicitly asked to be placed on a market contract. Anyone unclear about their personal circumstances should contact their retailer. The NSW government also provides a helpful FAQ resource.

NSW Gas Plans

While there are around 30 electricity providers now operating across NSW, only about half this number also retail natural gas, and not in all areas. As more and more customers consider their electricity options, it could mean that a growing number of households choose to get their gas and electricity from different providers. However, the big providers often offer ‘double up’ discounts for receiving both electricity and gas from them. They also typically offer three or four different gas products, with varying discounts, such as pay on time or direct debit. Most come with variable rates, though fixed rate deals are also occasionally provided.

• Variable rate plans: The majority of gas plans in NSW come with variable rates, meaning prices can change at any time, as long as your retailer gives you notice of at least 10 business days.
• Fixed rate plans: These plans allow customers to ‘lock in’ usage and supply rates for the term of their agreement, usually one or two years. While offering some protection against future price increases, usage rates on fixed rate plans are likely to be higher to begin with.

Usage charges will likely make up the majority of your overall energy costs, but it’s also important to pay attention to supply charges, because the providers with lower usage rates often make up for these with higher daily supply charges. These are the costs you incur on an ongoing basis simply for being connected to the network. The cheapest gas usage charges that you’re likely to find in NSW will be around three cents a megajoule – the unit of measurement for gas. To put this into context, a typical gas oven will use around 12 megajoules (MJ) an hour. Fixed daily supply charges usually cost around 40-70 cents.

NSW Gas Tariffs

Fortunately, gas tariffs in NSW are fairly simple. Households are charged for gas in ‘blocks’, with the first block of gas used (say, 20MJ) usually costing the most. For example, you might pay 4.2 cents for the first block of 20 megajoules a day, then 2.5 cents for the next block, and so on. Learn more in our NSW electricity tariffs guide.

Gas Distribution Networks in NSW

Besides contract types, usage rates, supply charges, tariffs and discounts, the other crucial thing that will impact the amount you pay for gas is where you happen to live. There are three different gas networks in NSW and gas prices can vary significantly between them. For example, an Origin customer on one network might have higher usage charges than another Origin customer with the same plan but living on a different distribution network. This is because energy distributors have their own costs and these are passed on to customers through retailer charges. The three distribution networks in NSW are:

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

ActewAGL – the primary electricity and gas retailer in the ACT – also serves some customers in regional NSW.

Picking your gas supplier

There are lots of things to think about when it comes to picking a gas supplier for your home. In 2021, we asked respondents to our survey a range of questions to get a better idea of where customers stand with their natural gas provider. This is what we found:

• 39% wanted the same gas supplier as their electricity retailer
• 24% shopped around and compared gas plans on price
• 21% went with a brand they recognised
• 18% were attracted to a big discount

Just under a third (31%) of NSW gas customers signed up to their supplier over the phone and almost half (45%) signed up online. Just 49 per cent of survey respondents think they get a good deal on gas, although only 13 per cent have switched gas suppliers in the last two years.

How to get a better deal on gas in NSW

While energy plans always seem confusing, this report has identified a few key things you can do to get a better deal on natural gas. It might seem like hard work, but when it comes to gas and electricity, you only find the best deals with a little leg work. Here are the three most important things to consider:

• What type of contract are you on? Standard contracts are almost always more expensive than market offers, so switching from the former to the latter is the first positive step towards securing cheaper rates.
• Compare the usage and supply charges of various gas plans: Energy companies are required to publish their plan information documents on their websites, which is where you will find these details.
• Consider the discounts and other incentives offered: Once you’ve worked out what cheap and expensive usage and supply prices look like, consider the discounts being offered and how they compare to other deals. Make sure you understand the conditions of the discount and how long the benefit period is.

Also consider how other consumers rate their energy suppliers. You will never really know how good or bad a retailer is until you’re a customer, so online reviews like ours provide an insight into what you can really expect. It’s the providers that strike the perfect balance between price and good customer service that usually rise to the top of our ratings. This year, Alinta Energy is the gas supplier to beat in NSW, but be sure to compare a wide range of options before diving in.

About the author of this page

This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Energy Editor, Jared Mullane. He’s an expert in all things utilities, including electricity, gas and water, helping to make complicated subjects easier to understand for consumers. A trained journalist, Jared is usually one of the first to break energy-related news, whether it’s the latest changes in the industry, price movements, or the next best deal you need to know about.

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