Compare Victorian gas suppliers AGL, Alinta Energy, EnergyAustralia, GloBird Energy, Lumo Energy, Momentum Energy, Origin, Powershop, Red Energy and Simply Energy on ease of sign-up, customer service, bill & cost clarity, tools & advice, value for money, environmental sustainability and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
For the first time, Powershop has emerged as the best-rated gas supplier in Victoria. The Australian and New Zealand-owned provider scored five-star reviews across all research categories, including customer service, environmental sustainability and value for money.
When it comes to energy in Victoria, most of the hype is around the electricity companies and their big promises about big savings. But it’s important not to lose sight of what you pay for gas – because getting a good deal on your natural gas supply is just as important. Gas plays an important role in the lives of most Victorian families, but it’s something that’s easy to take for granted – until your next gas bill comes in! Complaining about constantly rising power costs is something we all do, but not all of us are proactive in comparing providers to try and secure a better deal, often because it’s perceived to be too difficult and ultimately a fruitless exercise. But it doesn’t have to be – and can be well worth the effort. To make the process easier, Canstar Blue produces an annual review of gas suppliers in Victoria to find out which are keeping their customers happy – and which are not! Read on for details.
This year, more than 1,700 households in Melbourne and across Victoria have given us their opinions of their gas suppliers, with their feedback reflected by the star ratings table you see above. 10 major gas providers feature in the results – judged on factors including customer service, tools & advice, bill & cost clarity and value for money – and there is a clear divide between suppliers big and small. Our aim is to give you as much information as possible to help you make an informed decision about your gas retailer. This is what we found:
Here are the best gas suppliers in Victoria as rated by customers in Canstar Blue’s latest satisfaction survey:
Powershop has climbed to the top of our gas ratings table for the first time, with last year’s winner, Momentum Energy, dropping to third place overall. Like in previous years, the review highlights a notable divide in customer satisfaction between gas suppliers of all sizes. Red Energy, Momentum Energy, Alinta Energy, AGL, Lumo Energy and Simply Energy all got four stars for overall satisfaction, with EnergyAustralia, Origin and GloBird Energy deemed worthy of just three stars. GloBird Energy recorded just two stars for environmental sustainability and online tools, while Lumo Energy also received two stars for online tools.
In addition to customer satisfaction, you can see how these gas retailers stack up on price in our Victorian gas price comparison report. And you can compare their electricity and gas prices with our comparison tool below. Read on for further details about the compared gas suppliers and how you can get a better deal.
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Powershop is credited as being Australia’s most sustainable energy company, according to Greenpeace’s Green Electricity Guide. Focusing largely on renewable generation and carbon offsetting for customers, Powershop has emerged as a serious fan favourite among Victorians. Powershop offers three products in Victoria, with its flagship gas plan coming with a modest discount for customers who log into their account to make pre-payments every few months when prompted via email. There is also a fixed rate plan, however it comes with no discounts and customers must sign up to direct debit payments. Its other plan is just a basic deal with no discounts. Powershop is also currently ranked best in our annual review of electricity providers in VIC.
Here the Powershop gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Red Energy is owned by renewable energy generation company Snowy Hydro, along with its sister brand Lumo Energy. Red Energy’s main selling point is its partnership with airline Qantas, which sees customers pocket frequent flyer points for every dollar they spend on energy. Two Red Energy plans include Qantas points, with up to seven points available for every $1 spent on energy, in addition to an initial windfall of 15,000 points should you sign up for both electricity and gas with Red. The provider’s other plan includes access to Red Energy Rewards – a loyal scheme that brings savings on things like movie tickets, eating out and hotels etc. While Red Energy offers a modest pay on time discount, it’s another retailer that attempts to keep things nice and easy for prospective customers. But as rates are variable, you’ll have to watch out for any unexpected price changes.
Here the Red Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Owned by renewable energy generation company Hydro Tasmania, Momentum Energy is a champion of green energy and helping Australian consumers make energy-efficient decisions. It’s also an advocate of keeping things relatively simple for prospective customers, steering clear of the big conditional discounts offered by some retailers and instead just focusing on fairly competitive rates. In Victoria, Momentum has four main residential electricity offers, and four simple products for gas customers. Like its electricity deals – which include specific plans for renters and solar customers – Momentum’s gas plans are similar, with no discounts to be seen. Momentum’s approach to energy retail – and its obvious focus on renewables – has clearly seen it win over lots of Victorian customers. It also performed well in our 2019 review of electricity providers in Victoria, finishing fourth out of 13 in the overall rankings.
Here the Momentum Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
A major gas and electricity retailer across the country – including Western Australia – Alinta Energy was recently acquired by a Hong Kong-based conglomerate company, but remains headquartered in Sydney. In terms of its plans, Alinta Energy keeps things markedly simple with a single variable rate market offer in each state that it serves. This comes without any conditional discounts, just reasonable rates. There is no lock in contract or exit fees. Ranked fourth in two years in a row, Alinta Energy is currently rated best in our QLD electricity comparison.
Here the Alinta Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes 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 giant AGL gives Victorians two gas plans to choose from, one coming in with fixed rates and the other variable. The retailer’s flagship offer now comes with no discounts but variable rates and access to flybuys points for signing up online. Its other plan is similar, though it has fixed rates on a 12 month no lock-in contract. It may not have the diverse range of products as some of its competitors, but AGL’s biggest selling points are its ‘value add’ incentives, including access to AGL Rewards and the opportunity to collect flybuys points for every dollar spent on energy.
Here the AGL gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Lumo Energy is one of two electricity providers owned by renewable energy generation company Snowy Hydro – the other being Red Energy. Based in Melbourne, Lumo Energy offers a diverse range of electricity and gas plans, including a plan targeted at customers who rent their home and move frequently. Most of Lumo’s plans come with modest pay on time discounts, with ongoing benefit periods. Discounts are applied to the whole bill rather than just usage charges. If you don’t like conditional discounts, Lumo has another plan that brings competitive rates and nothing more. All Lumo deals come on a no-contract basis, plus there are no exit fees. Rates are variable, and some plans bring access to Lumo’s ‘Lumo Ameego’ shopping program, which gives members a range of exclusive discounts on everything from groceries to petrol.
Here the Lumo Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Owned by French utilities giant Engie, Simply Energy offers a comprehensive range of energy plans for Victorians to choose from. This includes an exclusive deal for AFL fans, which brings a voucher to the online AFL store within four weeks of connection, as well as a discount for paying bills on time. It’s main gas offer comes with a larger pay on time discount at the expense of the AFL voucher. Contract periods are ongoing – depending on the plan – but there are no exit fees with any plans. All deals come with variable rates and varying conditional discounts off usage and supply charges for paying bills on time. A previous winner of our Victoria gas suppliers review, Simply Energy was rated seventh best this year.
Here the Simply Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
One of the biggest electricity and gas companies in the country, EnergyAustralia provides one of the most diverse product ranges of all retailers. Although, with all the choice could come confusion. Two of its gas plans include fixed rates, while the other is a variable rate plan. The retailer’s flagship fixed rate offer includes a notable guaranteed discount off gas usage and supply charges, and comes without exit fees as an added bonus.
Here the EnergyAustralia gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Origin Energy has three or four different gas offers for Victorian households to pick from, depending on personal preferences and circumstances. The biggest conditional discount comes with direct debit payments and email bills, while smaller guaranteed discounts are on offer for those who prefer to do nothing other than pay their bills. In both cases, discounts come off the whole bill (gas usage and supply charges), and there are 12-month benefit periods. Rates are variable. Origin also has a gas plan with no discounts, just competitive rates with an ongoing benefit period. Customers may also want to consider Origin’s Predictable Plan, whereby customers pay the same amount every billing period for a year regardless of their gas usage. Unique quotes are offered based on previous usage history. However, this will require customers to get in contact with Origin to see if they are eligible. There are no exit fees with any Origin gas plan.
Here the Origin gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Electricity and gas retailer, GloBird Energy, debuts this year as a new entrant to our annual Victorian gas review. The company emerged as one of the main ‘second tier’ challengers to Victoria’s power giants – AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia. It has three main offers, all of which come with different selling points for customers to think about. One of GloBird’s offers has conditional discounts for those paying on time and by direct debit, while the other is tailored to customers who prefer to set and forget, so long as they pay by direct debit with credit card. There is another option for Victorians looking to consolidate their electricity and gas, increasing the conditional discount offered, while a standard contract with basic non-competitive rates is also available.
Here the GloBird Energy gas plans on our database for VIC. These estimated annual costs are based on the Australian Gas Network in Melbourne and yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. This table includes products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Our customer satisfaction ratings feature the most prominent natural gas suppliers in Victoria, but there are a handful of others to choose from. Here is a complete list of companies selling gas in Victoria:
While there are many gas providers to choose from in Victoria, keep in mind that some only sell gas when you also purchase electricity.
Victoria now has a hugely competitive gas retail market, but that hasn’t always been the case. Since 2002, households around the state have been able to move from standard contracts onto market contracts with different providers, but with price regulations, there would have been little financial incentive to do so. However, the Victorian Government lifted energy price regulations for gas and electricity in 2009, paving the way for new companies to enter the market and challenge the dominance of the incumbents. That’s exactly what’s happened, with suppliers such as Simply Energy, Lumo Energy, Momentum Energy and Red Energy offering competitive plans and often superior customer service. In more recent times, some other retailers that previously only retailed electricity have also started to sell gas. These include GloBird Energy, Powershop and Sumo.
While competition is important, it can also lead to confusion, with multiple gas plans now offered by most retailers. This makes it hard to work out which offer is right for you. However, before talking about plans, let’s first go over the basic information you’ll need to know in order to get a better deal.
There are two types of gas contracts in Victoria – standard contracts and market contracts.
Market contracts should always work out the cheaper option, but only if you can stick to the conditions of your plan. Failure to do so could leave you paying significantly more.
Whether you have a standard contract or market gas contract, the amount you pay will be determined by two main charges – supply costs and usage charges.
The easiest way to compare two different gas providers is to check out their supply and usage charges. In Victoria, these costs can vary significantly between the retailers. Some may appear to have cheap supply prices, but these could be made up for by higher usage rates, or vice versa. Also, be aware that most plans come with variable rate charges, meaning the amount you pay could be changed by your provider at any time. Some gas retailers offer plans with fixed rates – meaning your supply and usage charges are locked in for a set period – but there are pros and cons to these types of plans.
Natural gas prices are charged in cents per megajoule (the unit of measurement for gas). Peak time gas usage rates will typically cost between 2.5 and 3 cents per megajoule. To put this into perspective, your gas oven probably uses around 12 megajoules an hour. It’s important to have a handle on gas prices to help you monitor and act on your usage.
If you have a time of use tariff, the amount you will pay for gas will change depending on the time of day you use it. In Victoria, gas usage may also be broken into daily ‘blocks’, with the first block of power usually costing the most. For example, you could:
These rates are typical of peak-time gas usage costs. However, you can expect cheaper rates if you use gas at off-peak times. The majority of households in Victoria now have smart meters and are therefore able to use flexible pricing tariffs.
You may not realise, but one of the biggest factors in determining the prices you pay for energy is your location. Melbourne and the rest of Victoria is split between various energy distributor networks, with different companies responsible for maintaining and improving the vast infrastructure that transports gas and electricity to your particular suburb. While there are five electricity distribution networks in Victoria, households are divided into three gas networks:
This is useful to know – not only because these companies are who you will need to contact if you have a problem with your gas supply, or notice a gas leak, but because the network you live on has an impact on your overall costs. Energy distributor costs can account for up to 50% of your overall energy bills.
There are lots of things to think about when it comes to picking a gas supplier for your home. We asked Victorian respondents to our survey about their main reasons for initially picking their gas supplier. This is what we found:
Almost a third of gas customers in Victoria (32%) signed up to their supplier over the phone, the survey found, while the exact same amount signed up online. A promising 89% of survey respondents believe they get a good deal on gas, despite only 39% having switched gas suppliers in the last two years.
Whether you’re buying gas or electricity, the key to getting a better deal is understanding the different factors that determine the costs you’ll need to pay, including contract types, plans, tariffs and charges. In summary, here are some questions that are worth asking any prospective gas provider in Victoria:
Remember that the Victorian gas market is now hugely competitive, with more than 15 different providers competing for your business. This puts you – the paying customer – in the driving seat. Make sure you shop around for the best deal for you and don’t be afraid to switch if you’re not 100% satisfied with the price you’re currently paying or the servicing you’re receiving. With so much competition, you may even be able to benefit from a growing number of rewards programs and other sign-up incentives. Ultimately, it’s all about what gives you the best value. That could mean the cheapest prices you can find, but it may also mean you get value from other parts of the plan.
This page was originally published by Canstar Blue Editor-in-Chief Simon Downes. He’s been writing about the Australian energy industry for more than five years, covering the evolution of the competitive market, retailer behaviour, regulatory changes and what it all means for consumers trying to find a better deal. He’s passionate about helping Aussies better understand their options and highlighting the best new deals. Simon also acts as spokesperson for Canstar Blue and is one of Australia’s most prominent energy industry commentators.
The table below shows the annual costs of the providers on our database. We show one product per retailer, listed from the lowest priced estimate first. This comparison assumes general gas usage of 29,830MJ a year. Prices factor in gas usage rates, supply charges and any conditional discounts that are available on the retailer’s cheapest market offer. The following costs should be treated as a general guide only.Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison. Our database may not cover all deals available in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
| Gas Supplier^ | Gas Plan | Discount | Annual Cost* | Important |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | Max Saver – Online Special | 20% | $794 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| GloBird Energy | GloSave | 1% | $810 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Momentum Energy | Bill Boss | 0% | $847 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Simply Energy | Simply Energy Saver | 20% | $854 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| EnergyAustralia | Total Plan | 27% | $861 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| AGL | Essentials | 0% | $875 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Click Energy | Flora Gas | 0% | $876 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Powershop | Market Offer | 5% | $881 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Amaysim Energy | Gas As You Go | 0% | $930 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Lumo Energy* | Basic | 0% | $932 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| 1st Energy | 1st Saver | 15% | $934 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Red Energy* | Living Energy Saver | 0% | $936 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Kogan Energy | Market Offer | 0% | $939 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Dodo* | Residential Market | 0% | $952 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Sumo* | Standing Offer | 0% | $954 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| Alinta Energy* | Home Deal | 0% | $968 | Energy Fact Sheet |
| CovaU | Smart Saver | 20% | $1,003 | Energy Fact Sheet |
*Annual cost estimates based on yearly gas usage of 29,830MJ, August 2020. Gas prices based on gas provided through Australian Gas Network Zone 2 in Melbourne. *Product and discount may only be available where the customer purchases both gas and electricity from the same retailer. There may be other retailers available in your area.
Canstar Blue surveyed 12,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who live in Victoria, have a gas account, and pay the bills – in this case, 1,794 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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