Compare the cheapest gas prices in Adelaide, South Australia

Note: The prices below are based on a set of assumptions and apply to a specific household in the Adelaide area, so please treat this information as a general guide only.

Compare cheap gas plans in South Australia

Which providers offer the cheapest gas prices in Adelaide?

Our price calculations suggest that Globird Energy, Alinta Energy  and Lumo Energy currently provide the cheapest natural gas deals in South Australia

Keep in mind that gas prices can change frequently, and remember that costs will vary according to usage habits, so it’s important to compare using your billing information.

Most homes in South Australia will be supplied with gas via the Australian Gas Networks (AGN) – a distribution network consisting of more than 7,500 kilometres of pipes. In the tables below, we assume household gas usage of 14,800MJ a year. Our price assumptions should be used as a general indicator of prices that are currently available from retailers on our database.

Calculations factor in usage and supply rates, plus any conditional discounts available on the provider’s cheapest market offer.

How to choose a good gas plan

While you may be naturally attracted to big discounts, it’s worth checking out the base rates of a gas plan.

Retailers may advertise large discounts to gain your business, but these could be hiding inflated rates, or may be only available if you pay a certain way (i.e. by direct debit).

Failing to meet the conditions of a discount could see you paying much more for gas than you need to.

Another important aspect of a gas bill is the benefit period, which is how long you’ll receive a discount or other incentives like bill credits.

Benefit periods normally only last for one or two years, meaning you could be moved onto a standard offer with higher rates and no discount once the period has lapsed.

Aside from discounts, some gas retailers are now offering one-off or ongoing bill credits or access to their rewards programs. Most of this information also applies when searching for cheaper electricity prices in SA.

Understanding your gas bill

The bulk of what you pay on your gas bill usually comes down to usage and supply charges, but depending on your gas retailer, there may be other costs involved.

Usage charges

Gas usage charges are the prices households pay for using natural gas and are measured in megajoules (MJ).

How much you’re billed depends on how your gas usage is priced — this is referred to as a ‘tariff’.

Most plans will charge gas usage at a single rate, while others may charge gas usage in a series of ‘blocks’ – known as a ‘block rate tariff’:

• Single rate tariffs: Gas use is priced at a flat rate, regardless of the time of day.
• Block rate tariffs: Block rate tariffs charge customers at different rates based on the quantity of gas they use. For example, a rate of 3c/MJ may apply to the first 20MJ block, while the next 20MJ used is charged at a rate of 2.5c/MJ.

Supply charges

This is a daily charge that covers the cost of supplying natural gas to a home. It is typically around 70 to 80 cents a day, and will be charged to a bill regardless of how much gas is used.

Discounts

Many plans include a percentage off bills, provided customers have met the conditions of a discount – this is called a ‘conditional discount’.

Conditions may include paying bills on time, paying by direct debit or signing up online.

Also, be sure to find out whether the discount applies to both usage and supply charges, or just the usage charges. This information can be found in the fine print of each gas plan.

Other fees

You may notice other fees and expenses in the breakdown of charges on your gas bill. These may relate to credit card surcharges, late payment fees, paper billing fees or connection charges.

Type of gas contracts in South Australia

There are two types of natural gas contracts in South Australia – market contracts and standard contracts.

• Market contracts: The vast majority of residential gas customers in SA are connected to a market contract or ‘market offer’. These are plans with prices and conditions set by the natural gas retailer, which are usually more competitive than standard contracts. Customers on market contracts will, however, have to be wary of price changes and benefit periods.
• Standard contracts: A standard gas contract is a government-regulated contract that customers are likely to be on if they have never switched gas suppliers, or they haven’t jumped ship in several years. About one in 10 SA households is currently on standard contracts.

Is gas cheaper than electricity?

There are many variables at play when determining whether gas or electricity is cheaper to power your home.

For instance, households with high gas usage may benefit from lower overall costs than electricity due to cheaper usage prices.

Given that the average electricity usage rate in SA is about 33c per kWh – and the gas usage rate is approximately 4c per MJ – an argument for natural gas seems like a no-brainer.

But, it’s the supply charges of natural gas that make it all a little more complicated, given that you’ll also be paying for electricity supply charges.

Gas can be a viable alternative to electricity for some household appliances, such as hot water systems and heaters, particularly if customers have higher gas consumption needs.

For those with lower gas usage needs, you could be better off switching all appliances to electric.

Learn more about your home fuel type options by checking out our natural gas vs electricity guide.

Which gas supplier is rated highest in SA?

If price alone can’t help you narrow your choices, then perhaps it’s time to look at other features, like customer service or online tools.

Origin is the 2024 winner of Canstar Blue’s annual ‘Best-Rated Gas Suppliers’ award in South Australia, scoring a perfect rating of five stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, ease of sign-up, bill and cost clarity, customer service and online tools and advice.

To find out which retailers were so close to snagging 1st place in SA, read our annual review of suppliers via the link below.

Compare SA Gas Providers

Original reporting by Simon Downes
Image Source: myphotobank.com.au/Shutterstock