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Can you choose your own energy provider?
Yes, if you live in New South Wales, Victoria, South East Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, you are free to choose your own energy provider. While Tasmania is now open for competition with retailers, prices are still regulated by the state government.
Although most of Australia has a deregulated energy market, meaning consumers are free to choose their own provider, some parts of the country won’t have any choice. For electricity, this includes Western Australia, the Northern Territory and regional/North Queensland. Here are your current choices for electricity providers in these states and regions:
- Western Australia: Synergy
- Northern Territory: Jacana Energy
- Regional/North Queensland: Ergon Energy
- Tasmania: Aurora Energy, 1st Energy, CovaU Energy, Energy Locals
AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia are the three largest electricity retailers in Australia, with a combined market share of roughly 64%. They are known as ‘Tier 1 retailers’.
Is bundling gas with electricity a good idea?
The short answer: it depends. If your electricity provider also offers natural gas, then it’s worth considering a bundled approach, particularly if there is an incentive to do so (i.e. a discount or bill credit). However, you should always check the rates of your current gas plan before making the switch.
Although it might be enticing to bundle your utilities, it may be cheaper for each power source (electricity and gas) to come from separate suppliers. For example, a one-off discount for bundling may not be enough to justify switching gas providers over a 12-month period. This is because your existing (or an entirely different) plan may have cheaper gas rates that would negate any savings from a standalone discount.
In addition to natural gas, there are some electricity providers that offer a range of other services, including Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), internet plans and mobile phone plans. Most of these multi-service providers offer discounts for bundling from time to time and could provide some overall savings if you know where to look.
What are your options if you have solar?
Thankfully in Australia you have an array of options if you have solar. Whether it’s energy retailers offering generous solar feed-in tariff rates, solar-specific plans or deals tailored to electric vehicle (EV) owners, there are plenty of ways for you to save on your electricity bills.
Most, if not all providers offer small rebates for feeding excess power into the grid, known as a ‘feed-in tariff’. There are even power companies that install solar panels and batteries if your existing rooftop system needs to be replaced.
If you have solar, always compare energy providers and check to see if their deals have:
- Cheap electricity usage and supply rates
- An above average solar feed-in tariff
- Discounts, bill credits or rewards programs
Lastly, you may want to check to see a retailer’s service record by browsing real customer reviews and testimonials, as well as any other handy features on offer like apps and online portals.
Among Money.com.au customers, solar is increasingly common, with 40.78% of applicants having a solar system and 16.92% also using a battery. Most systems fall between 3.1 kW and 10 kW, with 42.16% in the 3.1–6.6 kW range, 25.61% between 6.7–10 kW, and 24.58% over 10 kW, while a smaller portion (7.64%) have systems of 3 kW or less.
