Best Energy Providers
Energy Locals 🏆 2026
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I just wanted to quickly write a review for Energy Locals. Whilst I did originally have some issues with their pricing structure given that I live on… Read more
my own in a 1 bed room apartment as part of an embedded network; when I raised my concerns with them, we were able to come to an agreement that ameliorated my original concerns. I must say a special thank you to Cassadee M who handled and resolved my enquiry, she was very professional, responsive and helpful in getting the desired outcome.
Origin Energy
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I switched to Origin 6 months ago being promised 20% pensioner discount through SA Govt scheme with Origin. My bills have never been higher. My recommendation is steer clear from them and go with another provider. Show details
GloBird Energy 🏆 2026
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I enquired about my payment plan and received the information I needed Show details
CovaU 🏆 2026
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Was able to lift our usage discount from 11% to 18%. Very easy to do by friendly & efficient staff member. Show details
1st Energy
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The sign up process was quick and my online account is very easy to navigate. Show details
Kleenheat
Zoe was very helpful and sorted out my query promply. It's a pity my account is going to lose the 38% discount (down to 15.5%) in the next few months. Show details
Arc Energy Group
I called for assistance regarding billing and lovely Ms Angelica did not disappoint, so grateful for she’s always ready to help. Show details
Amber Electric
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I signed up to Amber Virtual Power Plant after spending a lot of money on a solar battery. The battery seller said Amber would be paying me for my… Read more
exported power. I had not paid for electricity for over 10 years due to having solar panels. The year before the battery was installed, I was getting a small cheque from my power company every quarter. Amber was supposed to pay me handsomely enough to make the battery a worthwhile investment. What a disappointment! I ended up getting bills from Amber every month, even though I was exprting far more power than I was using. They just ripped me off. They were draining my battery, taking my power for a few cents (or nothing!), then charging me for the power I needed because they had run my battery dry!
I did ask Amber for advice and also the battery seller. I changed setting for the battery and in the Amber app. Nothing helped. Most changes just made things worse.
I have now switched to another provider - not a VPP.
Give Amber Electric wide berth. Their VPP is a scam in my opinion.
Smart Energy
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Lovely people. Rotten service. Did the job and discovered: 1) My EV charger was disconnected in the power box, 2) $18,000 and I still get power… Read more
bills, WT? 3) Only half the house wired to use the battery (one circuit), so during a blackout only half the house had power.
OVO Energy
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Spoke to them in the phone, I was promised a 90$/month I agreed to it then when the contract arrived it appears to. E a monthly fixed payment of… Read more
144$/month , so the amount has almost doubled and the Clinton compulsory payment was never mentioned to me on the phone , so basically they credibality
Sumo Energy
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SUMO is an absolute scam! I had just signed up because their advertised rates looked very competitive. However, only a few weeks later I received my… Read more
first elec bill and discovered they had charged me $5.00 per kW for Peak Demand instead of the 50 cents per kW stated in my Welcome Agreement—a shocking 10 times higher than agreed.
Luckily, the incorrect rate only applied for a short period, and I noticed it quickly. I tried calling their customer service, but after waiting on hold for over 30 minutes, no one answered.
I'm switching to another electricity provider immediately. Stay away from SUMO and don't be fooled by their misleading advertised rates.
Diamond Energy
providing genuine renewable electricity. Great service, good app that gives you all the info. And 3 hours of free electricity !! Show details
Energy Locals Retail
Worst customer service ever. Great at the start now after a disgraceful estimated bill I've been waiting over 3 weeks for them to respond to my… Read more
emails. They've acknowledged them and responded with a second email stating that they'll get back to me. Nearing 4 weeks and still I'm waiting now I'm on hold for over an hour to simply speak to someone imagine being a new customer wanting to sign up....avoid at all costs. They've now taken my money as they want direct debit and here I await weeks for a refund which will no doubt blow out further as I still can't talk to anyone. What a joke of a company...customer service is clearly not a priority. Go elsewhere you won't regret it.
Dodo Power & Gas
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I couldn’t be more frustrated with an energy provider. Their website is the least user friendly website I’ve ever used. There supposed “app” has… Read more
never eventuated. It takes 7 years to load anything related to your account online. The email notification and texts of bills due are super inconsistent and you are often only told if a bill is late as opposed to when it is due. I’ve had multiple payments be diverged to the wrong energy payment even though ive made it very clear. To top it all off I’ve called dodo about 7 times now to switch the accounts as I’ve moved house and it STILL hasn’t happened. They bombarde you with phone calls even though no outcome ever occurs out of them. To prove my point: I have spent a good hour today trying to just load the home page in order to pay a bill. Absolutely useless. DO NOT EVER SIGN UP TO THEM.
Pacific Hydro
No on time gimicks games – I am with Pacific Hydro with last one year. Straight forward electricity price. You no need to calculator for discount rates (one time pay), no… Read more
discount movie tickets-ETC. i am very happy with them. s.chitaranjan victoria
Bill Hero
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Unfortunately the Bill Hero service and experience has gone down the drain. The suggested solutions based on analysis of my bills simply don't exist… Read more
OR for whatever reason aren't available in my area. I have tried to clarify this point with Bill Hero via both live chat and via emails, but they simply don't reply. I have now effectively paid a subscription for a service that doesn't work and has no support. It's a shame because there WAS a time that it was a good service.
Arcline by RACV
If you want to have a cheaper electricity rate, it is worthwhile to check witn RACV Arcline. New company and their rates are usually cheaper if you… Read more
are a RACV member depending on the suburb. I am happy with it. Much more cheaper supply fee than the others.
To get $50 credit to your account do this:
“When asked 'How did you hear about us', select 'Friend' and provide my account number 9111350.”
Red Energy
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Can't get in contact. I've spent 30 minutes on hold twice to then have the call disconnected. Rates go up and up. Thankfully I don't have to speak to them to switch to a much cheaper provider. Show details
Nectr
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Nextr, damaged the roof during the installation, the builder identified a leak in the roof with pictures and evidence and Nectr denied any damage… Read more
which is only next to the installation, regardless of the warranty offering it ment nothing once tried to claim. I gave them plenty of options and time to reolve they wouldnt log it as a warranty claim even though its so abvious they damaged the sheets. Dodgy installation it was just get it done quick and nasty so they can move onto the next job. Pick another installer it cost me double to have the roof repaired. What started as a 17k install ended up being a 32k install. DO NOT USE THEM!
WinConnect
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I experienced extremely poor service from this company and do not believe customer welfare was a priority for them. We were charged unexpectedly high… Read more
bills, and shortly afterward the business was sold to Origin without any recourse being offered to affected customers. We were also threatened with disconnection if payment was not made immediately, with no consideration given to our circumstances. In addition, the pricing charged was exorbitant. I would strongly advise against using this company.
Locality Planning Energy
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Had to go with these guys as electricity was locked in with the unit. Worse customer service, ridiculous fees. If you have a choice avoid at all costs negative five stars Show details
Altogether
We had to arrange for a number of accounts to be redirected to another email account and cross check the accounts to ensure we had covered them all. … Read more
Brie, the Support person was very easy and good to deal with and attended to our requirements quickly. It is SO GOOD to speak with a real person in support. Thank you, Brie.
Powershop Australia
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Their system does not allow a transfer of names and I was told that if I wanted to include my partner to the account my partner would have to create… Read more
a new account and would be subject to new power rates.
This is a company that is operating behind the times and actively has process that is exploitative. This has to be illegal through unfair contract terms!
ZEN Energy
Zen is the way to go – Highly recommend Zen. Great people to deal with, very professional. Now have a 16 panel system and my last monthly bill was $4.77. Total generation for the month of January 2024 was 1017kwh Show details
Aurora Energy
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The Aurora+ app is a joke! When we moved into our house we noticed unusually high bills, we connected with Time of use tarriff. The bill prompted us… Read more
to change tarriffs to a flat rate, then after a lot of watching the app power trends we identified our meter tarriffs were backwards. This was rectified by the meter contractor. We then put a solar panel installation on to lower the bills and new heat pump and hot water timer, yet the bills seem to be growing. We are always in credit within the app and yet the amount deducted daily and usage daily aren't lining up, now that they've increased price per kwh and lowered feed in tarriff its time to look for someone else to provide power. The customer service agents must have a prerequisite to not read enquiries as they respond with emails that dont answer simple questions. There is no way via the app to accurately work out the funds in and out.
ReAmped Energy
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Just wanted to say to all the whingers complaining here...you weren't complaining when your electricity was the cheapest it's ever been, my bill was… Read more
HALVED, after joining Reamped. I was very sorry when they had to cease trading because of a volatile market, but I check every now and then to see if they are operating, and when they do, I will be signing up again, because who doesn't want to pay $500 LESS per quarter for their power?
Energy Cloud Australia
Poor Quality without warranty service – The panel is broken in three months after installation. They refuse to replace it and blame you broke the panel. My friend also chose this company,… Read more
they did not link to electrical grid. One year later, my friend found out after checking electrical bills. They also refuse to provide any compensation. NO product warranty and performance warranty from this company!
Alinta Energy
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Alinta energy I’ve seriously had enough!! What the hell is going on with my bills?? I live on my own! I don’t use a tv! I don’t have lights on at night! I use minimal electricity for 1 person! I’m seriously over Alinta!!! Show details
Lumo Energy
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Consistently read my metre wrong. Have had at least 8 calls with India trying to rectify the problem but each time have to start from the beginning… Read more
again like I've never told them. At least 10 emails sent with all relevant information, date and location stamped photos of the metre...same thing...like dealing with people without a clue and every time a new person answering me without any knowledge of what's gone on before. Finally got on to someone in Australia...not much better, who said they would send information to the parent company Red Energy. Said I would hear back in 10 days...it's been 12 now. Lumo is now threatening me with debt recovery and they have basically stolen $400 from me. I will absolutely never use this company or Red Energy again. They proudly say they are Australian owned and all the Blah Blah Blah that goes with it but fob you off to India where you just go round and round in circles. I apparently can't seem to get my money because they have finalised the bill. Appalling
Hello B J, We are sorry to hear that you have had… Read more
Agas National
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This company deserves zero stars! I’m extremely disappointed with Agas. I called customer service before 7am AEST to place an order and was… Read more
specifically assured that my gas bottle would be delivered the same day. I relied on that promise, only to arrive home after 6pm and discover that no delivery had been made and no one had bothered to contact me. Also, I’ve arrived home too late to speak to anyone as their office is closed.
If Agas had simply been upfront and told me they couldn’t guarantee same-day delivery, I could have made alternative arrangements and gone elsewhere. Instead, I was given a clear commitment over the phone and left without hot water or gas.
This is extremely poor customer service. Don’t make promises to customers that you have no intention, or ability to keep. If you can’t provide the service, be honest about it so customers have the opportunity to make other arrangements!
Should I switch energy providers?
There are a few reasons as to why you might want to switch energy providers. Sometimes, the value of deals deteriorates over time when the benefit period ends and costs increase.
Lots of customers are also swayed into an energy deal by ‘bait and switch’ tactics, which offer huge discounts when you sign up with a retailer, to only then have them raise prices without warning.
With energy prices rising, it could also be a good idea to reassess whether the plan you’re on is the most suited to your energy usage and budget.
Whether or not you switch energy providers is up to you, but it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your energy bill and see whether you’re getting a good deal.
How do I choose an energy provider?
Here’s what you should consider when you’re comparing gas and electricity providers.
Your usage
Make sure that the plan you’re going on is a good fit for your energy usage. A contract might, for example, offer discounts on off-peak energy use. While this may mean savings if you can realistically move activities to these times, it may increase your costs if you need to use energy at peak times.
Keep some of your previous bills with you when shopping around
Keeping copies of your last few energy bills handy while you shop around can help you easily see how much energy you use and how much you pay. This will make it simpler to compare deals across the market and find a better one.
Price
Your energy bill has two parts: a supply charge (also referred to as a service charge or fixed charge) and a usage charge.
The supply charge is how much it costs to connect electricity or gas to your home, and will appear on your bill as either cents per day or as a total amount for the billing period. You’ll be charged this even if you don’t use any electricity or gas.
The usage charge is the cost of the electricity or gas that you use.
- For electricity, you’ll be billed in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh).
- For natural gas, you’ll be billed cents per megajoule (c/MJ).
It’s important to look at the rate per kWh or MJ when comparing deals. Sometimes, your bill might show more than one usage charge, such as different usage charges depending on whether you used energy in peak, shoulder, or off-peak times.
Is it cheaper to buy gas and electricity together?
It isn’t necessarily cheaper to buy gas and electricity from the same retailer. In some cases, bundling both on a dual fuel plan may score you some discounts, but these could still be more expensive in the long run than paying for electricity from one provider and gas with another.
You should still compare base usage rates to make sure you’re getting a good deal. If a retailer offers a dual fuel discount but their underlying rates aren’t actually competitive, then it may not be worth it.
Although not necessarily cheaper, one advantage to consolidating gas and electricity under a single provider is that it can make paying bills and budgeting easier.
Type of contract
The tariff you’re charged will depend on what kind of contract you have with your provider, who may offer you either a standard retail contract or a market retail contract.
Standard retail contracts have set terms and conditions and cannot be changed by the provider. Under some of these contracts, the price you pay for energy is determined by the state or territory government. If you’ve never switched retailers, then you’ll likely be on this type of contract.
Market retail contracts have varied terms and conditions. They may cost less, offer renewable energy or discounts, and often have fixed terms where you’re charged an exit fee if you leave the contract early. In most cases, these types of offers will be cheaper in the long run and are more competitive out of the two.
Fees
There may be some extra fees charged under your contract, including but not limited to:
- Late fee: this is charged if you fail to pay your bill on time.
- Credit card fee: a fee charged if you pay by credit card.
- Early termination fee: if you’re on a fixed term contract, you may be charged a fee if you switch before the contract has ended.
- Moving fee: some retailers charge this if you move home.
Payment method
Check billing and payment details, such as how and when you’re billed. Also see if the provider’s payment options are suited to you.
You should also check the provider’s hardship policy and what this entails, particularly if you’re working with a tighter budget. A hardship policy offers support and protection if you are struggling to pay your energy bill.
Discounts
You can sometimes get certain discounts for your energy bills, including:
- Pay on time: applies if you pay your bill on time. If you don’t manage to pay a bill on time, you may however be hit with a late fee.
- Email billing: sometimes offered if you choose to have your bills emailed instead of sent by mail. Conversely, some retailers will charge you a fee for a paper bill rather than offering this discount.
- Direct debit: offered when you let your retailer directly take what you owe from your bank account, rather than waiting for you to pay your bill manually.
Just remember to keep in mind that often discounts are temporary. They may be nice extras, but don’t rely on them for savings in the long term.
You should check whether discounts apply to the whole bill (that is, both supply charges and usage charges) or just usage, because this can make quite a difference to what you’re actually saving.
Going green
There are also providers that are more environmentally friendly than others, but it can be difficult to cut through the noise with so many retailers advertising themselves as “green”.
Consider the following questions when assessing a retailer’s environmental impact:
- Does the provider offer green energy products to let their customers support the renewable energy sector?
- Does the provider offer carbon offsetting?
- Does the provider support renewable energy industries? For example, do they support electric vehicles, or do they own assets like solar farms or wind farms?
GreenPower is renewable energy from companies across Australia that have been accredited by the government. If you’re interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping grow the renewable energy sector, then consider purchasing this. However, in some cases, you may be paying extra on top of your usage to offset your power.
Checklist before you switch
If you’ve found a plan that suits you and you’re ready to switch, go through the checklist below.
- Check with your current provider to see if they can offer you a better deal. Some power providers will match or do better.
- Know about your cooling-off rights. By law, when you enter a new energy contract, you have a cooling-off period of 10 business days, during which you can cancel the contract and not be charged an exit fee.
- Check leaving fees. See whether you have to pay a fee to leave your current energy plan.
- Check price changes. See whether prices can change on your new plan, and whether there are already any planned price changes.
- See if you can get a concession. Rebates and concessions are typically offered to pensioners, low-income earners, and those with certain medical conditions.
- Check the conditions of a contract. Ask what will happen at the end of your contract, including what you’ll need to do if you want to renew and what will happen if you want to switch providers.
Contact the new provider directly if you do decide to switch. The process of switching energy providers can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to do, depending on your retailer and where you are in the payment cycle. Your energy supply won’t be interrupted if you choose to switch.
Look at the energy price fact sheet
Always read the energy price fact sheet of the electricity or gas plan you’re considering.
An energy retailer must provide a summary of a contract by law. This energy price fact sheet must include all costs and charges, payments and penalties for early termination, the contract date and duration, billing and payment details, as well as your rights and obligations.
The bottom line
It’s important to know the fine print of any power supplier and plan you’re considering switching over to. You could even ask a friend or family member to look over your new contract - a fresh set of eyes may pick up on even a minor detail that you’ve overlooked.
Cutting through the marketing and seeing an energy plan for what it is - including rates, fees, benefits, and more - is essential to helping you compare energy providers and find a good deal that means savings on your bills.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.
Compare, switch and save all in one place
Hi Leanne, Thank you for reaching out to us about… Read more