993 reviews
AI reviews summary
Overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with significant praise for the efficiency of the onboarding process and the professionalism of the customer service team. While most users are satisfied with competitive initial quotes and seamless transfers, a small segment of long-term feedback highlights concerns regarding substantial price increases after the introductory period and occasional delays in the activation process.
Pros
Cons
Verdict
1st Energy is an excellent choice for consumers seeking a seamless switching experience and highly-rated Australian-based customer service. However, users should remain vigilant regarding their rates after the initial sign-up period, as some evidence suggests prices may increase significantly over time.
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Only a month after signing up, they have sent an email announcing that they are jacking up their rates. Increasing peak and off peak rates, daily charge as well as adding fees for things that should be free. Is this an intentional strategy? Goodbye! Show details
Great prices... until just after my 1st bill is due where they whacked me with less than 2 weeks notice to say my anytime rate is going up 14.57%, daily rate going up 16.2% and oh yeh they're gonna whack on a $2.70 processing fee just because... So basically it's "hey, come on board, we've got great prices... for the first month!" What a joke.… Read more
Leaving them immediately. They can reply all they like in this forum, but I won't be changed on my position: That is NOT how you treat a new customer. It's really shady business in my humble opinion. They're trying to snare people in on a really competitive rate and then they hit you with a really high rate. I'd love to know if they do this to all their new customers.
One week in and prices have gone back to the equivalent of my previous provider. Assessment done on the vic gov compare site. Signed up 26 June Transferred 13 July New pricing 22 July So disappointed. Churning tomorrow. Show details
Reviews with attachments
I received a phone call, I thought another scam caller. No the lady was very polite and straightforward. The call was to help me get an affordable energy provider and that’s exactly what was achieved. I strongly recommend that everyone should search for the best energy provider to help us manage the current tough financial times. Show details
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Helping me to understand and show how I save money with my power bills. Show details · 1
Easy to understand and every aspect everything was carefully explained. Show details · 1
A very smooth easy experience – The experience was quick thorough. I put electricity on. The person I interacted with was pleasant and patient. There was no waffle. Took about 7 minutes. So far there has been no power drop outs. Thank you. Show details · 1
Great increase in feed in tariff – I have installed a 13kw solar system & I'm very grateful for higher feed in tariff. But that should be increased even more. Show details · 1
Non existent customer service and invasive contact form forcing me to accept 'cold calling' etc without any choice. Was looking to join but have now gone elsewhere. 1. Phone number constantly repeats the same message but does not advise the wait time nor what number / order you are in the queue. 2. Then decided to use their online contact form… Read more
instead but you cannot submit the form unless you accept their invasive requirements of, 'cold calling', 'door to door sales' etc without ay other choice. 3. Have now advised the Energy Comparison site but doubt anything will be changed. Have now gone elsewhere.
PS/ Thanks Google as you will not allow me to post any photographic evidence.
Read this before you sign up. 1St Energy are one of the highest. which I found out too late. Our Gass bill was $1694 which is around 25% higher than many others i have now found online. Our Heating bill was almost $1606 for the 2 months with 1St Energy. I have worked out with AGL it would be around $1164 which is the best I found today. Saving… Read more
$442
Turns out, 1St Energy charge 0.01 Cents per Mj over most. Around 25% more.
AGL start at 0.034 Mj Cents and go as low as 0.02 cents per Mj. AGL work out to be much cheaper. SO PLEASE Look around first!
Just do NOT start with these guys which BTW I found via the compare the markets sites. Don’t trust these guys anymore either as the promote the ones they want you to buy to the top of the list it seems.
All I suggest, especially if it’s a big house, start with AGL, then work out the your monthly numbers to correctly compare with other providers.
In the 2 Images are the rates I used to compare my usage values from the AGL and 1ST ENERGY Websites.
Hope this helps.
Latest follow-ups
Sign-up was easy, quick and straight-forward, but there seemed to be a lot of terms-and-conditions documents that nobody (including me) reads. Hope I don't come to regret that. Show details
Follow-up · 1st Energy are one of those shonky b#stards that significantly increased the price for existing plans/customers on July 1st, but then introduce a new, cheaper plan for new customers.
Ash was very helpfull and just said 1st energy and agl were cheaper but i wont b going with agl Show details · 1
Follow-up · I wont no how cheaper they are until i get my 1st bill and i was told alinta is cheaper and better than agl but also want no till i get a bill ??
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Good PR. I hope the product lives up to what I was told on phone. Show details
Follow-up · I wouldn't recommend this provider to anyone. All talk and promises. Didn't do what they told me.
Positive reviews
The transfer from my previous supplier was exceptionally easy. The customer service team member who assisted me was very knowledgeable in the process and the whole thing was completed in 5-10 minutes. Show details
The 1st energy staff and associate energy savers people were very efficient in making our change over of power and gas from AGL a smooth and painless process for the worthwhile cost benefit. Show details
1st Energy were rated as the best and 2nd cheapest Electricity supplier in my area. The cheapest option had too many demands for the customer to comply with to get only a slightly better rate. From the time i rang 1st energy Anica my contact was amazingly helpful and had me signed up in a very short time with no fuss or bother and most importantly… Read more · 1
I was not on the phone long and did not have to listen to any long recordings or be transferred to other departments to complete the charge over. I cannot recommend this company highly enough for there excellent customer service and the ease of transferring my electricity supplier.
Negative reviews
My supplier of electricity is First Energy but they won’t be much longer! You cannot contact them! They ALWAYS have “higher call volumes” than usual. So you hang on the line and leave a message and they don’t call you back. The one time I did get through was when on my invoice they stated I could get a cheaper plan. The gentleman said that they… Read more
couldn’t do it at the moment but that someone would call me back! Guess what?!! Avoid if you want service. I have DODO for gas and they were able to do the same thing within minutes.
absolutely ridiculous the app and site are useless, ive been without gas for 2 months and had my account closed without informing me then i asked if i can just sign up with another provider to be told i can, then to call another provider and be told because of what 1st energy did we have to get them to reconnect it to change over, so ive been… Read more
waiting for it to be turned back on to then call and be told its closed and have been lied to 2 different times by 2 different people that my gas is being reconnected for a week and a half to go by and i called today 25 june to find out its not even on the service order and now i have to wait for a call from the sales team.
update: called at 9am to be told i need to wait for a call from sales that was sent as a priority… Read more (+1 reply)
Signing onto the new plan was as easy as with any other company. However, what has been most frustrating is the slowness of the actual transfer. In the past, the actual transfer time has never been more than about 3 days. When, after 6 days, my account hadn’t been activated, I rang to ask why. I was told that, 1st Energy needed to do background… Read more
checks, notify my current retailer, etc. and that my account would not be activated until June 12. That is, 15 days after my registration. These checks are nothing new, and I’ve had them done with previous retailers. Very disappointing, and I hope you can streamline this process.
Recent reviews
Service and communications were efficient and polite.have had electricity installed in a new premises. all timing went smoothly and within the period required. power is reliable ,no issues. pleased with the service overall. Show details · 1
Easy sign up, clear instructions. Only issue was I couldn’t add a person to discuss my account if needed, any additional people had to accept responsibility for my account which I don’t want to put on anyone. Show details
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The transition was very smooth and I didn't even know when it happened. The prices are so much better than my previous retailer, I regret not making the switch earlier. Show details · 1
I recently spoke with Olly from the Retention team on 5th June,offering me a 27 percent lower rate to come back to !st Energy as well as a $200 credit on my next bill,as a pre long weekend special.He was easy to understand.I hope what he said is true by the time my next bill is due Show details · 1
Ash was great explained everything clearly & went over things I wasn’t sure about. Had been with previous provider for many years & was happy there but thanks to Ash I changed providers for elec & gas! Thanks Ash Show details · 1
This conversation only helped me change from my existing retailer to 1ST Energy. So, I really cannot help in any way to give an accurate or useful information for another customer. You see, this was an initial call from the 1sr Energy retailer to grab another customer. The 5* rating said it all. Show details
Pretty solid experience with FirstEnergy overall. The service has been reliable, billing is easy to manage online, and customer support has been helpful when needed. Outages don’t happen often, and when they do, they usually get resolved pretty quickly. Show details
EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE 10/10 - My call to 1st Energy was answered very promptly and politely by a real and highly knowledgeable customer service Employee. That Employee was extremely helpful in assisting me to set up two new residential electricity accounts. The whole experience was seamless, from helping me to select the optimal service plan for… Read more
each residential address, setting up my two new accounts and setting up direct debits for each. Next step - I plan to transfer my business electricity account to 1st Energy as I have determined that 1st Energy provides an exceptional and superior professional service. The service rates are very competitive, and I was not required to sign up for a fixed plan to secure those rates. I highly recommend 1st Energy if you are considering a new energy plan.
One decision to change providers, I receive conformation promptly. I also had a couple of questions that were submitted and again a prompt response. Very happy with the service provided. Show details · 1
I have just changed over to 1st energy and am anxiously waiting for a smaller electric bill. Richar was very informative and answered all my questions. I dont have solar, because I dont think I'll be around long enough to reap the benefits. Show details
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Hi David, the rules changed in Victoria fairly… Read more (+1 reply)