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A high electricity bill can sometimes be a head scratcher - especially when your power use hasn't really changed. So what's the culprit? It's likely that old electricity plan that you're on, which means it's time to compare. Our electricity comparison service is designed to help you find the latest market offers and more.
Not sure who to go with? Check out Australia's most popular brands
The most popular brands below are based on data from an Australian Energy Regulator Annual report (2019-20). Keep in mind that the most popular brand may not always be the best for you, and you're encouraged to compare for yourself to find one that works for you.
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Who is Finder?
We compare things
We do the hard yards, analysing every detail and feature of products and services to find the best deal for you. Many purchases we make as we get older, buy property or start families are complicated financial or technical products - so we're here to help. Our aim is to simplify, explain and compare energy plans so that you save money and have peace of mind.
Totally free
It's 100% free to use every part of the Finder site. If you find a plan you like when comparing and we service that brand, you can click through to its website or enquire via a broker. If you do, we may receive a small commission for facilitating.
We know our stuff
Finder staff are money experts, data nerds, and dog lovers - in addition to being publishers, designers, developers, analysts and content specialists. What brings us together is our passion for helping people make better decisions.
Some of the electricity brands we compare:
...in every state and territory:
After gas, solar or something else? We compare other types of energy too.
Frequently asked questions
Here's what our users want to know when it comes to comparing electricity.
What is the average cost of electricity in Australia?
1We found that the average quarterly energy bill in Australia to be around $344. For states where we had the most respondents, here were their average bills:
| State | Average quarterly bill | Annual bill |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $361 | $1,444 |
| Victoria | $335 | $1,340 |
| Queensland | $326 | $1,304 |
| South Australia | $397 | $1,588 |
1. Average bills per state are based on Finder's Customer Sentiment Tracker. Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker takes responses from 16,000 Australians to get an average figure. These numbers were last checked in August 2021. We will continue to update this data.
Why is my electricity bill so expensive?
If your electricity bill has jumped up a lot in recent times, there are a couple of common causes:
Expired discounts
Many electricity plans will give you a fixed discount for the first 12 months or so. Once that period has expired, the prices will rise again leading to a sudden spike in your energy bill. Comparing your electricity plan and finding one with better rates will go a long way to lowering it again.
More time at home
People spending more time at home due to COVID-19 restrictions has increased residential energy use, according to a report from the ACCC.
Heating and cooling
Since heating and cooling already make up about 40% of your bill, more time at home means more temperature control. This is a common culprit for inflated power bills, and you can find more about how to minimise costs in our heating and cooling guides.
Why is electricity so expensive in Australia?
Case study: Maddie's experience
Maddie Burke
Increasing electricity bills
Graduate Publisher at Finder Maddie Burke realised that she could save $125 per bill, simply by switching plans.
What does all the jargon on your bill mean?
Pricing features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Supply rate | A supply rate is the amount you are charged per day, regardless of usage. |
| Usage rate | A usage rate is the amount you are charged for energy use. |
| Prepaid packs | Prepaid packs let you pay for energy ahead of time, based on how much energy you expect to use. |
| Wholesale rates e.g. Amber | Purchase energy at the same rate retailers have access to, updated every 30 minutes. Usually involves a membership fee. |
| Fixed rates | Usage and supply rates are set to a single value for the duration of the benefit period. |
| Variable rates | Usage and supply rates can change at short notice, raising or, occasionally, lowering. |
Contract features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Exit fee | The amount you pay if you leave a fixed-term contract before it expires. |
| Disconnection and connection fees when you move | Fees charged to have your gas and power connected or disconnected when you move to or from a property. |
| Disconnection and reconnection fees for non payment | If you fail to pay your energy bills, your retailer might disconnect your house and charge you an extra fee to reconnect it later. |
Discounts and incentives
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed Discount | This is a discount on your usage and/or supply rates that applies no matter what for a set period. |
| Pay On Time Discount | A discount that applies to your whole bill so long as you're never late with payments. |
| Incentives | These are bonus features offered to customers. They could be rewards, extras, frequent flyer points, etc. |
| Bonus Signup Credits | Extra bill credit offered to new customers signing up to the plan. |
Tariff types
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Time of use | Usage costs depend on when you use your energy, split up into peak, off-peak, and sometimes shoulder periods. |
| Single rate tariffs | All energy use is billed at the same usage rate, regardless of time of use. |
Solar features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Feed-in tariff | The rate paid for excess solar energy fed back into the grid. Certain plans will include this feature. |
| Solar rebate | This a refund that you might be eligible to receive from the government for your solar panels. |
Green features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| GreenPower | An optional extra where a certain percentage of your energy is guaranteed to come from renewable sources. |
| GreenAward | Rates retailers on a number of criteria, including environmental performance, support for clean tech, GreenPower options, and more. |
Customer service features
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Customer service rating | A composite score from Finder taking into account call centre hours, ease of access, financial hardship support, and more. |
| Call centre hours/weekend hours | What time of day you can get in touch with the call centre and receive help. |
| Financial hardship program | Programs in place for people who can't afford to pay their bills or are having cash-flow issues. |
| Online chat | Availability of online chat services for real-time assistance. |
| Usage management app | Apps for tracking your power usage and keeping an eye on solar production. |
Should you just compare price?
Prices you get from average pattern of energy consumption. Obviously, this is only a general guide and will not match your particular energy requirements. Compare actual usage charges instead.
How do electricity rates work?
Plans have two main rates. First is the supply charge, which you pay daily just to be connected to the power grid. Second is the usage rate, which you pay per kWh of energy you actually consume.
How do electricity discounts work?
There are three main types of discounts:
- Guaranteed discounts. These are discounts which you don't have to do anything special to get. However, they'll usually only apply for a certain period of time after signing up with the retailer, so they aren't a forever solution to your power costs.
- Conditional discounts/credits. These are, as stated in the name, conditional. That means you will only receive the benefit so long as you meet the conditions, which might not be practical or possible all the time for you or your household. It's better to look for guaranteed discounts that you'll receive no matter what.
- Incentives. Incentives are designed to lure you into switching from your current energy provider to another one. They usually take the form of perks (like movie tickets or Qantas Points) and sign-up credits. Since these are one-off things, you're better off choosing the energy plan that will better suit your needs in the long run, though we discuss some of the better incentives available below.
Compare the big energy brands side-by-side
Origin vs Simply Energy
Origin vs Simply Energy: Which brand offers better electricity rates in your state?
Read more…
Energy Australia vs Origin
Energy Australia vs Origin: Find out who will save you more money.
Read more…Read more on this topic
- Energex network and service information
Have an issue with your power supply? Find how to reach Energex's support team.
- Who is my energy distributor?
Find out who your electricity distributor is based on where you live.
- Why my electricity bill so expensive?
Why has your energy bill increased?
- Time of use vs single rate tariff
Can you save money by using energy at certain times of the day on a time of use plan?
- What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)?
You’ll see kilowatt hours printed on your electricity bill – here’s what they are and why they matter.
- Red Energy vs Origin
Red Energy vs Origin Energy: Compare rates, plans, features and incentives in four states.
- Alinta vs AGL
Alinta Energy and AGL compete closely on price in many states.
- Origin vs Simply Energy
Origin vs Simply Energy: Which brand offers better electricity rates in your state?
- What is the average (kWh) cost of electricity in Australia?
The amount you pay per unit of power depends on many factors. Find out how much you should be paying and how you can save.
- AGL vs Energy Australia
AGL or Energy Australia: Who offers better rates in your state?
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I am looking for the cheapest electricity supplier in NSW. Can you please tell me what company has the best rates for electricity?
Hi Vicki,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
Regarding your question, I’m afraid I can’t tell you specifically which one offers the cheapest rates. Electric companies consider various factors and thus, the rate would depend on your chosen plan, situation, and preference.
We are currently working on getting pricing to our pages soon.
In the meantime, you can click on the “Go to site” green button for a provider. From there, you should be able to check out their rates.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I currently have my electricity and gas account with Energy Australia here in Victoria. Despite my usage not really changing and it’s just me, the bills continually rising. Need help.
I am off today and you can phone today but will return tomorrow. This bill is forever rising.
Hi Moira!
We feel your concern about rising utility bills! :(
All you need to do is to leave off a message to our energy broker, by filling up the form on this page. They will do an assessment which provider will match your personal situation.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
how do i work out the best electricity deals for me?
Hi Jo
Thanks for your question.
You can compare electricity deals on the table provided on this page. If you prefer to speak to someone, you can request a call back from an energy consultant using the form above.
Cheers,
Shirley
Would like to connect to click energy
Hi Laurence,
Thanks for your question. I’ve emailed you a response privately.
how do i talk to an energy consultant
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your question.
I’ve emailed you back privately.