Australian energy comparison

    Compare energy plansCompare energy plans in your postcode.in your postcode.

    We track 9,400+ electricity and gas plans from 29 retailers and benchmark them against the government reference price for your network zone.

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    Free · takes about 2 minutes · no account needed

    Free to useGovernment benchmark dataNo interruption to supply
    See who beats the Ausgrid network benchmark in your postcode
    Reference price index Checked today

    9,400+ electricity and gas plans from 29 retailers, checked nightly

    $459/yr

    The cheapest NSW plan we track, under the government reference price.

    24%below the reference price
    ~$38a month
    Cheapest plan we track$1,440/yrGovernment reference price$1,899/yr
    Ausgrid network
    Government reference price$1,899/yr
    Cheapest plan we trackBeing verified
    The cheapest plan we track is $459/yr under the benchmark
    See who beats it in your postcode →See who beats it in your postcode →
    Source: AER Final DMO 2026-27

    24% and ~$38 a month calculated from $459 and $1,899. Prices shown for the Ausgrid network. 9,400+ electricity and gas plans from 29 retailers, checked nightly. Source: AER Final DMO 2026-27.

    Reference price: AER DMO / ESC VDO 2026–27, effective 1 July 2026, typical household, flat-rate tariff at each zone’s model annual usage. Cheapest figure is the lowest plan we track at the same usage; availability varies by address. How we calculate this

    See all 10 network zones ranked by the gap
    EnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free Energy Made Easy. How we make money →
    Pricing benchmarks sourced from:AER Australian Energy RegulatorESC Essential Services Commission (VIC)CDR Consumer Data Right plan dataUpdated with each regulator determination
    Brands across the marketWe benchmark against the market and track live published rates from 29 retailers
    Simple process

    How comparing works

    1

    Enter your postcode

    Your location determines your network zone and the plans available to you.

    2

    Answer quick questions

    A little about your usage, or have a recent bill handy for the sharpest comparison.

    3

    See available plans

    Electricity and gas plans from selected retailers, benchmarked against your reference price.

    4

    Switch online

    The new retailer manages the transfer, with no interruption to your power supply.

    Moving house?

    Get electricity and gas connected at your new address, often by the next business day. A move is also the easiest moment to land on a sharper plan. You're choosing one anyway.

    Set up a connection

    Business energy

    Small business electricity rates fell up to 14% in some regions at the 1 July reset. If your business is on a standing offer, the gap to market offers is often wider than for households.

    Compare business plans
    Compare plansEnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free Energy Made Easy. How we make money →
    Why EnergyPlans

    Built on data, not deals

    Most comparison sites start with what pays best. We start with what the regulator says power should cost, then show you the gap.

    Original benchmark data

    We maintain reference price and plan datasets across 10 network zones, built from AER, ESC and Consumer Data Right sources.

    Anchored to government benchmarks

    Every figure is measured against the DMO or VDO, the same yardstick the regulator uses, not a marketing number.

    A named human, accountable

    Pricing pages are reviewed and dated by a named author, with a published methodology you can read and challenge.

    Clear about how we're paid

    We earn a commission if you switch through Compare & Connect. It is not added to your bill, and it does not change the order we rank plans.

    James Baker, Founder of EnergyPlans

    James Baker, Founder. “I started EnergyPlans because energy pricing in Australia is deliberately hard to compare. Our job is to put the regulator's benchmark next to the market's offers and let the gap speak for itself.” About EnergyPlans · Our methodology

    1–3c/kWh

    Solar households: typical Victorian feed-in tariffs have fallen sharply since minimum rates were deregulated from 1 July 2025. If your plan was chosen for its feed-in rate, it's worth re-checking the whole plan. Usage and supply rates now matter far more than the export rate.

    Solar feed-in tariffs by state
    The other bill

    Gas plans deserve the same scrutiny

    Usage rates per megajoule and daily supply charges vary widely between retailers, and households that use both fuels may benefit from reviewing electricity and gas together.

    Compare gas plans EnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free Energy Made Easy. How we make money →
    What to compare on gas
    • Usage rates (c/MJ) across every tariff block
    • Daily supply charges, often the quiet bill-inflator
    • Whether a dual-fuel bundle stacks up on both rates
    • NSW, VIC, QLD and SA natural gas networks
    Gas pricing varies by distribution network. Compare with your latest bill handy for the sharpest result.
    Tools and guides

    Tools that do the maths for you

    Estimate your savings in seconds

    Drag your current bill to see the indicative gap to the cheapest market offers we track. Pick yearly, quarterly or monthly — it's a starting point. Your real result depends on your usage, tariff and address.

    Savings estimator

    Your current quarterly electricity bill $375

    $125$1,250+
    Indicative gap to cheapest market offers*
    $83/qtr
    Compare plans
    *Indicative estimate only, not a quote. Based on typical gaps between standing offers and the cheapest generally available market offers in AER benchmark data. Actual outcomes depend on your usage, tariff, location and current plan. Methodology and assumptions
    Compare plansEnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free Energy Made Easy. How we make money →
    The 30-second answer
    How much does electricity cost in NSW from 1 July 2026?

    The reference price for a typical Ausgrid household is $1,899/yr, down 3.4% under the AER's DMO 8 determination. The cheapest market offer we track sits at $1,440/yr, a 24% gap to the benchmark at standard usage.

    James BakerRates as at 29 October 2026 · Verified 3 November 2026 · Reviewed by James BakerSource: AER Final DMO 2026–27 · Cite this

    Energy terms, decoded

    DMO: Default Market Offer
    The AER's annual price cap on standing offers in NSW, SA and South-East Queensland. Also the “reference price” plans are compared against.
    VDO: Victorian Default Offer
    Victoria's equivalent benchmark, set by the Essential Services Commission rather than the AER.
    c/kWh: Usage rate
    What you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity used. The biggest lever on most bills.
    c/MJ: Gas usage rate
    Gas is billed per megajoule, usually in blocks that get cheaper as usage rises.
    Supply charge: The daily fee
    A fixed daily amount charged regardless of usage. A cheap usage rate can hide an expensive supply charge.
    FiT: Feed-in tariff
    What a retailer pays for solar electricity you export to the grid. Rates vary by retailer and state, and have fallen in recent years.

    When did you last check your plan?

    There's a cheaper plan in your postcode. There always is.

    Free · takes about 2 minutes · no account needed

    EnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free Energy Made Easy. How we make money →
    1. Compare for your address
    2. Pick a plan online
    3. Answer their call or SMS

    Commercial relationship

    How we make money

    EnergyPlans is free to use. Here is where the money comes from.

    Where the prices come from. Plan prices and the EnergyPlans Default Price Index come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, the data retailers have to publish. We refresh it every day. No retailer pays us to be listed, to rank higher, or to be shown as a good deal. Rankings follow the method on our methodology page. A plan in that feed can still be left out of a cheapest figure where that method says so.

    Right now that feed includes 9,400+ plans from 29 retailers.

    How we earn. When you decide to switch, we hand you to Compare & Connect, operated by Residential Connections Pty Ltd and owned by Origin Energy Limited. If you sign up to a plan through them, they pay us a small commission. That is what keeps the data and guides free. You do not pay us. Origin's ownership of our partner does not change the prices we publish or the order we rank plans.

    Worth knowing. Compare & Connect can only sign you up to the retailers they have agreements with. That may not be every retailer you see on our site. If the plan you want is with a retailer they don't cover, you can go to that retailer directly, or use the government's free comparison site, Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au). In Victoria, the government's free comparison site is Victorian Energy Compare.

    The commission is not added to your bill, and it never changes the prices we show or the order we rank plans. You choose the plan.

    How to compare energy plans in Australia

    Comparing electricity and gas plans in Australia starts with your postcode. Energy prices are set at a local level: your distributor, meter type, and state regulations all influence the rates available to you. EnergyPlans is an Australian energy comparison platform that uses regulated AER and ESC benchmark data to show you the real cost of plans in your area. We publish our methodology and our commercial arrangements. Enter your postcode, see plans from selected retailers side by side, and start your switch online.

    Why electricity prices vary by state

    Electricity prices in Australia differ substantially from state to state. Network costs (the charges for maintaining poles, wires, and substations) make up roughly 40–50% of a typical bill and are set by local distributors such as Ausgrid in NSW, CitiPower in Victoria, and Energex in Queensland. State governments also set different regulatory benchmarks: the Default Market Offer (DMO) applies in NSW, South Australia, and South-East Queensland, while Victoria uses the Victorian Default Offer (VDO). These benchmarks cap standing-offer prices and give you a reference point when comparing market offers. States with higher network costs or lower generation competition tend to have more expensive electricity. Those same rates decide what your appliances cost to use, so it pays to work out the cheapest heater to run this winter before the cold sets in. You can explore detailed pricing on our electricity prices by state page, or read individual reports for NSW, Victoria, and other states.

    What to look for in an electricity or gas plan

    Not every cheap headline rate is actually the cheapest deal. When comparing energy plans, pay attention to these key factors:

    • Usage rate (c/kWh): the per-unit charge for the electricity or gas you consume. Plans with lower usage rates save more for higher-consumption households.
    • Daily supply charge: a fixed daily fee charged regardless of how much energy you use. A low usage rate paired with a high supply charge can still be expensive.
    • Discounts and conditions: some retailers offer pay-on-time or direct-debit discounts, but these may revert to a higher rate if you miss a payment.
    • Contract length and exit fees: most residential plans today are no-lock-in, but always check the fine print for benefit periods or early-exit fees.
    • Solar feed-in tariff: if you have rooftop solar, the rate your retailer pays for exported electricity can make a real difference to your annual bill.
    • Green energy options: many retailers offer GreenPower or carbon-offset plans at a small premium if you want to reduce your environmental impact.

    How switching energy providers works

    Switching electricity or gas providers in Australia is straightforward and free. Once you choose a new plan, the new retailer handles the entire process. There is no interruption to your power supply, because the physical network is managed by your local distributor regardless of who bills you. The switch typically completes within a few business days for smart meters, or up to two weeks for older meter types. Under Australian Consumer Law, you have a 10-business-day cooling-off period after signing up, during which you can cancel without penalty. You can start comparing plans now on our energy comparison page.

    Frequently asked questions about comparing energy plans

    Are electricity prices going up or down in 2026?
    Electricity prices changed at the 1 July 2026 reset under the AER’s final DMO 8 determination. Residential flat rate prices fall 3.4–5.0% in NSW and 7.2% in SE Queensland. Time-of-use prices fall in all regions — up to 10.7% in SE QLD. South Australia is the exception, with flat rate prices rising 1.4%. Small business prices fall across all regions. Read our full breakdown of the July 2026 electricity price changes. Read the full breakdown →
    Is this service really free?
    EnergyPlans is free to use. Here is where the money comes from. When you decide to switch, we hand you to Compare & Connect, operated by Residential Connections Pty Ltd and owned by Origin Energy Limited. If you sign up to a plan through them, they pay us a small commission. That is what keeps the data and guides free. You do not pay us. Origin's ownership of our partner does not change the prices we publish or the order we rank plans. The commission is not added to your bill, and it never changes the prices we show or the order we rank plans. You choose the plan.
    Which electricity and gas providers do you compare?
    Plan prices and the EnergyPlans Default Price Index come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, the data retailers have to publish. We refresh it every day. No retailer pays us to be listed, to rank higher, or to be shown as a good deal. Rankings follow the method on our methodology page. A plan in that feed can still be left out of a cheapest figure where that method says so. Compare & Connect can only sign you up to the retailers they have agreements with. That may not be every retailer you see on our site. If the plan you want is with a retailer they don't cover, you can go to that retailer directly, or use the government's free comparison site, Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au). In Victoria, use Victorian Energy Compare (compare.energy.vic.gov.au). Read our Red Energy plans review →
    Does the price depend on my state?
    Absolutely. Electricity prices vary significantly between NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and other states due to different network costs, distributor charges, and state regulations. That is why entering your postcode is important for an accurate comparison.
    Will my power be cut off when I switch?
    No. Your electricity supply is completely uninterrupted during a switch. The physical poles and wires are managed by your local distributor (such as Ausgrid, Energex, or CitiPower) regardless of which retailer you choose.
    How long does it take to switch energy providers?
    Switching typically takes between 2 business days and 2 weeks, depending on your meter type and distributor. If you have a smart meter, the process is usually faster. You have a 10-business-day cooling-off period under Australian consumer law.
    What is the Reference Price?
    The Reference Price (also called the Default Market Offer or Victorian Default Offer depending on your state) is a government-set benchmark price. All retailers must show how their plans compare to this benchmark, making it easier to spot a fair deal.
    How does having solar panels affect my comparison?
    If you have solar panels, you want a plan with a competitive feed-in tariff — the rate paid for excess electricity you export to the grid. Our comparison tool lets you filter for solar-friendly plans and factor in your feed-in credits.
    Can I compare gas plans as well as electricity?
    Yes. We compare both electricity and gas plans from retailers that serve your area. Some providers offer bundled energy deals that can simplify billing and may include additional discounts.

    About EnergyPlans

    EnergyPlans is an Australian energy comparison platform. We help households and small businesses compare electricity and gas plans. EnergyPlans is free, and here's how that works. Our prices and comparisons come from the government's whole-of-market Consumer Data Right feed, and no retailer pays to appear or rank higher. When you choose to switch, we hand you to our referral partner, Compare & Connect, and if you sign up they pay us a small commission, which is what keeps the data and guides free. They can only sign you up to retailers they have agreements with, so if your best plan is elsewhere you can go direct or use the government's free We are not an energy retailer. Learn more about us | Our methodology