Our Research Methodology
Transparency and accuracy are the foundation of our platform. Here is exactly how we source, calculate, and present energy data to Australian consumers.
Statement of Independence
EnergyPlans.com.au is an independently operated information portal. While we may receive referral commissions from select partners when users choose to switch through specific links, our core state reports, affordability analyses, and rate calculations are generated objectively. Commercial relationships do not dictate the inclusion or exclusion of data in our analytical reports.
Data Sourcing & Verification
Our electricity and gas rate data is aggregated from several publicly available and proprietary sources:
- Government Benchmarks: We heavily rely on the Default Market Offer (DMO) published by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) published by the ESC as our baseline metrics.
- Retailer BPIDs: We monitor the Basic Plan Information Documents (BPIDs) and Energy Price Fact Sheets provided directly by retailers.
- Market Intelligence: We track wholesale spot prices via AEMO to forecast retail price trends.
Official sources
For electricity market regulation and data we reference:
- Australian Energy Regulator (AER) — DMO, retail guidelines
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water — national energy policy
- Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) — wholesale and market data
Calculation of Averages
When we state "Average Annual Cost" in our state reports (e.g., the NSW Electricity Report), this figure is calculated using:
- A median residential usage profile defined by the local network distributor (typically ranging from 3,900 kWh to 4,600 kWh annually depending on the state).
- The application of a basket of competitive market offers available in the dominant network zone for that state.
- Exclusion of extreme outliers (such as wholesale-only pass-through plans) to prevent skewed averages.
Rebates and Feed-in Tariffs
Our solar adoption calculations assume standard Tier 1 panel efficiency and average peak sun hours per region. Solar Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) shown represent the median competitive rate available to new customers, excluding temporary promotional spikes. State and Federal rebates are factored into our cost-of-living analyses only when they are broadly applicable to standard residential customers.
Financial Advice Disclaimer
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is general in nature. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or specific energy needs. We strongly recommend reading the relevant Basic Plan Information Document (BPID) and considering your own circumstances before switching energy providers.