Electricity and gas plans in Canberra and the ACT

The ACT is a fully competitive energy market, with 7 companies to choose from when it comes to energy. Even with all these choices, it's easy to avoid getting overwhelmed with our comparison tool.

For those who want to dive in right away, enter your postcode and get comparing. You'll be connected to a new provider within 2 business days if you sign up to a plan.

Otherwise, you can browse this guide for more information on the ACT energy market. Try starting with the following:

Best electricity and gas providers in the ACT

We've put together our top 10 picks for electricity and gas providers in the ACT, based on number of customers, basic plan costs and percentage of complaints.

These are subjective and the "best" choices may not be the best for you.

Best electricity providers in ACT

Best gas providers in ACT

• How did we find the best energy providers in the ACT?

  To make our list, we analysed recent data from the Annual retail markets report (2019-2020) and checked complaints to the 10 largest retailers available in the ACT.

  We used price, complaints and the number of customers to rank each provider. The following is the weighting used to determine rankings:

  • Basic plan price: 40%
  • Complaints: 40%
  • Popularity/number of customers: 20%

  The prices we used (true as of November 2021) are based on a residential customer in Canberra (postcode: 2600). We assume that the customer consumes 6,100kWh a year on a single rate tariff on the Evoenergy network.

  These estimated prices include conditional discounts (like a pay-on-time discount). The bill you get in reality will depend on your actual usage.

  Providers offering both power and gas are separated by plan price and customer numbers. Complaints are given for the provider as a whole.

What company is the cheapest electricity and gas provider in the ACT?

We analysed monthly price estimates for power and gas providers in the ACT and found that Red Energy and Origin Energy offer some of the cheapest electricity rates.

Red Energy and EnergyAustralia were the cheapest options for gas connections.

• Good to know: Electricity prices are compared against a reference price, which is a benchmark "fair" price for power set by the government to help customers compare plans.

Cheapest electricity in ACT

Cheapest gas in ACT

• How did we find the cheapest energy providers in ACT?

  The prices we've listed below (true as of 08 December 2021) are based on a residential customer in Canberra (we used the postcode: 2600). This assumes the customer will consume 6100kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Evo Energy network.
  
  To keep things simple, we only show one plan per provider and any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded from this list.
  
  The estimated price includes conditional discounts (e.g. if you need to pay your bill on time). Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage.

Compare energy providers in the ACT

How much can I save by switching energy plans?

There are 2 common situations where you'll be able to save money by switching plans:

• You're on a standing offer. If you've been on a plan for more than a year or have moved house in the recent past, you could be on a standing offer. The latest research shows that you could save between $180 and $300 by changing to a market offer.
• You haven't switched recently. Market offers don't stay the best forever, and if you've been on one for a while, there's a reasonable chance something cheaper is available. If this is the case, switching can save you money.

No matter what your current energy situation, you can always compare the energy plans in your area to see how much you can save.

Do I qualify for any energy rebates available in the ACT?

When you get an energy rebate, you'll either receive it as a flat sum or as a percentage of your energy bill.

Qualifying for rebates and claiming them requires you to meet eligibility requirements, which often include holding a valid concession card.

We've broken down the energy rebates available in the ACT and how to claim them.

FAQ

• What are the peak and off-peak electricity times in the ACT?

  If you're on a time-of-use tariff, you'll be charged a different rate for power depending on when you use it. Rates are highest during peak hours and lowest during off-peak.

  Here are the different periods in the ACT:

  • Peak. 7am-9am and 5pm-8pm.
  • Shoulder. 9am-5pm and 8pm-10pm.
  • Off-peak. 10pm-7am.

• What company is my electricity and gas distributor in the ACT?

  In the ACT, all gas and power retailers purchase energy from Evoenergy before selling it to you.

  Good to know: In some remote parts of the ACT, you may have your power or gas distributed by another company, but this is rare and varies based on location.

• What types of electricity contracts are available in the ACT?

  Residents of the ACT will be on 1 of 2 kinds of electricity contracts:

  • Standing offer. The prices that you pay for your power are equal to the reference price.
  • Market offer. Market offers let you negotiate your prices with your retailer. They can provide additional discounts and benefits, but you'll need to check the terms and conditions.

• How do I read my electricity meter?

  Meter reads happen in 2 ways: either read it yourself or have a technician come and take a reading.

  If you've arranged for a technician, you don't need to do much apart from making sure they can reach your meter unhindered. Depending on your property (e.g. an apartment complex), you may need to be home when they visit.

  To take a reading yourself, head to your retailer's site if you have a smart meter. Otherwise, make sure you can do it safely by checking our meter-reading guide.

• Is it easy to switch energy providers?

  Switching providers involves comparing plans and applying to a new provider. The new provider will cancel your old plan, but you should only need to pay reconnection or disconnection fees if you're moving house.

  • Good to know: You no longer have to wait 90 days for your plans to switch over. The new rules mean you'll be connected to your new provider in 2 business days or less, so you can enjoy discounted or lower rates in no time at all.

• How do I read my energy bill?

  It's important to learn how to read your energy bill if you want to compare energy plans based on your actual usage. Your energy bill also tells you how much you're being charged and for what.

  We have a guide that includes a video with step-by-step information. Head here to get started.

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