Energy Australia vs Origin
Origin is a behemoth in the Australian energy market, with nearly 3 million more customers than Energy Australia, but having more people buying your energy doesn’t necessarily make you better.
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We’ve put together this guide to help you distinguish between two of Australia’s three largest energy retailers. We look at what plans they offer and where as well as do a quick comparison of their best prices state by state.
Get a price estimate for Energy Australia or Origin
Energy Australia vs Origin: How do they stack up against each other?
At the time of writing, here's how the two provider compared to each other:
| Energy Australia | Origin | |
|---|---|---|
 Incentives | Discounted plan fees | Bill credits, online sign-up discount on some plans |
 GreenPower options | 3 | 3 |
 Green Rating | 3 stars | 3.5 stars |
 Price | Energy Australia is cheaper in 1 out of the 4 states we reviewed. | Origin is cheaper in 3 out of the 4 states we reviewed |
Last checked January 2020
Cost comparison: Energy Australia vs Origin
The list below shows the cheapest plans for each provider. We don't include plans that have special eligibility requirements.
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in Sydney, NSW who consumes 3,900kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid network, and only one plan per provider is shown. Prices were last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the provider's site before applying.
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | Origin Max Saver | 16% less | N/A | $307.80 | $1,231.20 |
| Energy Australia | No Frills | 13% less | N/A | $317.75 | $1,271.00 |
Verdict: You’re a bit better off going with Origin in New South Wales and can expect to save about $40 off your power bills.
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in Melbourne, Victoria who consumes 4,000kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the CitiPower network. Prices were last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the provider's site before applying.
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Australia | Origin Max Saver (Single Rate) | 5% less (without conditional discount) | Further 5% off VDO if you always pay on time, and 5% off VDO when you pay by direct debit | $283.14 | $1,133.00 |
| Energy Australia | Total Plan Home - Peak Only | 6% less (without conditional discount) | Further 6% off VDO if you always pay on time | $293.13 | $1,173.00 |
Verdict: Like in New South Wales, you’re $40 better off a year when you take out a plan with Origin.
Note: For residents outside of South East Queensland, residents don't get to choose their provider as energy is regulated by the Queensland Competition Authority.
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in Queensland who consumes 4,600kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Energex network. Prices were last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the provider's site before applying.
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | Origin Max Saver | 15% less | N/A | $333.37 | $1,333.48 |
| Energy Australia | Total Plan Home | 11% less | N/A | $349.05 | $1,396.20 |
Verdict: Origin’s Max Saver plan wins out in Queensland, offering a cool $63 a year over Energy Australia.
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Estimated prices are based on a residential customer in Canberra, ACT who consumes 5,499kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Evoenergy network, and only one plan per provider is shown. Estimated prices include conditional discounts (if any). Any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded. Prices were last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the provider's site before applying
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Australia | Total Plan Home | N/A | N/A | $234.37 | $937.48 |
| Origin Energy | Origin Max Saver | N/A | N/A | $238.31 | $953.24 |
Verdict: This is the only place where Energy Australia comes out cheaper than Origin, by about $16 a year.
What plans available from AGL and Origin in each state?
New South Wales
The plans on offer in New South Wales are the standard suite for each provider, consisting of three from Energy Australia and four from Origin.
You’ll receive fixed rates for the 12-month benefit period, which is determined by the guaranteed discount that applies for the same period.
This plan has lower base usage rates than the Total Plan, but it has similar prices. It offers fixed rates for the first 12 months.
This plan is as basic as the title implies. You’ll get electricity at the reference price, with no extra discounts.
You must pay by direct debit and use the Origin app in order to access this plan. You’ll also need a smart meter. Signing up online can get you a small extra discount for the one-year benefit period.
This is a lot like the Max Saver but with slightly higher usage rates and without the same billing and app requirements.
This offers a smaller reduction in rates than the Flexi plan, but it is otherwise entirely the same.
This plan provides rates equal to the state’s reference price, but it has a $100 bill credit after the first 3 months.
Victoria
Energy Australia requires payment by direct debit for its Victorian plans, but Origin gives a bit more freedom in how you pay with its Flexi and Basic plans.
This plan gives a guaranteed discount on your usage and supply rates for the duration of the one-year benefit period. The rates are also fixed for this period.
Much like the Total Plan, the No Frills plan will give you a fixed rate for the first 12 months before changing to a variable rate. It provides lower base rates than Total, but no discount.
There’s nothing extra about this plan as it simply offers electricity at the Victorian Default Offer. As such, it doesn’t have a benefit period.
This provides the most generous decrease from the Victorian Default Offer, but it requires you to pay via direct debit and manage your account with the Origin app. You have to have a smart meter for billing, and you can get a modest extra discount for 12 months by signing up online.
This is a less-rigid version of the Max Saver. It has higher usage rates but no associated requirements for direct debit billing and app use.
This will not give you a discount on your usage rates compared to the reference price, but you’ll get a $50 bill credit after 3 months.
Queensland
Once again, you’ll find little difference between the rates offered by Energy Australia’s Total Plan and No Frills plan in Queensland for the first 12 months. Origin’s offerings are largely comparable to those in other states.
As in other states, the Total Plan provides a guaranteed discount on both your usage and supply rates for the first 12 months you’re on it. It also has fixed rates during that period.
This plan is very similar to the Total Plan, but it has lower fixed rates for the first twelve months and no discount. It works out to be about the same as the Total Plan.
This plan does not have any bonus features. It provides electricity at the reference price and nothing more.
This plan offers a decent discount off your entire bill for a year, but it requires you to use the Origin app and to make direct debit payments. There is a small online sign-up discount.
This is similar to the Max Saver plan, but it has more flexibility around bill payments as well as higher rates.
This plan has higher usage rates than the Flexi plan but comes with the same freedom in payments.
This plan is close to the reference price but with a $200 bill credit applied after 3 months.
ACT
The ACT is different in that it has no set reference price like you’ll find in other states, but Energy Australia and Origin both have competitive plans on offer for residents.
With the Total Plan, you’ll receive a guaranteed discount on your rates for the benefit period of 12 months. The rates will be fixed for the same length of time.
This plan is mostly equivalent to the Total Plan, but it replaces the guaranteed discount with lower base rates in the first place. These rates are fixed for the one-year benefit period.
This plan provides no bonus features and provides electricity at the reference price.
This plan provides a decent discount off your entire bill for a year, but it requires you to use the Origin app and make direct debit payments. There is a small online sign-up discount.
This plan offers more flexibility in bill payments as well as higher rates than the Max Saver plan, but it does not require you to use the app.
This is a more expensive version of the Flexi plan, but it retains the same freedom in payments.
This plan supplies power at the reference price, though Origin offers a $100 bill credit after 3 months along with it.
Verdict
Neither Origin nor Energy Australia offer very much in the way of sign-up incentives, though Origin does have a few tiny discounts and bill credits here and there on some of its plans. Both companies boast a power usage and management app for their customers to track their power use, and Origin even makes its use compulsory on its Max Saver plan.
When it comes to environmental options, both Origin and Energy Australia offer GreenPower certified renewable energy in increments of 10%, 20% and 100% for Energy Australia and 25%, 50% and 100% for Origin. Origin also offers a wide range of solar power options and has very high feed-in tariffs available for many of its plans compared to Energy Australia.
When it comes to choosing one of these suppliers over the other, the only state where one is clearly ahead is South Australia, with Origin’s plan beating Energy Australia’s by a significant margin. Outside of that, you may want to consider other things like customer service and which plan will suit you best in terms of your power use and where you live.
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