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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 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 providers compared to each other:
| Energy Australia | Origin | |
|---|---|---|
 Incentives | Discounted plan fees | Everyday Rewards incentives |
 GreenPower options | 3 | 3 |
 Green Rating | 3.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
 Price | Energy Australia is cheaper in 1 out of 3 states that we reviewed, excluding NSW where the rates are identical for both providers. | Origin is cheaper in 2 out of 3 states that we reviewed, excluding NSW where the rates are the same. |
Last checked March 2021
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 comparison is a general guide only and may change at any time. We compared prices based on a residential customer in NSW (Postcode: 2000) who consumes 3,900 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid network. We show one plan per provider and the estimated price includes conditional discounts (if any). Any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded from this list. Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage. Always check the provider's site before applying. To view more, you can use our engine.
Based on the AER annual model usage in the Ausgrid network, the AER reference price is $1,393 / year.
From 1 July 2021, residential demand charges will be introduced for some customers to encourage households to use less electricity during peak demand times. If applicable, demand charges are billed monthly based on your highest demand for electricity in kilowatts (kWh) typically during a 30 or 60 minute period of the preceding month. Whether you receive a demand charge will depend on the electricity network region, your retailer and your electricity usage during peak demand times. The pricing in our tables do not currently account for demand charges. For more information about demand charges, please speak to your electricity retailer.
Prices last checked on March 2021 and are subject to change.
The following comparison is a general guide only and may change at any time. We compared prices based on a residential customer in VIC (Postcode: 3000) who consumes 4,000 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the CitiPower network. We show one plan per provider and the estimated price includes conditional discounts (if any). Any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded from this list. Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage. Always check the provider's site before applying. To view more, you can use our engine.
Based on the general usage in the CitiPower network the VDO reference price is $1,270 / year.
From 1 July 2021, residential demand charges will be introduced for some customers to encourage households to use less electricity during peak demand times. If applicable, demand charges are billed monthly based on your highest demand for electricity in kilowatts (kWh) typically during a 30 or 60 minute period of the preceding month. Whether you receive a demand charge will depend on the electricity network region, your retailer and your electricity usage during peak demand times. The pricing in our tables do not currently account for demand charges. For more information about demand charges, please speak to your electricity retailer.
Prices last checked on March 2021 and are subject to change.
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 comparison is a general guide only and may change at any time. We compared prices based on a residential customer in QLD (Postcode: 4000) who consumes 4,600 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Energex network. We show one plan per provider and the estimated price includes conditional discounts (if any). Any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded from this list. Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage. Always check the provider's site before applying. To view more, you can use our engine.
Based on the AER annual model usage in the Energex network, the AER reference price is $1,455 / year.
From 1 July 2021, residential demand charges will be introduced for some customers to encourage households to use less electricity during peak demand times. If applicable, demand charges are billed monthly based on your highest demand for electricity in kilowatts (kWh) typically during a 30 or 60 minute period of the preceding month. Whether you receive a demand charge will depend on the electricity network region, your retailer and your electricity usage during peak demand times. The pricing in our tables do not currently account for demand charges. For more information about demand charges, please speak to your electricity retailer.
Prices last checked on March 2021 and are subject to change.
The following comparison is a general guide only and may change at any time. We compared prices based on a residential customer in ACT (Postcode: 2601) who consumes 5,499 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Evoenergy network. We show one plan per provider and the estimated price includes conditional discounts (if any). Any plans with special eligibility requirements are excluded from this list. Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage. Always check the provider's site before applying. To view more, you can use our engine.
| Brand | Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | Origin Go | N/A | N/A | $367 | $1,468 |
| Energy Australia | Total Plan Home | N/A | N/A | $387 | $1,548 |
Prices last checked on March 2021 and are subject to change.
What plans are available from Energy Australia and Origin in each state?
Note: Discounts and incentives change often. Be sure to check with the provider before signing up or applying.
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.
This provides you with Origin's cheapest fixed rates for a year and flexible payments. Everyday Rewards customers get extra points when signing up, paying bills, and can access 25% GreenPower for free.
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
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.
A fairly generous discount on the Victorian Default Offer, with fixed rates for the first year. If you're an Everyday Rewards Customer, you earn bonus points when you sign up, pay your bill, and will get 25% GreenPower for free.
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.
Save on power with fixed rates for the first year of your plan, as well as flexible payments. If you have an Everyday Rewards account, get bonus points when you sign up, pay bills, and enjoy 25% GreenPower for free.
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.
Get 12 months of fixed rates bundled with flexible payment options. Everyday Rewards customer? Enjoy 25% GreenPower for free, bonus points per dollar spent on your bill, and even bonus points when you sign up.
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 offers 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.
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.
Origin wins over Energy Australia when it comes to plan prices. When choosing one of these suppliers over the other, 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.
Compare more big brands against each other
Important notes: The estimated price we show by default is based on a single rate tariff. On your bill this might be known as a "peak tariff", "peak only" or an "anytime tariff". There are other tariff types available to customers and you may need to contact your provider if you are on these tariffs:
- Single rate with a controlled load
- Time of use
- Time of use with a controlled load
The price estimate should not be used as an official quote, but an indication of what your costs may be on the plan. It varies based on whether you provide us with your bill details. You can learn more here.
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