Tasmania has fewer energy providers than most states, so your choices may be limited.
Tasmania was opened up to full energy competition on 1st July 2014. This means that Tasmanians should now have more a competitive energy market. But despite deregulation there is still only one retail electricity provider in the state and two gas providers. But while consumers face limited choices for now, this will certainly change in the future.
What retailers provide energy to Tasmania?
For the moment, Tasmania has a very limited range of retail energy providers for consumers to choose from. Small and large businesses have a few more options, but ordinary households are limited to the following providers.
Electricity
Tasmania has only one electricity retailer, Aurora Energy, so your ability to shop around and find the best price is severely limited. The company has several features and options to consider, including:
- AuroraGreen. This is Aurora Energy's green energy product, which sources energy from wind power. AuroraGreen is GreenPower accredited.
- Aurora Online. The provider's online tool lets you track your energy use, pay outstanding bills and predict future bills.
- Aurora PAY AS YOU GO. Only available in certain areas, Aurora PAY AS YOU GO gives consumers more control over their energy usage by charging up their payments using a credit system connected to their energy meter.
Read more about Aurora Energy here.
Gas
There are two choices for gas in Tasmania:
- Aurora Energy. Tasmania's main electricity provider also supplies residential and business gas around Tasmania.
- TasGas. TasGas offer business and residential gas all over Tasmania. They also manage much of the infrastructure for transporting gas around the state. Read more about TasGas here.
An energy retailer buys energy from energy producers and sells it to homes and businesses. There are many energy retailers available in Australia, and all of them offer different packages, deals and service different areas. This has made the energy field a good place for consumers to find savings. We’ve previewed many of the energy providers available in Australia today, so if you’re interested in knowing if you could be saving money, why not have a look around our guides?
Will electricity prices increase in Tasmania this year?
Electricity prices in Tasmania, unlike most states, are not likely to rise too much next year. The state government has introduced caps on prices to protect consumers against expected price hikes. But in the longer term Tasmania's energy prices may rise more sharply.
I have some more questions about Tasmanian energy
What are tariffs?
Energy providers charge their consumers for energy use using tariffs. In Tasmania the government regulates all tariffs that providers can charge consumers. Find a more detailed explanation about tariffs
here.
What is GreenPower?
GreenPower is a government scheme that allows consumers to purchase renewable energy through their provider. It is a way of displacing dirtier forms of energy and supporting renewable energy. Providers offering GreenPower must be accredited by the Australian government. Read our full GreenPower guide
here.
What happens if I move to a different state?
If you're moving to a different state your energy options may be quite different. NSW, Victoria and the ACT, have open, deregulated energy markets. This gives consumers plenty of options. Other states may have fewer options or none at all. Regardless of the state you move to you should always notify your energy provider a few days beforehand. This way you can be sure you're not paying for energy in a house you're no longer living in.
What is a cooling-off period?
A cooling-off period is the time during which a customer can cancel an energy contract without any fee or penalty. In many cases the cooling-off period is 10 days, but not all plans include a cooling-off period.
What is a no lock-in contract?
No lock-in contracts allow you to switch providers freely without incurring a penalty or fee. All energy providers get their energy from the same grids, and most of this energy is not carbon neutral. However, some providers will offset the carbon emissions from their energy. Some providers include this as standard, or offer it at no extra cost to the consumer.
