Find the right energy plan for you in Tasmania

Tasmania has fewer energy providers than most states, so your choices may be limited.

Tasmania was opened up to full energy competition on 1 July 2014. This means that Tasmanians should now have a more competitive energy market. Despite deregulation, there is still only one retail electricity provider in the state and only two gas providers. 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 the following:

• 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.

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 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 through 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. The Australian government must accredit providers offering GreenPower. 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.