Electricity and gas providers in Victoria

No matter where you live in Victoria, you will have full control over your energy plan.

That means you can easily choose from a wide range of electricity and gas providers and switch plans whenever you come across a better deal.

To get started, you can enter your postcode and start comparing energy plans already.

Alternatively, deep-dive into our guide to understand the Victorian energy market better. A good place to start would be to look at:

Best electricity and gas providers in Victoria

While the term "best" is subjective and will likely differ from person to person, we've picked out the top 10 best electricity and gas providers in Victoria.

Our selection is based on the number of customers, percentage of complaints, and each company's basic plans.

• How did we choose the best energy providers in Victoria?

  We analysed data from the Annual retail markets report (2019–2020) and looked at complaints to the 10 largest energy retailers available in Victoria.

  We used price, complaints and popularity (number of customers) to rank the providers. The weighting used against each to determine rankings was:

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

  The prices we've used (true as of 12 October 2021) are based on a residential customer in Sydney (we used the postcode: 2000). This assumes the customer will consume 3,900kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid network.

  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.

  The difference between gas and electricity rankings is the plan/price information and the number of customers. We used the same total number of complaints for both gas and energy as the AER report doesn't distinguish between the two.

Best electricity providers in Victoria

Best gas providers in Victoria

Who is the cheapest electricity and gas provider in Victoria?

After analysing monthly price estimates for energy providers on Finder, we found Alinta Energy, Lumo Energy and Tango Energy to offer Victorian customers some of the lowest rates.

Cheapest electricity in Victoria

Cheapest gas in Victoria

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

  The prices we've listed below (true as of 19 November 2021) are based on a residential customer in Melbourne (we used the postcode: 3000). This assumes the customer will consume 3,900kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid 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 Victoria

Comparing electricity prices in Victoria to other states

Our research found that the average quarterly electricity bill across Australia is approximately $343. Victoria came in slightly cheaper at $329 per quarter.

Victoria fares better than New South Wales and South Australia, but falls behind Queensland's $318 average quarterly bill.

Comparing gas prices in Victoria to other states

Our research found that the average quarterly gas bill in Australia is approximately $209. Victoria came in slightly cheaper at $238 per quarter.

Victoria fares slightly better than South Australia but falls behind New South Wales and Queensland.

How much can I save by switching energy plans?

A lot of people tend to set and forget about their energy plans.

Assuming you signed up to a plan over a year ago, it's likely that any discount or benefit period you were offered has not expired.

After that you end up on a standing offer as opposed to a market offer. The same can happen when you move house.

If you're in either of these scenarios, recent research shows that you could potentially save between $110 to $150 annually by switching providers.

Start comparing energy providers in Victoria to see if you save money on your energy bill.

Do I qualify for any energy concessions in Victoria?

Government concessions can help you cut the cost of your energy bill.

In order to be eligible for a rebate, you'll need to meet a certain requirement such as holding a valid concession card.

Here's a breakdown of what energy concessions and rebates are available to you in Victoria.

Frequently asked questions

• What are the peak and off-peak times in Victoria?

  Power use is split into different periods that determine how much you'll be charged at specific times of the day. Unlike other states, Victoria only has peak and off-peak times, but no shoulder period.

  • Peak. 7am - 11pm on weekdays. This is when electricity is used the most and attracts the highest prices.
  • Off-peak. All other times (11pm - 7am weekdays, all weekend). Electricity consumption drops in off-peak periods, meaning prices are lower.

• Who is my electricity and gas distributor in Victoria?

  Your electricity and gas distributors will be different depending on where you live.

  Electricity distributors

  Distributor	Location
  Jemena	North and south-west Melbourne
  CitiPower	Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs
  AusNet Services	Eastern Victoria, northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne
  United Energy	Southern Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula
  Powercor	Western Victoria, excluding all of Melbourne

  Gas distributors

  Distributor	Location
  Australian Gas Networks	Northern, eastern, and southern areas of metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and the northern, eastern, and southeastern areas of Victoria
  Multinet Gas	Melbourne's inner and outer east, the Yarra Ranges and South Gippsland
  AusNet Services	Western Melbourne, central and western Victoria

• How to read a meter in Victoria?

  You can either have a technician visit to read your meter or you can read it yourself.

  The technician route is easy since all you have to do is make sure they can access your meter. With a smart meter, you won't even have to locate your physical meter.
  Electricity can be dangerous, so if you choose to read your meter yourself, you should take a few basic safety precautions.

  Make sure the meter and its housing don't show any signs of deterioration, including damage from water or animals, and burnt or melted components.
  Taking a reading will then depend on what meter you have. Read our meter reading guide for more details.

• What is Powerpal and is it really free in Victoria?

  Powerpal is a device that connects your electricity meter to your smartphone and wirelessly tracks (in real time) your home energy usage so you can find ways to save on your bills.

  You can claim Powerpal for free in Victoria by signing up online.

• Is it easy to switch energy providers?

  Switching plans is easier than you think. All you need to do is compare offers, apply with your new provider and cancel your old plan once it's all confirmed. Ask about any disconnection or reconnection fees before switching.

  Read our guide on switching energy providers for more information.

  • Good to know. There are no 90-day waiting periods anymore either. New rules in Australia

  dictate that your provider needs to let you switch within 2 business days. This will save you time and help you to take up fast-moving discounts quickly.