Electricity and gas providers in Victoria

Compare electricity retailers and prices in Victoria October 2020

_{Disclaimer: Here are some of the best deals from retailers on our database that include either a link to the retailers website for more information or to a form from an energy broker to enquire for more information. The following list of cheap plans 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. Please use our engine for a specific comparison in your postcode.}

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  • You can click on 'Estimated Quarterly Price' (4th column) to sort plans by price.
  • Don't just compare on price - consider features like customer service and the actual rates of a the plan.

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Name	Product		Features	Reference Price	Estimated Quarterly Price	Reference Price Description	Reference Price Desc Mobile	More details
HomeDeal Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	18% less than the reference price	$300 Includes GST	With HomeDeal, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,200 which is 18% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With HomeDeal, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,200 which is 18% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Enquire now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Total Plan Home - Peak Only Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		1	14% less than the reference price	$313 Includes GST	With Total Plan Home - Peak Only, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,252 which is 14% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Total Plan Home - Peak Only, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,252 which is 14% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sumo Assure Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	15% less than the reference price	$309 Includes GST	With Sumo Assure, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,236 which is 15% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Sumo Assure, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,236 which is 15% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Local Saver - Citipower Residential Anytime Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	9% less than the reference price	$334 Includes GST	With Local Saver - Citipower Residential Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,336 which is 9% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Local Saver - Citipower Residential Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,336 which is 9% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Residential Standing - Single Rate Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	5% less than the reference price	$348 Includes GST	With Residential Standing - Single Rate, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Residential Standing - Single Rate, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Victorian Default Offer, Residential Single Rate Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	5% less than the reference price	$348 Includes GST	With Victorian Default Offer, Residential Single Rate, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Victorian Default Offer, Residential Single Rate, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Enquire now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Victorian Default Offer Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	5% less than the reference price	$348 Includes GST	With Victorian Default Offer, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Victorian Default Offer, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,392 which is 5% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Enquire now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Origin Flexi (Single Rate) Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet	Customer service rating Energy Fact Sheet		No lock-in	9% less than the reference price	$331 Includes GST	With Origin Flexi (Single Rate), for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,324 which is 9% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	With Origin Flexi (Single Rate), for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the CitiPower network, the lowest annual cost is $1,324 which is 9% less than the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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• Quick facts about energy providers in Victoria

  • The energy market in Victoria is fully open to retail competition.
  • Victorian residents can choose between more than 25 electricity providers and 15 gas providers.
  • Energy retailers in Victoria offer a wide range of solar solutions.

Is electricity expensive in Victoria?

¹Our research found that the average quarterly electricity bill in Australia is around $363. VIC came in at a cheaper $338 per quarter.

_{1.Average bills per state are based on Finder's Customer Sentiment Tracker. Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker takes responses from 16,000 Australians to get an average figure. The last number was last checked in August 2020. We will continue to update this data.}

You can save by switching

As of 1 September 2020, the cheapest estimated price that we found for a plan in VIC (Postcode: 3000) is $1,240 per year ($310 per quarter). If the average bill holder was to switch to the cheapest plan, they would be able to save $112 in the year.

_{2.The cheapest price available on Finder was found by searching our engine for results using the following postcodes: (3000 - Melbourne). Prices are based on a residential customer who consumes the following amount of energy per year on a single rate tariff: (4,000 kWh for VIC). Prices are subject to change.}

Electricity and gas providers in VIC

Energy plans from some of the main providers in Victoria: What's on offer?

Note: Plan information last checked in July 2020.

AGL - Residential Essential Savers

Basic variable rate electricity plan with no lock-in contract and monthly billing. Includes a demand charge, where you pay an additional fee based on your max peak consumption during a certain period, higher in summer. Choose between 10, 20, and 100% GreenPower.

EnergyAustralia - Total Plan Home (Peak Only)

This offers fixed rates and a guaranteed discount off your whole electricity bill for the first 12 months of the plan. Has flexible payment options and quarterly billing. You can opt in for complete carbon offsets after the first 6 months, and pick between 10, 20, and 100% GreenPower.

Origin - Max Saver

Provides variable rate electricity with a 12 month benefit period and monthly billing. To be eligible for the plan, you have to get online billing and communications, pay by direct debit, and install the Origin app. No lock-in contract, with 25, 50, or 100% GreenPower options.

Powershop - Shopper Market Offer

Variable rate electricity with direct debit payments, 100% GreenPower options, and no connection fee at a new address. In order to access significant discounts off your bill, you can pre-purchase Powerpacks in their shop. Billed monthly.

Tango Energy - Home Select

Fixed electricity prices for the first 12 months, after which they become variable again. Has flexible payment options and is billed monthly, with no GreenPower options.

Who is the best energy provider in Australia?

What type of energy discounts do providers in VIC offer?

We went through all the energy plans on offer in Victoria to discover what kinds of discounts exist. Here are the four main types:

• Pay on time discounts. Paying early or paying on time offers a percentage discount on your bill. When you miss a payment, this discount goes away.
• Direct debit discounts. If you let your provider withdraw the value of your bill directly from your bank account each month, you'll get a discount.
• Guaranteed discounts. Always apply, no matter what. This is the most reliable type of discount.
• Bill credit. Mostly offered on sign up and involves money being subtracted from your energy bills.

According to our data, direct debit discounts are the most common discount variety offered by Victorian retailers. Discounts generally apply only during set benefit periods, and expire when they run out.

_{Last checked December 2019}

How much is the energy rebate in VIC?

An energy rebate works by providing a certain amount of money back on your energy bill. To qualify for a particular rebate, you usually need to satisfy some condition or have a valid concession card.

Rebates come in two forms: a flat amount back (like $50), or a percentage of your power bill. If you want to know what energy rebates exist in Victoria, go to our energy rebates and concession guide and search the Victorian section.

When are off-peak and on-peak periods in VIC?

Power use is split into different periods, known as peak and off-peak. Unlike other states, Victoria does not have a shoulder period. These periods are only relevant on a time-of-use tariff, since single rate plans treat the whole day as a single peak time.

• 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.

How to read a meter in VIC

You can either have a technician visit to read your meter, or you can read it yourself. The technician route is easy, as all you have to do is make sure the technician 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, explained in full on our meter reading guide.

• Smart meter. These read usage on around a half-hourly basis. You can't read a smart meter manually - instead, you can check your usage by logging onto your provider's page and asking for a usage chart.
• Clock face meter. Write down the number on each clock face from left to right. When dials are between two numbers, take the lower, and ignore the dial labelled 1/10. Your usage will be your meter reading minus the reading from your last energy bill.
• Electronic meter. Hitting the "display" button should show your usage. Note down all the readings it displays if there are several.

As a Victorian customer, you have the right to send a self-read of your meter to your energy provider so that you aren't given an estimated bill.

How often will you get your bill?

Victorian regulations require retailers to provide energy bills at least quarterly, or once per three months. Your provider may also decide to send the bill monthly or allow you to opt in to monthly billing.

• Origin. Bills come monthly on the Origin Max Saver plan. Bills will not be mailed in paper form as part of this plan, only sent via email.
• Energy Australia. The No Frills plan involves quarterly billing, with no option for monthly. Customers can select email or regular post, though paper bills will attract a small additional charge.
• AGL. On AGL's Residential Essential Savers Plan, bills are issued quarterly by default, but customers can opt in for monthly billing instead. Bills are sent by email or can be mailed in paper form for an additional cost.

How do you connect electricity in VIC?

When moving from one property to another, you have to deal with switching over your electricity connection from the old to the new. There are a few ways to deal with this:

• Use your old provider. Don't intend to switch plans or providers? Just contact your retailer and they'll sort it out for you. Be aware that not all plans are available at all addresses.
• Get your landlord or agent to do it. When renting, your landlord is sometimes responsible for the energy account at the property. If that's the case, you can run through the details with them, and they can handle whatever connection fees might be applicable.
• Compare online. A move can be a fresh start and a good chance to leave your old power plan for something better. Whether you simply want an improved deal or you can't remain on your old plan, comparing plans online is an excellent way to save money on electricity in the future.

Moving a connection from one house to another isn't always free. The distributor may charge one or both of a connection fee for moving in and a disconnection fee for moving out. This table shows the fees that Victorian distributors charge.

Source: Origin Energy

How to get cheaper energy

• Look at base rates. The most important number on an energy plan is how much you get charged per unit of energy you use. Outside of conditional discounts and other features, lower usage rates mean cheaper energy.
• Investigate discounts. Discounts can be conditional or guaranteed. Usually, guaranteed discounts are better because they always apply, while conditional ones require you to meet a condition. Watch out for when these discounts expire, too.
• Check tariff options. When your energy use leans more towards the morning or early afternoon, you might benefit from something like a time of use tariff instead of a flat rate. Time of use tariffs split the day into peak and off-peak times, charging way more for peak than off-peak use.
• Compare regularly. In many cases, your rates can be changed at almost any time. On top of that, most discounts and benefits only apply for the first 12 months. Compare or switch regularly to make sure you get the best deal.

Key terms in VIC

Switching

Your choice of retail provider can make a noticeable difference to the size of your energy bill. Once you've compared electricity and gas plans and chosen a new provider, it's relatively easy to switch. It's simply a matter of applying with the new provider and cancelling your existing plan. Your new provider should generally be able to supply your energy by the next day.

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