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As a Victorian, you have full control over your energy plan, no matter where you live in the state. Use our tools to:
- Choose from a wide range of electricity retailers
- Save hundreds by switching from an old plan*
- Bundle your electricity and Internet
Apply for an energy plan from Australia's most popular brands
🧪How we determined popular brands
The most popular brands were based on market share using figures from the Australian Energy Regulator's annual retail markets report 2019-20 (Table 2.1). Keep in mind that the most popular brand may not always be the best for you, and you're encouraged to compare for yourself to find one that works for you.
Compare energy retailers in Victoria
The following comparison is a general guide of what brands are available in Victoria. Always check on the provider's website if your postcode is covered.
Best electricity providers in Australia (available in Victoria)
Although there is no "best" retailer, to give you a general guide, here are the five top energy retailers arranged by the lowest complaints percentage in Australia (that are available in VIC).
| Retailer | Number of customers | Number of complaints | Complaints as a proportion of customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powershop | 52,871 | 169 | 1% |
| amaysim Energy | 95,212 | 1,203 | 1% |
| Origin Energy | 1,831,948 | 26,598 | 1% |
| Dodo | 47,839 | 782 | 2% |
| EnergyAustralia | 1,044,384 | 17,806 | 2% |
| AGL | 1,390,017 | 41,703 | 3% |
| Alinta Energy | 352,679 | 13,782 | 4% |
| Powerdirect | 47,932 | 2,352 | 3% |
| Red Energy | 306,228 | 15,404 | 3% |
| Simply Energy | 133,318 | 9,627 | 7% |
Source: AER, Annual retail markets report 2019-20 (Table 2.1 & 5.2). We looked at complaints to the 10 largest electricity retailers in Australia by customer (available in Victoria) and ranked them by the smallest proportion of complaints to a retailers' total customers.
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What's in this guide?
Electricity and gas providers in VIC
| Provider | ⚡ Electricity | ♨️ Gas | ☀️ Solar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AGL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Alinta | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| amaysim | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Elysian Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Click Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Commander | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| CovaU | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| DC Power Co | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Diamond Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dodo | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| EnergyAustralia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Energy Locals | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| GloBird Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lumo Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mojo Power | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Momentum Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Origin Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| People Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Powerdirect | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Powerclub | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Powershop | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| QEnergy | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Simply Energy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sumo | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tango Energy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Tas Gas | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Provider | ⚡ Electricity customers in Australia | ♨️ Gas customers in Australia | Average call wait times | Percentage of annual complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Energy | 0.20% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| AGL | 21.20% | 37.00% | 34 sec | 2.7% |
| Alinta | 5.40% | 2.50% | 37 sec | 3.6% |
| amaysim | 1.40% | 1.10% | 32 sec | 1.2% |
| Click Energy | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| DC Power Co | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Diamond Energy | 0.10% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Discover Energy | 0% | 0% | N/A | N/A |
| Dodo | 0.70% | 0.60% | N/A | N/A |
| Energy Locals | 0.30% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| EnergyAustralia | 15.90% | 19.10% | 101 sec | 1.6% |
| LPE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mojo Power | 0.10% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Momentum Energy | 0.40% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Origin Energy | 27.90% | 27.30% | 145 sec | 1.3% |
| Powerclub | 0% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Powerdirect | 0.70% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Powershop | 0.80% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Qenergy | 0.10% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ReAmped | 0.10% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Red Energy | 4.70% | 3.30% | 123 sec | 2.9% |
| Simply Energy | 2.00% | 2.50% | 35 sec | 7% |
Who is the cheapest electricity provider in Victoria?
We found these cheapest price estimates using our engine on 9 June 2021. The prices we have are based on a residential customer in Melbourne VIC (We used the postcode: 3000). This assumes the customer will consume 4000kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the CitiPower 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.
| Provider | Electricity plan | Difference from Reference Price | Conditional discounts | Price estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnergyAustralia Energy Fact Sheet | Total Plan Home - Peak Only | 13% less than Victorian Default Offer | Further 11% off VDO if you always pay on time. | $235 |
| QEnergy Energy Fact Sheet | MiniMe Resi_C1RB | 23% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $244 |
| GloBird Energy Fact Sheet | GloBird Combo IDEASAVE Residential (Flat Rate C1R Without Controlled Load)-Citipower | 19% less than Victorian Default Offer | Further 2% off VDO if you always pay on time. | $252 |
| Powerclub Energy Fact Sheet | Powerbank Home Flat | 21% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $252 |
| Ovo Energy Fact Sheet | The One Plan | 20% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $252 |
| Tango Energy Fact Sheet | Home Select | 18% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $261 |
| Kogan Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Market Offer | 16% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $267 |
| Energy Locals Energy Fact Sheet | Online Member - Single Rate | 16% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $268 |
| Discover Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Citipower Residential Single Rate Smart Saver | 15% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $270 |
| Lumo Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Lumo Value | 14% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $273 |
| dodo Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Residential Market - Single Rate | 12% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $279 |
| Powershop Energy Fact Sheet | Powershop 100% Carbon Neutral | 8% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $292 |
| Sumo Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Sumo Assure (Single Rate) | 8% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $294 |
| Elysian Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Resi Market Concession Plan (VCP) - (Single Rate) | 7% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $295 |
| AGL Energy Fact Sheet | Residential Essentials Plus | 5% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $300 |
| 1st Energy Energy Fact Sheet | 1st Saver Plus, Residential - Anytime | Equal to Victorian Default Offer | Further 3% off VDO if you always pay on time. | $307 |
| Diamond Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Everyday Renewable Saver | 2% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $310 |
| Red Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Living Energy Saver | 1% less than Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $314 |
| Amber Energy Energy Fact Sheet | Amber Plan | Equal to Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $317 |
| Blue NRG Energy Fact Sheet | Blue VDO Single Rate (General Usage) | Equal to Victorian Default Offer | No conditional discounts | $317 |
In June 2021, we found the cheapest providers to be EnergyAustralia, QEnergy, and GloBird Energy.
Is electricity expensive in Victoria?
Our research found that the average quarterly electricity bill in Australia is around $347. VIC came in slightly cheaper at $336 per quarter.
| State | Average quarterly billⓘ | Annual bill |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $362 | $1,448 |
| Victoria | $336 | $1,344 |
| Queensland | $334 | $1,336 |
| South Australia | $414 | $1,656 |
Is gas expensive in VIC?
Our research found that the average quarterly gas bill in Australia is around $207. VIC came in more expensive at $233 per quarter.
| State | Average quarterly billⓘ | Annual bill |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $194 | $776 |
| Victoria | $233 | $932 |
| Queensland | $182 | $728 |
| South Australia | $211 | $844 |
Is price everything?
Low prices matter, but they aren't the whole story. This is what you should think about when comparing plans:
- Advertised prices are variable. Usage prices can change, discounts run out and your competitive market offer could eventually become a worse standing offer without close attention.
- Green energy. Some providers are more environmentally friendly. They may offer a certain amount of renewable energy through GreenPower, have opt-ins for carbon neutrality or sell 100% renewable energy by default (e.g. Powershop).
- Complaints. You can evaluate a provider's reputation using Finder's customer service rating (next to providers in the comparison table) and the number of complaints that the provider has received, published in the AER's 2019-2020 report.
- Energy tracking tools. Smart meters provide basic energy info, no matter your provider. But some providers do better with special energy monitoring apps or tools.
Example: Advertised prices don't stay low forever
A year ago, you bought the cheapest energy plan you could find. These were the details:- Usage rate: 23c/kWh
- Supply charge: 100c/kWh
- Discount: 10% guaranteed for 12 months
In that first year, you used roughly 4,000kWh of power (standard use for a Victorian household) and paid the following:
[$920 (usage) + $365 (supply)] x 90% (guaranteed discount) = $1,156.50
Now, in the second year, your energy company has raised the usage rates to 24c/kWh, and the discount expired. For the same power usage this year, you would pay:
$960 (usage) + $365 (supply) = $1,325
This is a jump of around $170, without you changing anything.
Key terms to help you compare electricity plans in Victoria
Discounts
A discount reduces either some or all of your energy bill. Discounts come in many forms, but are usually temporary.
Market share
This is the percentage of the energy market owned by a company. A provider with 10% market share has 10% of all energy plans in Australia or a specific state.
VDO
The Victorian Default Offer, similar to the reference price in other states, serves as a reference for evaluating other plans. Providers will express their plan prices as a percentage higher or lower than the VDO, helping you see what's a good deal or not.
GreenPower
GreenPower guarantees some percentage of your energy will be from renewable sources, usually for an extra fee. GreenPower 50% means at least half your energy will be from renewables.
Distributor
Distributors are in charge of the physical energy network, including upgrades, maintenance and repairs.
Rebates
A rebate is a refund of some portion of your energy bill. They're offered by providers or the government as incentives or as welfare/concessions.
Energy plans from some of the main providers in Victoria: What's on offer?
Note: Plan information last checked in June 2021.
AGL - Essentials Plus
With the Essentials Plus plan, you'll enjoy fixed power rates for the first 24 months of your plan. There's no lock-in contract, and you can choose between 10%, 20% or 100% GreenPower. You can choose between monthly or quarterly billing.
Energy Australia - Total Plan Home (Peak Only)
The Total Plan will provide you with power at a fixed rate for its 12-month benefit period. It has quarterly billing and flexible payment options plus a choice of between 10% and 100% GreenPower. After six months, you can opt in to convert your plan to carbon neutral.
Origin - Go
Get fixed price power for 12 months as well as flexible billing and payment options. Pick between 25%, 50% or 100% GreenPower. Customers with Everyday Rewards memberships can link their account to earn points for paying bills and the 25% GreenPower option for free.
Powershop - 100% Carbon Neutral
Get variable rate electricity with no lock-in contracts, direct debit payments, zero fees for moving in and up to 100% GreenPower. You are billed monthly. As with all Powershop plans, your power use is 100% carbon offset at no extra cost.
Tango Energy - Home Select
Get fixed electricity prices for the first 12 months, after which they revert to variable. It comes with flexible payment options and is billed monthly, but lacks any GreenPower options.
Are solar panels a good idea in Melbourne?
Melbourne is well known for its fickle and variable climate. From December to February, the area heats up with ample sunshine. Read more and request a solar panel quote.
What company is the best energy provider in Australia?
What type of energy discounts do providers in Victoria 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 April 2021.
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.
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 for victoria or Australia and search the Victorian section of the rebates and concessions guide.
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 does the Victorian energy market work?
In Victoria, energy distributors are in charge of handling the physical energy network. Energy retailers, on the other hand, purchase energy from distributors and then sell that on to customers in the form of plans. Your distributor will depend 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 VIC
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 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.
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. They are 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.
| Distributor | Connection fee | Disconnection fee |
|---|---|---|
| CitiPower | $41.79 | $42.42 |
| Powercor | $61.66 | $65.55 |
| AusNet Services | $22.04 | $22.04 |
| Jemena | $42.39 | $65.41 |
| United Energy | $54.52 | $54.52 |
Source: Origin Energy
Switching
Your choice of retailer affects your energy bill. Once you've compared plans, simply apply with your new provider and cancel your old plan. Your new provider should be able to supply you the following day.
Victorians are the most likely to change energy plans, with 6.6% switching every quarter, and also have the lowest median energy bills in Australia. With the chance to save up to $199 by switching, why wouldn't you compare your options?
Compare electricity retailers and prices in Victoria June 2021
Based on the general usage in the CitiPower network the VDO reference price is $1,270 / year.
Energy prices change regularly in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, ACT and TAS. Our pricing and estimates below may not always take these possible changes into account, so please confirm plan details and pricing with the provider before making a decision.