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As part of the WA Government's recent $607 million stimulus package in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus), there will be freezes on energy price increases, which were expected to rise with inflation. Many household bills will not increase for people in Western Australia. This includes electricity charges and water charges.
Plus, if you receive the Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) in WA, it will be doubled from $300 to $600. If you're a Synergy or Horizon Power
customer, the EAP is divided into daily amounts and credited to your electricity bill. You should be eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment. If you receive a payment like the Disability Support Pension, Farm Household Allowance or Newstart Allowance.
Explained in further detail below, if you live in the south west, your power will be supplied by Synergy. If you live anywhere else in Western Australia, you will have to purchase energy from Horizon. Both providers will charge a set supply charge per day just to have you hooked up to the grid.
Horizon Energy uses a fixed price A2 tariff for all residential properties. This means you will pay a flat amount per unit of power you use.
If your building is part residential and part business, you may be subject to a K2 tariff, which changes the rate depending on how much electricity you've already used that day.
Synergy customers in Perth and the south west have access to two different tariff structures: a fixed rate or time of use.
The fixed rate tariff is the same system as that offered by Horizon, where you pay a set amount for every unit of power you use.
Under the time of rate tariff, the day is split up into three periods:
Currently, Synergy's peak rates are nearly double the fixed rate, meaning that a time of use tariff may only be worth it if you use a great majority of your power during off-peak periods.
The energy market in Western Australia is divided into two regions, each of which has its own set of regulations. While there are a number of electricity retailers in the state, most residential customers are limited to a single provider.
Electricity prices in Western Australia are regulated by the state government and gas prices are regulated in the major metropolitan areas. How much you pay for your electricity in Western Australia depends largely on where you live.
Most people in Perth fall into the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). There are non-contestable customers and contestable customers.
Contestable customers can choose their energy retailer if they use more than 50 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. These customers can potentially negotiate lower rates than set by the government. However, this mostly applies to businesses.
Non-contestable customers (less than 50 megawatt-hours of electricity use per year) are supplied by Synergy.
The average household only consumes around six megawatt-hours of electricity per year, which means almost all residential customers are considered non-contestable.
Western Australian residents in the SWIS that use more than 50 megawatt-hours per year are able to choose their electricity retailer.
For customers outside the SWIS, Horizon Power is the only retail electricity provider.
The following energy retailers operate in Western Australia:
| Provider | ⚡ Electricity | ♨️ Gas | ☀️ Solar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synergy | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Horizon Power | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AGL | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Kleenheat | ✅* | ✅ | ❌ |
| Alinta | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Origin Energy | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Simply Energy | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Perth Energy | ✅* | ✅ | ✅ |
*Only for those who are in Perth and use more than 50mWh of electricity
Western Australian residents may be eligible for the following energy discounts:
Check if you're eligible for any rebates or concessions in Western Australia and learn how to apply
If you're a contestable customer or business owner in the SWIS, switching energy providers is relatively simple. All you have to do is find a new energy provider and contact the new provider to arrange the switch.
How to switch energy providers
How is it that I used less power this bill compared to the last bill and yet my bill is double to the first. I am with Synergy.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
I suggest that you clarify this directly with Synergy to get a direct answer as we do not represent any of the providers on our page.
Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)
Cheers,
Joel
Why do we have to pay a supply charge of over $50.00 isn’t this amount a bit over the top.
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your question.
I would like to confirm, are you referring to usage charge? Usage charge is the additional charge that depends on how much power you actually use and it is measured in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh). It is sometimes called a ‘variable charge’ or ‘consumption charge’ and will vary from month to month. If your consumptions is low, the charges may be lower than $50.
You may have to directly reach out to your provider to confirm their rate for usage charges.
Cheers,
Anndy
I was told that if I switch to Kleenheat because you were recommended to me or I have been referred by a kleenheat customer that I will receive an ongoing 20% discount on my bills, is that correct ?
Hi F Latham,
Thanks for your inquiry.
You maybe eligible for the 20% discount. For confirmation, It would be best to speak with Kleenheat directly you may contact them here 13 13 51 and 13 13 52
Hope this information helped.
Cheers,
Arnold
I am a resident in Perth WA. What alternatives are there for residential electricity providers, outside of Synergy? Is synergy only option? Am looking for cheaper alternatives.
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for your inquiry.
There is also Horizon Power. Owned by the Western Australian state government, Horizon Power provides energy to residential customers outside the SWIS. Horizon Power is active in creating a more environmentally friendly energy network and is working to generate more power from renewables and create a more efficient state.
Cheers,
Rench
Can you have pay-as-you-go system in your gas and electrical bills, like the one they have in London?
Hi Bockarie!
You can shop around with our list of energy and gas suppliers on this page.
You may also leave your information on the Enquiry Form on the same page, so that an energy broker will discuss your options.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan