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1st Energy Review
Find out who 1st Energy is and what electricity plans it offers.
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1st Energy is an independent energy retailer across Victoria, NSW, SE Queensland and Tasmania. It focuses on helping consumers reduce their energy costs while providing fully Australia-based customer service.
Summary of 1st Energy
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How much does 1st Energy Cost?
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in NSW who consumes 3,900 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Ausgrid network. Prices last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the providers site before applying.
| Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Saver - Single Rate | 1% less | Further 7% off the reference price if you always pay on time. | $339.16 | $1,357 |
| Standing Offer - Single Rate | Equal to | $366.08 | $1,464 | |
| Catch Saver - Single Rate | 8% less | $339.06 | $1,356 |
The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in Melbourne, Victoria who consumes 4,000 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the CitiPower network. Prices last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the providers site before applying.
| Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch Saver, Residential - Anytime | 7% less | $309.70 | $1,239 | |
| 1st Saver, Residential - Anytime | Equal to | Further 10% off VDO if you always pay on time. | $299.61 | $1,198 |
| Victorian Default Offer, Residential Single Rate | Equal to | $333.10 | $1,332 |
Note: For residents outside of South East Queensland, residents don't get to choose their provider as energy is regulated by the Queensland Competition Authority.
Disclaimer: The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in Queensland who consumes 4,600 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the Energex network. Prices last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the providers site before applying.
| Plan name | Difference from reference price | Conditional discount? | Estimated price (per 91 days) | Estimated price (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Saver - Single Rate | 1% less | Further 5% off the reference price if you always pay on time. | $370.17 | $1,481 |
| Standing Offer - Single Rate | Equal to | $390.89 | $1,564 | |
| Catch Saver - Single Rate | 6% less | $369.85 | $1,479 |
Plans offered by 1st Energy
1st Energy offers three different residential electricity plans to consumers that live in QLD, TAS, NSW and VIC. It also offers two gas plans to residents of Victoria. None of its plans are lock-in contracts, so none of them have exit fees.
Electricity
The 1st Saver plan provides power with usage charges equal to the reference price. It is available with three tariff structures: single rate, single rate with controlled load and time of use. There is also a flexible tariff, which is only available in Victoria. While you can get a discount on your bill by paying consistently on time, there are dishonour fees for missing a payment. You may also get low solar feed-in tariffs.
This is only available to Victorian residents. The Prepaid Value plan requires you to pay $1,000 upfront but refunds any remaining credit when the agreement expires. In return, it guarantees a percentage discount off the market electricity rates.
This is only available to Tasmanian residents. This plan provides an additional 5c/kWh to the feed-in tariff you receive on a regular plan while dropping the "pay on time" discount.
This is the plan you'll be put on by default if you don't have any other plan. It offers electricity exactly at the reference usage rates with no other special features. It comes with three kinds of tariffs: single rate, single rate with controlled load and time of use.
This is a power plan that is functionally identical to the 1st Saver plan but without the "pay on time" discount. To get this plan, you have to sign up through online deals site catch.com.au, which has partnered with 1st Energy to provide this plan. If you're a Club Catch member and sign up for this plan, you can receive a voucher to be spent on catch.com.au.
Gas
This offers gas to Victorian residents at a fixed price. You are charged one rate for the first 10,000 MJ/day of gas and then a lower rate for the next 8,000 MJ/day. This plan offers a 15% discount if you pay on time but has a dishonour fee if you skip a bill.
This is the offer you get if you're not on any other plan. It's functionally identical to the 1st Saver Gas plan except that it does not include the 15% discount for paying on time.
Does 1st Energy offer solar?
1st Energy does not install solar panels, but it does offer solar feed-in tariffs that vary depending on which plan you select and which state you live in. On average, 1st Energy's solar tariffs are consistently lower than other electricity providers.
The exception is Victoria, where feed-in tariffs are regulated.
How green is 1st Energy?
1st Energy came last out of all Australian electricity retailers, earning a score of 2/10 on the 2018 Green Electricity Guide. It doesn't invest in renewables or provide carbon offsets, it tends to buy a reasonable amount of fossil fuels and it doesn't promote energy efficiency or work on energy demand/response management.
1st Energy is currently the least green option on the Australian market.
Does 1st Energy offer any special incentives to sign up?
No at the moment. We'll update this page if 1st Energy decides to add any incentives.
Can I manage my plan from my phone?
Not currently, but 1st Energy does currently have an online portal where customers can manage and monitor their usage and bills. The company has plans to introduce an app early this year.
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