Pros
- Local customer support
- No lock-in contracts or exit fees
Cons
- Low solar feed-in tariffs
- Few customer support options
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Aurora Energy at a glance
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Aurora Energy review: Our verdict
As the state-owned retailer in Tasmania, Aurora Energy offers prices that may not be the cheapest, but are considered fair by the government. However, since Tasmania was opened up to competition back in 2014, other retailers can now offer cheaper prices.
Aurora is the only provider that sells both gas and electricity in Tasmania. If you want to bundle your services, Aurora is your only choice.
Aurora Energy does have a special subscription app called aurora+ available for 11c/day. It promises to give you daily usage updates on your power so you can track it better – although many recent customer reviews indicate this functionality isn't working at present.
Here's what you might enjoy when you sign up with Aurora:
- No lock-in contracts or exit fees
What's the catch?
- Minimum feed-in tariffs for solar customers
- Above average pricing for GreenPower options
If you end up unhappy with Aurora, you can switch providers at any time.
Where is Aurora Energy available?
Aurora Energy is a government-owned Tasmanian energy retailer, and at one point was the sole energy provider in the state. It sells electricity and gas to Tasmanian residents.
Energy plans and annual cost estimates by state
Here's a breakdown of Powerdirect's electricity plans, separated by state. We included the annual bill estimates as well.
Electricity plans
TAS
| Plans | Annual bill estimate |
|---|---|
| Residential Peak and Off-Peak | $1,590 |
Can I bundle gas and electricity with Aurora Energy?
You can. So long as you have a natural gas connection to your house, you can purchase both power and gas from Aurora.
That said, the only benefit you'll get is the convenience of having your utilities with one provider – there's no discount for bundling.
Solar Energy
Does Aurora Energy offer solar plans?
Aurora Energy doesn't have solar-specific plans but it will pay you a solar feed-in tariff for each unit of solar power you feed back into the grid if you already have panels.
It doesn't help install new solar systems.
How good is the feed-in tariff?
Aurora Energy pays 6.5c/kWh of solar power that you export. This is equal to the regulated minimum for the state, so it's not particularly generous. Most other Tasmanian providers offer more either on their regular or solar-specific plans.
Green Energy
How green is Aurora Energy?
Green Electricity Guide Rating: 8.09/10
Aurora Energy offers government-accredited GreenPower, which supports renewable energy in Australia. 100% GreenPower means that for each unit of power you use, a unit of power is generated from a renewable source.
For GreenPower, you might pay an extra:
- $7.53 per quarter – 10% GreenPower (0.6c/kWh)
- $15.05 per quarter – 20% GreenPower (1.2c/kWh)
- $37.63 per quarter – 50% GreenPower (3c/kWh)
- $56.44 per quarter – 75% GreenPower (4.5c/kWh)
- $75.25 per quarter – 100% GreenPower (6c/kWh)
Aurora Energy has also partnered with the Bank of us to offer low-interest "green loans" to Tasmanians looking to make their houses more energy-efficient.
Note: 5,000 kWh was used as an average annual power consumption figure based on data from the 2020 Residential energy consumption benchmarks report for the AER. Power consumption varies by state and household size.
Customer service
For a snapshot of Aurora Energy's customer service, we can use data in the 2019-2020 market report from the Australian Energy Regulator. Aurora Energy was faster to answer calls than other major providers but had twice the percentage of complaints filed against it by customers.
| Aurora Energy | Market Average | Major provider average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average call wait time | 70 seconds | 53 seconds | 99 seconds |
| Calls abandoned before being answered | 8% | 9% | 6% |
| Complaints (% of total customers) | 4% | 2% | 2% |
How can I get in touch with Aurora Energy?
If you need to reach Aurora Energy, there are a couple of ways to get in touch during the week. You can:
- Ring up the customer service team 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday
- Lodge an enquiry using the online general enquiries form for a slower response
Looking to switch to Aurora Energy?
If you're keen to switch to an energy plan from Aurora Energy, you can head to the Aurora website and enter your details there.
- Once your plan has been confirmed, Aurora Energy will complete the switch from your previous provider within 2 business days.
For more details, take a look at our guide on switching energy plans.
Important notes: The estimated price we show by default is based on a single rate tariff. On your bill this might be known as a "peak tariff", "peak only" or an "anytime tariff". There are other tariff types available to customers and you may need to contact your provider if you are on these tariffs:
- Single rate with a controlled load
- Time of use
- Time of use with a controlled load
The price estimate should not be used as an official quote, but an indication of what your costs may be on the plan. It varies based on whether you provide us with your bill details. You can learn more here.
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