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Energy Locals Review

Green Company

What are the pros and cons?

Maurice Thach
Maurice Thach

Updated

Fact checked
Energy Locals

Energy Locals is a relatively new electricity retailer on the Australian market. They have an unusual focus on the environment, not only offering complete carbon offsets for power emissions but refusing to source their electricity from fossil fuel power plants.

Energy Locals is completely owned and operated in Australia and supports several groups promoting renewable energy.

Is Energy Locals right for me?

Details
  • What's offered?
  • They offer two residential electricity plans in SA, QLD, VIC, ACT, and NSW, all with 100% carbon offsets.
  • Pros
  • Wholesale energy prices for a small monthly membership fee, competitive feed in tariffs, and no exit fees.
  • Cons
  • Rates vary considerably from state to state, and some promised discounts are conditional or only apply for a limited time.
Important: Providers may change or remove discounts at any time. Always check the provider's website for what discounts are available.

Find out how much you can save by switching to Energy Locals

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Electricity availability Gas availability Features Customer service rating More details Details
Energy Locals
Green Company
Energy Locals
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
ACT
  • GreenPower
  • Solar
  • Monthly billing

Customer service rating
Go to site More info
Customer service rating
  • GreenPower
  • Solar
  • Monthly billing
2020 Finder Green Award Winner (Retail brand)Go to site
More info
2020 Finder Green Award Winner (Retail brand)
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How much does Energy Locals 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 - Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage.

Name Product Rates Reference Price Estimated Quarterly Price Reference Price Desc Mobile More details
Local Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$0.62502/day

General usage rates:
$0.24497/kWh

19% less

than the reference price
$296

Includes GST
With Local Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the Ausgrid network, the lowest annual cost is $1,183 which is 19% 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
Online Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$1.15995/day

General usage rates:
$0.23496/kWh

8% less

than the reference price
$335

Includes GST
With Online Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 3900 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the Ausgrid network, the lowest annual cost is $1,339 which is 8% 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
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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 - Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage.

Name Product Rates Reference Price Estimated Quarterly Price Reference Price Desc Mobile More details
Local Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$0.72996/day

General usage rates:
$0.24002/kWh

9% less

than the reference price
$342

Includes GST
With Local Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 4600 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the Energex network, the lowest annual cost is $1,370 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
Online Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$1.30999/day

General usage rates:
$0.22495/kWh

Equal to

the reference price
$378

Includes GST
With Online Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 4600 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the Energex network, the lowest annual cost is $1,512 which is Equal to the reference price (including any discounts). Your actual bill will differ, based on your actual usage and tariff type.
Go to site View details
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The following price estimates are a general guide only. Prices are based on a residential customer in South Australia who consumes 4,000 kWh a year on a single rate tariff in the SA Power Network. Prices last checked on December 2019 and are subject to change. Always check the providers site before applying - Your actual bill may vary, depending on your usage.

Name Product Rates Reference Price Estimated Quarterly Price Reference Price Desc Mobile More details
SA Virtual Power Plant - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$0.7832/day

General usage rates:
$0.2849/kWh

22% less

than the reference price
$356

Includes GST
With SA Virtual Power Plant - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 4000 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the SA Power Networks network, the lowest annual cost is $1,425 which is 22% 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
Tesla Energy Plan
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$0/day

General usage rates:
$0.3113/kWh

32% less

than the reference price
$311

Includes GST
With Tesla Energy Plan, for a residential customer who consumes 4000 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the SA Power Networks network, the lowest annual cost is $1,245 which is 32% 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
Local Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$0.70499/day

General usage rates:
$0.35002 to $0.35497/kWh

10% less

than the reference price
$414

Includes GST
With Local Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 4000 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the SA Power Networks network, the lowest annual cost is $1,657 which is 10% 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
Online Saver - Anytime
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Energy Locals
Customer service rating
Basic Plan Information
Daily supply charge:
$1.25004/day

General usage rates:
$0.35002 to $0.35497/kWh

1% more

than the reference price
$464

Includes GST
With Online Saver - Anytime, for a residential customer who consumes 4000 kwh a year on a flat rate tariff in the SA Power Networks network, the lowest annual cost is $1,855 which is 1% more 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
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Energy Plans offered by Energy Locals

Energy Locals offers two main residential energy plans, but they are only available in SA, QLD, VIC, ACT, and NSW. The exact details of each plan vary depending on your state and postcode, but both include complete carbon offsets for emissions from customers' energy usage.

Online Saver

The Online Saver plan is a basic energy plan offering electricity at wholesale prices. To have access to lower prices, the plan includes a monthly membership fee included in your daily supply charge. There are solar feed in tariffs available to those with renewable energy systems and an $84 a month conditional discount for paying on time. This plan is only available online, as the name suggests, and has no lock-in contract and thus no exit fees.

Local Saver

The Local Saver plan also offers electricity at wholesale prices, but is open to customers who don't sign up online. It includes a small monthly membership fee in its daily supply charges and is predicted to cost slightly more per year by about $100-$200. There are feed in tariffs for solar customers that vary by state and postcode. Just like the Online Saver plan, there is no lock-in contract and therefore no exit fees.

Does Energy Locals offer solar?

While Energy Locals doesn't offer solar installation themselves, they do partner with solar installers to incentivise the switch to renewable. All customers who get an Energy Locals plan to go with their solar power get a free solar meter installed to help them track their energy production and usage.

They've also teamed up with a startup called Enosi to develop an energy-sharing scheme where customers can share their solar power with each other at fixed prices.

For all their regular residential electricity plans, Energy Locals offers decent solar feed in tariffs, depending on what state you're in.

How green is Energy Locals?

Energy Locals was given a score of 7.5/10, making it the equal third most green retailer in the 2018 Green Electricity Guide overseen by Greenpeace. It doesn't source its power from fossil fuel-burning power plants, offers 100% carbon offsets for all power emissions, and has solar export prices above the state average.

While it takes a strong public position against investing in fossil fuels, it isn't currently involved in any energy demand and response programs and doesn't actively promote energy efficiency.

Charity Support

Energy Locals supports a number of organisations and charities, including the Starlight Children's Foundation, the Cancer Council, R U OK?, and others. When you sign up to their Local Saver energy plan, you have the option of having a small fixed amount of your monthly bill be donated to one of these organisations.

Does Energy Locals offer any special incentives to sign up?

Currently, Energy Locals has an incentive for residents of South Australia. When they sign up for a Local Saver plan, they'll receive a higher solar feed in tariff until March 2020. After this period, it will revert to their lower, regular tariff.

Can I manage my plan from my phone?

No, but Energy Locals does have an online portal where you can view and manage your bills and usage.

Compare Energy Locals plans with help from a broker

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