Australian Energy Switching & Confidence Statistics 2026

In almost every household, there's one bill that fills Aussies with terror. The energy bill. Aside from the fact that the bill itself can be incredibly difficult to decipher, the number sitting at the top is also heart-stopping.

And for most of us, the response is the same. There's the quiet wince, a muttered complaint and then we pay it and move on. We tell ourselves we'll look into switching one day, that we'll finally get around to comparing plans when life isn't so hectic.

But that mindset could be costing us more than we realise.

Finder's 2026 Energy Report reveals a striking gap between how confident Australians feel about their energy plans and the reality of what they're paying. Here's what the data shows, and why it might be time to finally take a closer look at your bill.

How confident are Australians, really?

Unfortunately, confidence in having the right energy plan is low. Only 34% of Australians feel confident they're on the best plan for their circumstances, while 28% say they don't monitor their energy consumption at all.

Independent research from Energy Consumers Australia's Consumer Energy Report Card found 36% of people struggle to even locate information about their energy and 42% hold a negative view of the industry.

What's more concerning was that 80% of Aussies feel they're doing everything they can to cut costs.

In other words, Australians are trying to make sense of their power bill, but can't find the information they'd need to act.

The gender and generation gap

Dig into who feels confident, and a clear divide appears. 40% of men believe they're on the best plan, compared with just 28% of women, a 12-point gap that likely reflects who traditionally manages and reviews household bills rather than any real difference in the deals each is getting.

This lack of confidence also trickles down into different generations. Gen X emerges as the most proactive group, with 41% having set household "energy rules" specifically to cut costs. And there's a striking split between renters and homeowners: 22% of renters have never reviewed their energy bill, compared with just 8% of homeowners.

Why the energy market is this confusing

The honest answer? The system makes it hard. Roughly 40 electricity retailers operate nationally, each with multiple plans, discounts and conditions, turning what should be a simple comparison into something closer to an extensive research project.

And the result is predictable. The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has found that 40% of customers don't always open their energy bills, meaning they potentially miss the prompts about better offers.

The feed-in tariff blind spot

For the growing number of households with solar panels, there's an extra layer of confusion. Around 32% of solar owners don't know their own feed-in tariff rate, the amount they're paid for the power they export back to the grid. In WA, that figure climbs to a concerning 55%.

And not knowing has real consequences.

Nearly half of solar owners (45%) are getting 5c/kWh or less for the power they export, while only 8% receive 10c or more. According to Finder, the best available tariffs on the market range from 8c to 16c/kWh depending on location, so a large share of solar households are sitting at or below the lowest rates going.

Benchmarked against regulated 2025-26 rates, the problem becomes even more worrying.

NSW's IPART benchmark sits at 4.8 to 7.3c/kWh (May 2025) and Queensland's QCA regulated minimum for regional areas is 8.66c/kWh, down 30% from 12.38c the year before.

Victoria became fully deregulated from 1 July 2025, with some retailers now advertising up to around 8c/kWh on the first export block, South Australia has no mandated minimum, with market rates roughly 5 to 8c/kWh and WA, outside the National Electricity Market, sees Synergy pay around 10c/kWh at peak times and about 2c/kWh off-peak.

The takeaway for solar owners is simple: if you don't know your rate, there's a good chance it's near the bottom.

What's up for grabs if you're ready to switch

But it's not all doom and gloom for Aussies who are willing to do the work and make the switch.

Moving from the median market offer to the lowest available offer can save around $200 a year in Queensland and up to $420 a year in South Australia. Moving off a default or safety-net offer onto a competitive plan saves roughly $100 to $250 a year. In NSW, customers could save around $300 a year just by asking their existing retailer for its cheapest available plan.

Let's put those numbers in context. According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker from June 2026, the average quarterly energy bill sits at $408.30, so a $300 or $400 annual saving can make a significant difference to the average household budget.

All it takes is a phone call or a few minutes comparing.

But are people actually switching?

You'd expect savings like that to send people rushing to switch. Nope.

While the majority have chosen a market offer at some point, only around 8% of households nationally remain on standing or default offers, meaning switching activity is low. Quarterly switching rates range from about 7% in Victoria down to around 3% in the ACT, according to the AER's Annual Retail Markets Report 2024-25.

The verdict

Overall, the numbers describe a gap between confidence and reality.

Most Australians aren't sure they're on the best energy deal, the market is genuinely complicated enough, real savings exist for those who compare — and yet, switching activity stays low.

The good news is that the fix is within reach. A single annual check, of both your plan and, if you have solar, your feed-in tariff, is a low-effort way to close the gap between what you're paying and what the market actually offers.

What to check before you switch energy plans

Switching energy providers is one of the simplest household savings there is, but a little preparation makes sure you actually come out ahead. Before you move, run through these:

• Find your current usage. Grab a recent bill and note your usage in kWh and your current rates. Comparing rates alone is misleading without knowing how much you actually use.
• Compare the whole plan, not just the headline discount. Look at the usage rate, the daily supply charge and any conditional discounts together. A big advertised discount can sit on top of higher underlying rates.
• Check your feed-in tariff if you have solar. Make sure any new plan pays a competitive rate for the power you export, not just a low usage rate.
• Watch for exit fees and benefit periods. Some plans have a discount that expires after 12 months, reverting to a higher rate, so don't forget to make a note when you'll need to review again.
• Negotiate with your current retailer first. Before switching, it's worth calling and asking for their best available plan. In NSW, that alone could save around $300 a year, and it saves the admin of switching.

Frequently asked questions

• How much can you save by switching energy providers?

  Switching from a median market offer to the cheapest available plan can save households roughly $200 a year in Queensland and up to $420 a year in South Australia, depending on your state and usage. Moving off a default or standing offer onto a competitive plan typically saves around $100 to $250 a year. In NSW, simply asking your existing retailer for its cheapest plan could save about $300 a year.

• How many Australians are confident they're on the best energy plan?

  Only 34% of Australians say they're confident they're on the best energy plan for their needs, according to Finder's 2026 Energy Report. That leaves nearly two-thirds who either aren't sure or suspect they could do better.

• What is a feed-in tariff?

  A feed-in tariff is the amount your energy retailer pays you for excess solar power you export back to the grid. Rates vary widely, from under 5c/kWh to as much as 16c/kWh depending on your location and plan. Yet 32% of solar owners don't know their own rate (rising to 55% in WA), and nearly half receive 5c/kWh or less, so many households with solar are missing out simply by not checking.

• Why don't more Australians switch energy plans?

  The main barrier is market complexity. With around 40 retailers and countless plan variations, comparing feels like hard work. The Australian Energy Market Commission found 40% of customers don't always open their bills because they feel it's too difficult to compare, so they miss out on opportunities to switch.

• How often should I review my energy plan?

  At least once a year. Plans, discounts and feed-in tariffs change regularly, so a plan that was competitive when you signed up may not be a year later. Setting an annual reminder to compare is a low-effort way to make sure you're not overpaying.

Written by

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio

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