Compare gas plans

How do I compare gas plans?

1

Tell us about yourself

To get started, enter your postcode. Next, we'll ask a few questions to find gas plans for your address.

2

Compare the results

Check out the plans! It's good to have your last gas bill on hand to compare your current rates with what's available.

3

Sign up online

Once you've found a new plan, just click 'Switch & Save Today'. Your new provider will take care of the rest.

The most important question is, can everyone switch gas providers?

Each state and territory has its own way of handling the energy market - some are highly regulated, while others are completely open.

Your ability to compare gas prices and switch providers depends largely on where you live. Here's the scoop:

• Unless your home is fully electric, you'll either be connected to a natural gas pipeline or need LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas).
• Residential customers in NSW, VIC, SA, South East QLD, WA and the ACT can compare and switch gas providers. This also applies to some homes in regional QLD.
• Residential properties in the NT aren't usually connected to a natural gas pipeline. You'll likely have LPG if you do need it for home cooking.
• If you happen to live in a gas zone in TAS, your options are limited to Tas Gas or Aurora Energy. They'll have similar pricing.

Our expert says

"My gas bills have been all over the place the last few months since I changed providers at the end of last year. On some occasions, I've been paying more for gas than electricity because the estimated reading has been wildly inaccurate. Every three months, my meter gets read and my bills get compensated. However, I'd prefer to add the money to my savings account ASAP instead of waiting for my bills to be smoothed over. As of this month, I've decided to change to quarterly billing. It may not work for everyone, but it's better suited to my financial situation."

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

How do gas prices work?

In states or territories where gas is deregulated and you can switch plans, your retailer will set gas prices. They'll look at a few variables including:

• Wholesale market costs: It's how much the retailer pays to buy enough gas to supply the properties it's servicing.
• Network costs: How much does it cost the distributor to send gas to your home via the pipeline?
• Retail costs: Direct and indirect costs incurred by the retailer in arranging gas services.

Gas rates can change from time to time, usually annually and around the same time as when electricity prices are set by the regulators (1 July).

Understanding your gas bill

Based on the context we've just run you through, your retailer will then apply the following charges to your gas bill.

Usage rate: This is how much you'll be charged for your consumption. Gas plans normally come with stepped rates, meaning the price can vary based on your energy consumption through the month or quarter.

Supply charge: This is set by the distributor for supplying gas to your property. You'll be charged this daily, regardless of whether you're using gas or not.

How much does gas cost?

Here's a benchmark to help you compare your gas expenses with those of others across the country, as per our Consumer Sentiment Tracker.

Am I eligible for any rebates or concessions for gas?

There's a good chance you're eligible if you're a low-income household, veteran, pensioner or concession card holder. Other eligibility criteria might apply as well, so this isn't an exhaustive list.

Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for rebates or concessions from the federal or state government such as:

• Family energy rebate
• Winter gas concession
• Gas rebate for concession card holders
• Low-income household rebate

Call your energy provider and they'll be able to help you out. Alternatively, the government's energy website is a good place to start your research.

Nearly two-thirds of Australian concession card holders are not aware they may be eligible for energy concessions on bills, a Taking the Pulse of the Nation survey from June 2024 found.

Should I bundle gas and electricity with the same provider?

You'll rarely get a bundling discount for both gas and electricity from the same provider.

It's always better to compare the two separately to see if you can get cheaper deals for electricity and gas from different providers.

Sometimes you'll come across gas plans that can only be accessed if you sign up for an electricity plan with the same provider.

Just make sure you're happy with the rates for both plans before committing.

"I'm quite possibly spending more than I should on gas - I don't even know my supply charge! I have both gas for heating and for cooking, and it's great. Luckily the government requires my gas provider to tell me if they have a cheaper plan available, which I switch to when I get the alert. I know that I could save more by comparing though, which I am trying to do more often."

Graham Cooke

Head of consumer research

Tips to keep your gas bills low

Besides shopping around for a cheaper gas plan, you can also make certain changes around to home to reduce your gas consumption.

Of course, it'll largely depend on the types of appliances you have installed at your property so not all of these tips will apply to every single person.

Cooking
Assuming you have gas ovens and cooktop stoves, consider:

• Skip the preheating. Gas ovens heat up way faster than electric ones. Just turn it on when you need it.
• Have an older gas oven? Check if the seal is loose, as it might be causing heat to escape.
• Use residual heat. Many recipes can be finished by turning off the stove a little early and using the leftover heat to complete them. Rice is a good example. The steam cooks it through in the last 5-10 minutes.
• Use tight-fitting lids to prevent heat from escaping from your pots and pans. More heat escaping means more wasted gas.

Heating

Based on our research, gas heaters can be a bit more costly to run than some energy-efficient electric heaters. But there are ways to keep your bills at bay without investing in a different appliance altogether.

• If your home isn't well-insulated, try some DIY fixes like sealing gaps in doors and windows with weatherproof tape. This helps trap warm air inside, so you won't have to run the heater as much.
• It's a no-brainer, but wearing warmer clothes and warming yourself up before heating your space can help reduce how long you need to keep the heater on.
• Make sure you close all doors and windows if the heater is switched on.

Hot water

If you have a gas water heater, the key to reducing your use has more to do with your water use and systems than the heater itself. That is unless you have a leaky system.

• Appliances have various water efficiency ratings. Higher hot water efficiency does double duty – it saves on your water bill as well as your gas bill from heating.
• Running hot washes in your dishwasher or washing machine all the time will consume a lot of gas. Consider going for colder rinses where possible to save.
• Showers are more efficient than baths, and shorter showers are even better. Check that your taps aren't dripping and consider installing a more water-efficient showerhead. These can make a surprisingly large difference!

Why compare energy with Finder?

We know our stuff. Our experts review hundreds of plans each month. It's hard work, but we love it.

You can rely on us. We update plan data on dozens of providers daily, and we're constantly fact-checking.

We're here to help. We've helped millions of Aussies find cheaper energy. That's pretty powerful.

Frequently asked questions

• Which state has the cheapest gas in Australia?

  Western Australia is considered a 'paradise' for low gas prices in the OECD, according to EnergyQuest. A lot of it is to do with WA's domestic gas reserve and capacity market for electricity which has kept the market stable and affordable for households.

  According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, average gas bills in WA are also lower compared to other states.

• What is LPG gas?

  LPG is a fuel source that works as an alternative to natural gas for heating, cooking and more. It's typically delivered to your house in metal canisters, rather than being pumped in through a supply line.

  LPG prices vary depending on where you live and the state of the global market. You'll need to check with an LPG retailer to find out how much it will cost you. LPG isn't available as part of regular gas plans.

• Why are gas prices going up in Australia?

  The shock in global energy markets has resulted in gas prices going up in Australia. Towards the tail end of 2022, the government had to implement a temporary price cap of $12/Gj on new domestic wholesale gas contracts by east coast producers for 12 months.

• What uses gas in my house?

  • Heating. Some heaters and hot water systems rely upon natural gas for heating.
  • Cooking. If you have a gas stove, you'll be igniting natural gas for your stove-top cooking. Barbeques can be hooked up to the mains and consume gas that way.
  • Fireplaces. Some fireplaces are operated via natural gas, providing an alternate source of heating.
  • Dryers. You could have a natural-gas clothes dryer, which runs at a higher temperature and dries clothes faster than most electric ones.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 291 Finder guides across topics including:

• Energy
• Mobile
• Broadband
• Consumer tech