Pros
- Refer a friend for a $25 gift card for both of you
- 100% Australian-owned
- Rewards program for SA customers
Cons
- You can only add 10% GreenPower to your plan
- Average solar feed-in tariffs
Despite operating in VIC and SA only, Lumo Energy keeps prices low, ranging from 3% to 23% less than the reference price. Plus, SA customers get access to a fairly unique rewards program called Lumo Rewards, which offers vouchers, discounts and more from hundreds of retailers.
Lumo Energy may have low prices, but this comes at a cost. Lumo isn't a great choice for solar or environmentally minded customers due to its low feed-in tariffs and poor GreenPower options.
Also, just because it's owned by Snowy Hydro – a large renewables producer – Lumo doesn't share the same renewable credentials.
Here's what might appeal to you with Lumo Energy:
Luckily, you won't be locked into a contract with Lumo Energy so you can switch to another provider anytime you want.
"Switching energy providers is so incredibly simple. I just went online and compared plans, found a much cheaper one plan with Lumo Energy and signed up. Lumo made it very easy. The entire process took less than 20 minutes and it was entirely online. My old provider and my new one sorted it all out between themselves. It could not have been simpler. At the end of the day it's the same electricity. All that really matters is the price. I am going to do this every year now."
Lumo Energy sells power and gas to SA and VIC residents. Snowy Hydro owns both Lumo Energy and Red Energy and provides energy to more than 1 million customers in Australia.
You can bundle your electricity and gas with Lumo Energy so long as you live in Victoria or South Australia.
However, you won't get any special benefit for doing so other than the convenience of having your utilities in the same place.
Lumo doesn't have any dedicated solar plans, nor does it help customers who are looking to install new solar panels on their home.
However, if you already have a solar system, Lumo will pay you a feed-in tariff for any solar energy that you export.
Here's a run-down of Lumo Energy's feed-in tariffs for VIC and SA. Its feed-in tariffs are way below average in SA and equal to the legal state minimum in VIC.
Green Electricity Guide Rating: 6.6/10
Although Lumo Energy is owned by Snowy Hydro, it lacks the same renewable focus, with only minimal GreenPower available for its customers.
For GreenPower, you might pay an extra:
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.
Lumo Energy performed a little worse than the average provider on customer service. It had slightly longer wait times but fewer abandoned calls.
The 2019–2020 market report from the Australian Energy Regulator has some useful insights into the customer service of many providers.
1st Energy | Market Average | Major provider average | |
---|---|---|---|
Average call wait time | 74 seconds | 53 seconds | 99 seconds |
Calls abandoned before being answered | 5% | 9% | 6% |
Complaints (% of total customers) | 4% | 2% | 2% |
You can get in touch with Lumo Energy most days of the week if you have a question or issue. Your options include the following:
Now that you've read our review of Lumo Energy, you can check out its plans once again before signing up. Alternatively, if you're unsure, you can compare other energy providers on Finder before committing to a decision.
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:
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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i need to talk to a customer support consultant to reconnect my electricity as my phone is flat and I am at the library
Hi Jayde,
This is a review and comparison site, we’re not directly affiliated with Lumo Energy.
You will need to contact them directly for customer support: 1300 115 866
Hope this helps.
Does Lumo Energy still participate in the Velocity Frequent Flyer program?
Hi Alex!
Since 1 November 2016 Lumo Energy is no longer be a partner in the Velocity Frequent Flyer program.
Hope this clarifies.
Cheers,
Jonathan
What is the current discount for electricity&gas
Hi Roger,
Thanks for getting in touch.
If you are pertaining to the offers from Lumo Energy, you can find their current discounts on this page. You can also check other electricity and gas providers to explore your options. You should find a comparison table on that page, which gives you an overview of what each provider offers. Select the “Go to site” button (if available) to be safely redirected to their website.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Do you offer discounts for people who have a Health Care Card and/or on a Disability Pension
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your question.
Lumo Energy don’t have any discounts posted online. We’d recommend that you call Lumo Energy directly to discuss your personal situation as these could be assessed on a case by case basis.