Electricity
Yes
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Compare plans and switch through Finder to find a deal that's right for you.Red Energy at a glance: What can it offer?
Gas
Yes
Solar
Yes
Green Energy
Yes
Where is Red Energy available?
Red Energy sells both electricity and gas in most states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. It's Australia's sixth largest electricity retailer by market share according to the 2019-2020 AER Retail Market Report. It is a fully-owned subsidiary of Snowy Hydro Limited, an Australian company that maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme.What you can expect your Red Energy energy bills to look like
| State | Average Electricity Price | Average Gas Price | Compare prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | See your rates | ||
| NSW | See your rates | ||
| VIC | See your rates | ||
| NT | See your rates | ||
| QLD | See your rates | ||
| SA | See your rates | ||
| TAS | See your rates | ||
| WA | See your rates |
Red Energy review: Our verdict
Red Energy isn't the most budget-focused provider, but its plans range from 1% to 21% less than the reference price, depending on the state. SA has some of the highest power prices, while NSW tends to have the lowest.
NSW is the only state where Red Energy offers a dedicated solar plan. This plan has higher feed-in tariffs but also higher usage and supply rates, so it may not be the right choice depending on your usage habits.
The company also offers some nice perks and benefits to complement its energy plans:
- The Red Energy Rewards program offers access to thousands of discounts from restaurants, hotels, and more (NSW and VIC Living Energy Saver plans only)
- $500 Power on Promise: if your power isn't connected as agreed when you move house, you'll get a one-off $500 credit to your power bill (NSW and ACT only)
- You can earn bonus Qantas points when you sign up to certain plans - 10,000 points for some power plans, and 5,000 points for some gas plans (all states)
- Some plans come with a renewable matching promise, where every unit of energy you buy from Red Energy is matched by one unit of electricity generated by a renewable source (NSW, VIC, and ACT only)
- Option to add GreenPower so you can pay extra to offset carbon emissions from your power
- No lock-in contracts or exit fees
What's the catch?
- Certain perks and offers are only available in some states - you won't always be able to get the cheapest plan or particular rewards
Red Energy offers
Deal
Choose from a $50 eGift card or 3,500 Qantas points for every successful Red Energy referral
Earn up to 15,000 bonus points when you join Red on a Qantas Red plan. T&Cs apply
Energy plans and annual cost estimates by state
We've given an overview of Red Energy's electricity and plans, sorted by state (with annual cost estimates).
Click on your state below to get started. Please note that rates and other details were last checked on 10 June 2022.
Electricity plans
| Plans | Rates | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | No contract term | $1,520 | ❌ | ✅ |
| Qantas Red Saver | No contract term | $1,520 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Red Taronga Saver | No contract term | $1,520 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red BCNA Saver | No contract term | $1,520 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red Solar Saver | No contract term | $1,790 | ❌ | ✅ |
Estimated cost including GST for an average household using 5475 kWh yearly on a flat rate tariff in the Ausgrid network.
| Plans | Rates | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | No contract term | $1,283 | ❌ | ✅ |
| Qantas Red Saver | No contract term | $1,283 | ✅ | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 4,000 kWh yearly on a flat rate tariff in the Citipower network.
| Plans | Rates | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Energy Living Energy Saver | No contract term | $1,460 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red Energy Qantas Red Saver | No contract term | $1,460 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Red Energy Red BCNA Saver | No contract term | $1,460 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red Energy Red EV Saver | No contract term | $1,460 | ❌ | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 5365.5 kWh yearly on a flat rate tariff in the ENERGEX Ltd network.
| Plans | Rates | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | No contract term | $2,140 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Qantas Red Saver | No contract term | $2,140 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Red BCNA Saver | No contract term | $2,140 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red EV Saver | No contract term | $2,140 | ❌ | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for an average household using 5292.5 kWh yearly on a flat rate tariff in the SA Power Networks - NSP network.
| Plans | Difference from reference price | Rates | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | 21% less | No contract term | $1,645 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Qantas Red Saver | 21% less | No contract term | $1,645 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Red BCNA Saver | 21% less | No contract term | $1,645 | ❌ | ❌ |
| Red EV Saver | 21% less | No contract term | $1,645 | ❌ | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for an average household using 6,100 kWh yearly on a flat rate tariff in the Evoenergy.
Gas plans
All of Red Energy's power plans can be bundled with a natural gas plan, or gas can be purchased by itself on any of these plans (excluding Red EV Saver).
Gas rates will depend entirely upon your state and distributor, and do not vary between plans, unlike electricity prices. Gas on a Qantas Red Saver plan costs the same as gas on a Living Energy Saver plan, for example.
| Plans | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points |
|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | $750 | ❌ |
| Qantas Red Saver | $750 | ✅ |
| Red Taronga Flex | $750 | ❌ |
| Red Solar Saver | $750 | ❌ |
| Red BCNA Saver | $750 | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 17739 MJ yearly in the JEMENA network.
| Plans | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points |
|---|---|---|
| Red Energy Living Energy Saver | $620 | ❌ |
| Red Energy Qantas Red Saver | $620 | ✅ |
| Red Energy Red BCNA Saver | $620 | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 6679.5 MJ yearly in the Australian Gas Networks Limited network.
| Plans | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points |
|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | $890 | ❌ |
| Qantas Red Saver | $890 | ✅ |
| Red BCNA Saver | $890 | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 16,352 MJ yearly in the AGN network.
| Plans | Annual bill estimate | Qantas Points |
|---|---|---|
| Living Energy Saver | $1,270 | ❌ |
| Qantas Red Saver | $1,270 | ✅ |
| Red BCNA Saver | $1,270 | ❌ |
| Red EV Saver | $1,640 | ❌ |
Estimated cost including GST for a household using 20,000 MJ yearly in the Evoenergy Distribution network.
Can I bundle gas and electricity with Red Energy?
Yes. Red Energy allows you to bundle gas and electricity together on all of their plans.
However, you won't get any discount for doing so, only the convenience of having your bills with one provider.
Solar Energy
Does Red Energy offer solar plans?
Red Energy offers solar feed-in tariffs in four states for any excess solar power that is fed back into the energy grid.
It offers a dedicated solar plan for residents of NSW, called the Solar Saver, but not for any other states.
How good is the feed-in tariff?
Overall, Red Energy offers higher tariffs than the bare minimum in most states, but nothing that makes their plans attractive for big solar exporters. Here's a breakdown on how it fares across each state.
Benchmark range. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's report has set NSW's benchmark range for 2020-2021 to 6-7.3c/kWh for feeding electricity into the grid.
You'll get 6c/kWh on most plans. On the Solar Saver plan, you'll get 18c/kWh for the first 5kWh exported daily, then 6c/kWh afterwards.
You can get 22 c/kWh back.
Benchmark range. The Essential Services Commission for Victoria has put the state's benchmark at 6.7c/kWh.
You'll get 8c/kWh for all the power you export.
You can get 20 c/kWh back.
We've used data from South East Queensland to give you the information below.
Benchmark range. There is no set minimum solar feed-in tariff for South East Queensland, but the rates are monitored by the Queensland Competition Authority.
You'll get 11.5c/kWh for the first 5kWh you export per day, then 5c/kWh afterwards.
You can get 18c/kWh back.
Benchmark range. There is no longer a minimum feed-in tariff in South Australia.
You'll only get 3c/kWh for any energy that you export.
You can get 21c/kWh back.
Green Energy
How green is Red Energy?
Green Electricity Guide Rating: 6.6/10
Red Energy gives customers the ability to offset carbon emissions by purchasing accredited GreenPower electricity, as well as offering special electric vehicle plans.
GreenPower with Red Energy might cost you:
- $72.88 per quarter - 100% GreenPower (5.83c/kWh)
Red Energy's Red EV Saver plans are exclusive for customers that own an electric vehicle and have a smart meter or interval meter. They offer free electricity use between 12pm and 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Finally, some of Red Energy's plans come with a "renewable matching promise" in VIC, NSW, SA, and the ACT. Every unit of power you purchase will be matched by the generation of one unit from a renewable source.
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.
User reviews and customer service
★★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars
Red Energy user reviews and customer service
★★★★★ Red Energy's user rating on Finder is a decent 4.5, with around 88% of customers giving it an above average review of 4 or 5 stars.
For another perspective, the 2019-2020 market report from the Australian Energy Regulator is another good source to look at. Here's a look at Red's performance:
| Red Energy | Market Average | Major provider average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average call wait time | 123 seconds | 53 seconds | 99 seconds |
| Calls abandoned before being answered | 9% | 9% | 6% |
| Complaints (% of total customers) | 3% | 2% | 2% |
As you can see, calling up Red Energy may result in a lengthy wait, so it's possible you'll have better luck via online chat.
Why does customer service rating matter?
A high customer service score is a great indicator of how your energy provider will help you:
- Understand your current electricity, gas or solar plan
- Switch to a new plan
- Figure out your energy bill
- When you're experiencing any financial difficulty
How can I get in touch with Red Energy?
You can contact Red Energy all days of the week except Sunday. If you need help, you're able to:
- Ring up the call centre, 8am - 8:30pm AEST Monday to Friday, or 9am - 5:30pm on Saturday
- Have a chat online with Red Energy customer service via Facebook Messenger, 8am - 6pm AEST Monday to Friday
- Leave a message on the contact page on the website and someone will call you back
Looking to switch to Red Energy?
Once you've decided you'd like to switch to a Red Energy plan from your current provider, all you need to do is click the green "Enquire now" button and fill out the form.
Alternatively, go to Red Energy's website, select the plan for your state, and press the "Sign Up" button. Follow the prompts provided.
- Once you're signed up, Red Energy will handle the rest for you. The switching process usually takes 1 - 3 months before Red Energy takes over your account.
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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Ask an Expert
We are interested in getting 30 solar panels and possibly a battery storage system. Would love an onsite inspection and quote
Hi Jan,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.com.au. You can contact them directly and get a quote by going to their website. Hope it helps.
Cheers,
Joel Marcelo
I am single into a new rental home looking for appropriate electricity plan
Hi Piotr,
Thanks for reaching out.
To get the most suitable provider for you, you may check out our guide on electricity plans to learn more about your options, what to look for, and how to compare electricity plans and providers.
You may also fill out the form on the same page and get in contact with an energy broker to discuss your options. Before applying, please ensure that you read through the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
Cheers,
Joanne
Is it likely that Red Energy will enter the Tasmanian energy market soon? Kind regards, Scott
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your inquiry.
I’m afraid we don’t have the answer to that question. What you can do is directly get in touch with Red Energy and confirm.
In the meantime, if you are keen to explore other options, please check our list of energy providers in Tasmania.
Cheers,
Rench
I am a Red Energy user and have installed solar panels on my house from a different company. Will I get a discount and at what dollar rate will I get off my electricity bill for power returned to the grid?
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your question. Just to confirm, you have reached finder, a comparison website and general information service, not actually Red Energy.
I suggest you contact Red Energy directly to enquire how much solar rebates you can get. Meanwhile, you may refer to our guides here on solar rebates in Australia and on solar panels payback time for helpful information.
Kind regards,
Liezl
Does red energy give discounts and rewards for being a customer?
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for your inquiry.
With Red Energy plans, you can get A discount off your entire energy bill and you’ll receive a rewards book on signup for access to more than 3,500 deals on groceries, dining, takeaway, hotels, movies, attractions and much more.
You may contact Red Energy directly for further inquiries.
Cheers,
Rench