Compare electricity and gas providers in SA, pronto

Cheapest electricity providers in Adelaide and SA

Don't sleep on these providers offering the cheapest electricity plans in July.

The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the SA Power Network who consumes 4,000kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.

Cheapest gas providers in Adelaide and SA

Options can get overwhelming which is why we've narrowed down the cheapest plans plans available in SA in June.

The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer on the Australian Gas Networks network who consumes 14,000MJ yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.

Why should you compare energy plans?

The simple answer is that shopping around can save you on your energy bills. If you don't compare, you won't know whether or not there's any provider offering cheaper prices.

For example, there's a $770 annual price difference between the cheapest and most expensive single rate electricity plans in our database.

Some other reasons to compare include:

• Discounts and other benefits included on an energy plan tend to last 12 months at most.
• If you don't negotiate new rates once your benefit period is up, your provider could move you to a more expensive plan.
• You're moving home. There's a chance your current provider may not offer the cheapest rates at the new address.
• Your energy provider has told you that prices are going up.

How do I choose the right electricity or gas provider in SA?

When comparing electricity or gas plans from different providers in SA, you'll want to keep some key information in mind:

• Guaranteed discounts: These can last for up to 12 months. Look for plans that offer the largest guaranteed discount. For electricity, the discount is compared to the reference price set by the Australian Energy Regulator every year on 1 July. Always aim for a plan that's lower than this reference price. The difference is shown as a percentage, making it easier for households to compare plans.

• Usage rate and supply charge: You can also compare plans by looking at the usage rate and supply charge. Usage rates determine how much you'll pay for each unit of energy used. Supply charges are what you pay daily for having your home connected with electricity and gas.

• Sign-up deals and extra perks: When comparing plans, it's worth looking beyond the yearly estimate or usage rates. Keep an eye out for for sign-up deals such as a $200 bill credit for new customers or loyalty program perks such bonus Everyday Rewards and Qantas Points. Depending on your habits, it might also be beneficial to choose a provider that lets you track your energy usage through a mobile app.

• Additional costs: Before signing up for a plan, make sure to read the terms and conditions for any extra charges, such as credit card fees or late payment fees.

Comparing plans and tariffs

How much you're charged for your energy use will depend on the type of tariff you're on.

Sometimes the energy distributor and subsequently the retailer may automatically put you on a one of the tariffs we'll be discussing in just a second.

Ulitmately though, you have the power to switch to one that better suits your energy needs.

Electricity tariffs

Households in SA have access to the following tariffs:

• Single rate: You will be charged a single rate for using electricity regardless of the time of day.
• Time of Use: Your usage rates will vary based on peak and off-peak hours. There may also be a separate rate for the 'shoulder period', which falls between peak and off-peak periods. A smart meter is required to be put on a Time of Use tariff.
• Demand: Some plans include a demand charge on top of a single rate or Time of Use tariff. The charge will be based on the highest point of power drawn from the grid during peak times at any given point in a season, year or month. It's done to take some load of the energy grid and deter people from using power at peak times.
• Controlled load: This applies to households with a separate meter for appliances such as electric hot water systems or pool pumps.
• Solar feed-in tariff: Households with rooftop solar installed can sign up to a plan that features a higher solar feed-in tariff than your normal electricity plan. This will determine how much money you can earn for exporting excess energy to the grid.

• Watch out for: There's a chance your energy distributor will automatically move you to a Time of Use or demand tariff. Keep an eye on your bill to see how you're being charged as these electricity contract may not benefit households that can't always control at what point during the day they use electricity the most.

Gas tariffs

Gas tariffs are a little less complex, but your choice is limited. A retailer will put you on either of the two tariffs we're about to list:

• • Flat rate: You'll be charged the same usage rate regardless of the time of day you're using gas, or how much of it you're using.
  • Block rate: Your usage rates will change based on consumption. For example, you'll be charged one rate for using 50MJ, another rate for the next 35MJ and maybe a different rate for the next block.

Which energy providers do we compare?

Finder compares some of the most popular energy providers in South Australia, including AGL, EnergyAustralia, Origin Energy and Red Energy.

To make it easier, we've broken our lists for electricity and gas into two. However, you'll notice there are some duel-fuel providers, that is they offer both electricity and gas plans.

Electricity providers in SA:

• • • AGL
    • Alinta Energy
    • Amber Electric
    • Diamond Energy
    • EnergyAustralia
    • Energy Locals
    • ENGIE (formerly Simply Energy)
    • GloBird Energy
    • Kogan Energy
    • Lumo Energy
    • Momentum Energy
    • Origin Energy
    • OVO Energy
    • Pacific Blue
    • Powershop
    • Red Energy
    • Sumo
    • Tango Energy

    Gas providers in SA:

    • AGL
    • Alinta Energy
    • CovaU
    • EnergyAustralia
    • ENGIE (formerly Simply Energy)
    • GloBird Energy
    • Lumo Energy
    • Origin Energy
    • Red Energy

    How much does electricity cost in South Australia?

    How much you're charged per kilowatt hour (kWh) in South Australia will depend on your energy provider.

    The average charge for single rate tariff plans in our database is around 45 cents per kWh (postcode 5000). The average supply charge sits at 114.8 cents.

    How much does gas cost in South Australia?

    Similar to electricity, your gas charges will vary depending on your provider.

    The average usage charge for gas plans for SA in our database is 3.19 to 6.82 cents per megajoules (MJ), using postcode 5000 as an example. The average supply charge is 79.7 cents.

    According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, the average electricity bill for SA households is $442 per quarter. The average quarterly gas bill is $223.

    SA energy rebates and concessions

    Besides the temporary $300 national energy bill relief available to all households in Australia from 1 July, SA has its own energy concessions to help residents keep their bills down.

    These are usually available to low-income households, seniors, pensioners and those with medical needs.

    For example, you could be eligible for:

    • • • Medical heating and cooling concession
        • Energy bill concession
        • Cost of Living Concession

    You can read our guide to rebates and concessions for more details. Alternatively, your energy retailer will be able to help you assess your eligibility criteria.

    Who sets electricity prices in South Australia?

    The South Australian government deregulated electricity and gas prices on 1 February 2013.

    However, the Australian Energy Regulator still sets benchmark prices annually on 1 July to help residential customers and small businesses compare electricity plans. This is also known as the reference price.

    For example, if an energy provider in SA offers an 18% discount, it's usually an indication that it's 18% less than the reference price. There is no reference price for gas.

    Renewable energy in SA

    South Australia's fast-paced its renewable energy target, with electricity generation positioned to be sourced from net 100% renewables by 2027.

    This is part of SA's commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030.

    More than 379,860 systems had been installed across South Australia as of early July 2023 according to Australia's Clean Energy Regulator, representing more than 2.186 GW of capacity.

    But if you don't have solar, you may consider:

    GreenPower: Energy providers can't send renewable energy directly from the grid to your home. This is where GreenPower comes in. It's a government program that lets your company buy renewable energy to match your usage, anywhere from 10% to 100%. You just pay a bit extra for this option.

    Carbon neutral plans: Some energy plans can offset the carbon emissions from your electricity or gas use at no extra cost to you. Others may offer it as an add-on for a small fee.

    Frequently asked questions

    • Who is my energy distributor?

      The electricity distributor for South Australia is SA Power Network. Gas distrubuution in the state is handled by Australian Gas Networks.

    • Who is the cheapest electricity supplier in South Australia?

      The cheapest electricity supply in SA can vary month to month.

      Lucily, we update our database daily, so you'll always be able in the loop to see whose offering the budget-friendly plans at any given point.

      Have a look at the cheapest electricity providers in SA this month to see if it's worth switching.

    • Who is the cheapest gas provider in South Australia?

      The cheapest gas provider in South Australia may change each month depending on whose offering the lowest price at any given point.

      The good news for you is that we update our database daily, so you'll always be able to check which gas provider won't burn a hole in your pockets.

      Have a look at this month's roundup of the cheapest gasproviders in SA to see if it's worth switching.