You've probably heard this a million times already, but it's still worth repeating: don't set and forget your energy plan for more than 12 months.
Ideally, you should check in even twice a year to make sure you're still getting a good deal and not paying more than you need to.
A few other reasons to compare include:
If only the Australian energy market weren't so convoluted. But here we are.
Most people in the following states can switch, as long as they're not living in an embedded network:
Electricity prices in the Northern Territory and regional QLD are regulated.
That said, if your home is connected to the mains gas network in regional Queensland - in centres like Rockhampton or Gladstone - you can still compare and switch gas retailers.
In WA, electricity is fully regulated, so who you're with comes down to your location.
Whether it's electricity or gas, your charges are broken down in much the same way.
Grab your latest energy bill so you can follow along as we explain what everything means.
How much you're charged for electricity can work differently depending on the tariff you're on.
Separately, if you have solar panels, your plan may include a solar feed-in tariff. This is the rate your energy retailer pays you for any excess electricity you send back to the grid.
Some retailers offer specific solar plans with higher feed-in tariffs, but these often come with trade-offs, such as higher usage rates or daily supply charges.
Since most households use more gas in winter than in other seasons, some plans may charge a higher usage rate during the colder months and a lower rate in summer.
It's a great question, given our research has found energy to be one of the most stressful household expenses for Australians after mortgage/rent and groceries.
Depending on your state, electricity bills can range from around $276 to $484 per quarter, and gas bills from around $124 to $300 per quarter.
Here's a rough guide to the average energy bills by state.
Just keep in mind that these are averages only. Things might look different based on your household size and energy consumption.
| State | Average electricity bill | Average gas bill |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $454 per quarter | $300 per quarter |
| Victoria | $327 per quarter | $237 per quarter |
| Queensland | $466 per quarter | $232 per quarter |
| South Australia | $484 per quarter | $236 per quarter |
| Western Australia | $276 per quarter | $124 per quarter |
Every year on 1 July, energy regulators reset the maximum price retailers can charge customers on a standing offer plan.
A standing offer is a regulated plan designed as a safety net for households that haven't shopped around for a better deal.
It's known as the Default Market Offer (DMO) in NSW, South East QLD and SA, and the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) in VIC.
The DMO and VDO also act as a reference price, so when you compare plans, you'll often see how much cheaper a market offer is than the benchmark.
The changes for 2026-27 are mostly good news. Default prices fell across NSW and South East QLD, while SA was the only state to see an increase.
Here's how the DMO for a typical household on a flat-rate tariff has changed since last year.
| State | 2026-27 | 2025-26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW - Ausgrid (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter) | $1,899 | $1,965 | Down 3.4% (-$66) |
| NSW - Endeavour (SW Sydney, Illawarra) | $2,328 | $2,411 | Down 3.4% (-$83) |
| NSW - Essential (regional NSW) | $2,604 | $2,741 | Down 5% (-$137) |
| SE QLD - Energex | $1,988 | $2,143 | Down 7.2% (-$155) |
| SA - SA Power Networks | $2,334 | $2,301 | Up 1.4% (+$33) |
Here's what changed in VIC:
| AusNet | CitiPower | Jemena | Powercor | United Energy | Victorian average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | $1,908 | $1,546 | $1,638 | $1,703 | $1,579 | $1,675 |
| 2026–27 | $1,748 | $1,481 | $1,563 | $1,633 | $1,529 | $1,591 |
| Change in $ | -$160 | -$65 | -$75 | -$70 | -$50 | -$84 |
| Change in % | -8% | -4% | -4% | -4% | -3% | -5% |
Everywhere else, prices are set a bit differently. You can read our state and territory guides for more details:
Alongside the new DMO on 1 July, the Australian Energy Regulator also introduced the Solar Sharer Offer in NSW, South East QLD and SA.
It gives households with a smart meter three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, and you don't need solar panels to take advantage of it.
It could be a good option if you can run energy-hungry appliances like the dishwasher, dryer or EV charger during the free period.
The trade-off is that electricity rates outside that window are relatively high, so it may not be worth it if you can't shift most of your usage to the middle of the day.
You can use our Solar Sharer Offer calculator to get a rough estimate of whether it's worth it for your household.
Switching is easier than you might think. The trick is knowing what to compare and what to look out for.
Here's what you need to do:
Your power will stay on the whole time, plus you also get a 10-business-day cooling-off window in case you change your mind.
Energy rebates and concessions from your state or the federal government can help take some pressure off your energy bills.
A concession is usually an ongoing discount, while a rebate is typically a one-off payment.
They're generally available for eligible households, including people on lower incomes, pensioners, seniors and those with certain medical needs, such as relying on life-support equipment.
The easiest way to find out if you qualify is to contact your energy provider.
You can also check your state's energy website to see what support is available.
Want to make your energy use a little greener? You can add GreenPower to your energy plan if it's available through your provider.
GreenPower is a government-accredited program where your retailer buys renewable energy from Australian sources on your behalf and matches it to a portion of your electricity use.
You can choose how much GreenPower you want to add, from 10% up to 100% of your usage, usually for an extra cost.
Roughly 1 in 3 Australian homes now have rooftop solar.
Whether it pays off comes down to your roof, your usage and your upfront budget.
You can run the numbers with our solar payback calculator before you commit. And if you do, make sure to get quotes from accredited installers to avoid a dodgy job.
Nectr has appealingly low fixed rates for the 12 months after sign up. As a bonus, your energy plan is 100% carbon neutral at no extra cost to you.
Find out if CovaU's electricity and gas plans are worth it.
Find out what Rimfire Energy offers in your area and how you can pay your electricity bill.
Thinking of switching to Tango Energy? Find out which plans you can sign up to and whether Tango's running any deals this month.
Horizon Power is one of Western Australia’s largest providers of energy that specialises in the North West Interconnected System and the rural north of the state.
Sumo provides electricity and gas to homes and businesses in Victoria and parts of NSW.
Compare Lumo Energy residential and business plans for customers in Victoria and South Australia.
Qantas Frequent Flyers may want to take advantage of the points offers but the prices aren’t the cheapest.
If you’re looking to go green with your power then Diamond Energy can help, offering one of the greenest power sources in all of Australia.
Ergon Energy creates and provides tailored and variable power supply to around 97% of the state of Queensland.