Where to compare plans
Government comparison sites
Recommended- Energy Made Easy (AER) covers NSW, Qld, SA, Tas and the ACT
- Victorian Energy Compare covers Victoria
- List every generally available plan from every retailer
- No commissions or sponsored results
- You sign up with the retailer yourself
Best for: A full, neutral view of the market.
Commercial comparison sites
- Can switch you in one step
- Often helpful phone support
- May not list every retailer or plan
- Usually paid a commission by the retailer you choose
Best for: Convenience, once you know the market price.
Use the reference price comparison
In NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia, every advertised plan must state how its price compares with the Default Market Offer, for example 12% below the reference price. In Victoria the comparison is with the Victorian Default Offer. The figure is worked out for a set usage level, so it is a fair way to rank plans against each other, but your own bill will depend on your usage.
Price rises are now limited
Since 1 July 2026, retailers in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT can raise prices on market contracts only once every 12 months. If your plan's benefits change or expire, you pay no more than the standing offer price.
Weighing supply charge against usage rate
A plan with a lower usage rate often carries a higher supply charge. Which is cheaper depends on how much you use. The table compares two made-up plans to show how it works.
| Yearly usage | Plan A | Plan B | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,500 kWh | $1,225 | $1,259 | Plan A |
| 4,000 kWh | $1,675 | $1,664 | Plan B |
| 6,500 kWh | $2,425 | $2,339 | Plan B |
The break-even point here is about 3,650 kWh a year. Below it, the lower supply charge wins. Above it, the lower usage rate wins. Our bill calculator lets you run the same test on real plans.
A checklist for comparing plans
Get your usage
Find your kWh for the last year from your bills, or download smart meter data from your retailer.
Enter it into a comparison site
Use your own numbers rather than an average household. Victorian Energy Compare can read a smart meter data file.
Rank by estimated yearly cost
Ignore the size of the discount. Look at what you would pay over a year with any conditions you can reliably meet.
Check the details
Read the fact sheet for the supply charge, feed-in tariff, time-of-use hours, contract length and fees.
Ask your current retailer
Tell them the price you found. They may move you to a cheaper plan without a switch.
When you are ready, our switching guide covers the steps and your rights.
Questions about comparing plans
Use Energy Made Easy, or Victorian Energy Compare in Victoria, with your own usage from a recent bill. Rank plans by the estimated yearly cost, then check the supply charge, feed-in tariff and conditions on the plan fact sheet.
The government sites are free and carry no sponsored results. Commercial comparison sites are free to use but are usually paid a commission by the retailer you sign up with, and may not list every plan.
It shows how a plan compares with the Default Market Offer, or the Victorian Default Offer, at a set usage level. A plan 15% below the reference price would cost 15% less than the regulated price for that usage. Your saving depends on your own usage.
Only if the price after the discount is lower than other plans. Large discounts are often taken off higher base rates or depend on conditions such as paying on time or by direct debit. Compare the yearly cost, not the percentage.
At least once a year, and whenever your retailer notifies a price change, your plan benefits end or your household changes, such as installing solar or buying an EV.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.