How green electricity plans work
Electricity from every source mixes on the grid, so no one can send solar or wind power to your home in particular. GreenPower deals with that by accounting. When you buy GreenPower, your retailer surrenders Large-scale Generation Certificates from accredited renewable generators equal to the energy you bought. Those certificates are retired, so no one else can count the same renewable energy.
The key point is that GreenPower is on top of what the grid already does. Certificates surrendered for GreenPower cannot also count towards the national Renewable Energy Target, so your purchase adds renewable generation beyond what the law already requires.
What GreenPower costs
| Share of GreenPower | Extra per year, low | Extra per year, high |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $16 | $32 |
| 25% | $40 | $80 |
| 50% | $80 | $160 |
| 100% | $160 | $320 |
Retailers set their own GreenPower prices, and they vary widely. Some charge a cents per kWh premium, others a flat weekly amount. Check the plan fact sheet, or filter for GreenPower on Energy Made Easy.
Your green energy options
GreenPower
Accredited- Independently audited
- Adds renewables beyond the national target
- Choose 10% to 100%
- Costs extra on every kWh
Best for: Households that want verified renewable electricity.
Carbon neutral plans
- Often low or no extra cost
- Usually based on carbon offsets, not added renewable generation
- Quality of offsets varies
Best for: Read the detail before relying on the claim.
Rooftop solar and batteries
- Cuts your bill as well as emissions
- Your own renewable generation
- Upfront cost
- Not an option for many renters and apartments
Best for: Owner-occupiers with a suitable roof.
Cheapest way to cut emissions
Using less power cuts emissions and your bill at the same time. Moving usage into the middle of the day, when solar floods the grid, also helps. See our guides to time of use and the Solar Sharer Offer.
Questions about green energy
A government-managed accreditation program. When you buy GreenPower, your retailer surrenders certificates from accredited renewable generators for the same amount of energy, on top of what the national Renewable Energy Target already requires.
The GreenPower program estimates an extra 4c to 8c per kWh, though retailer prices vary. On 4,000 kWh a year at 100% GreenPower, that is roughly $160 to $320 a year. Buying 10% to 50% costs proportionally less.
Not physically. All power mixes on the grid. GreenPower guarantees that renewable generation equal to your purchase was added to the grid and counted only once, for you.
No. Carbon neutral plans usually buy carbon offsets to balance the emissions from your usage. GreenPower adds renewable generation. Read how a plan backs up its claim before choosing it.
Your panels already supply renewable power for the energy you use while they generate. GreenPower would only cover the power you buy from the grid, mostly at night.
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.