Best Deals on Gas & Electricity in Australia

Australia has more than 20 active electricity retailers operating across the east coast, with prices varying significantly between providers, states, and even suburb to suburb. The good news is that the government makes comparison free, fast, and independent — and most households can find a market offer that beats the default price without any exit fees or disruption to supply. Here’s what you most need to know before you compare.

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  Who is the cheapest energy supplier right now? Depends on your state and postcode — no single provider is cheapest everywhere · In NSW, GloBird is currently among the cheapest on the Canstar database · In VIC, Alinta Energy and Energy Locals rate well · The only reliable way to find YOUR cheapest is to enter your postcode on energymadeeasy.gov.au (NSW/QLD/SA/ACT) or compare.energy.vic.gov.au (VIC)

  There is no single cheapest electricity or gas provider in Australia because prices are set by postcode, distributor network, and tariff type — not just by brand name. A plan that is the cheapest in Sydney on the Ausgrid network may not be the cheapest in regional NSW on the Essential Energy network. That said, consistently competitive providers on national databases include GloBird Energy, Alinta Energy, Energy Locals, Red Energy, and Momentum Energy — depending on the state. Red Energy won Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers award for electricity in both NSW and QLD in 2026, while Alinta Energy took the top spot in VIC. But satisfaction and cheapest price are two different things. The only way to know your actual cheapest option right now is to use the free government comparison tools that compare every provider in your area against the Default Market Offer reference price for your specific address.
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  What is the Default Market Offer and how does it affect my bill? The DMO is a government-set price cap and reference benchmark for electricity in NSW, SE QLD, and SA · It’s set annually by the AER and takes effect each 1 July · It protects you from being overcharged but is NOT the cheapest option — most market offers beat it · VIC uses the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) instead · Over 90% of Australian households are already on market offers below the DMO

  The Default Market Offer (DMO) is set each year by the independent Australian Energy Regulator and acts in two ways: first as a price cap on what retailers can charge customers who are on a “standing offer” (meaning they’ve never actively chosen a plan), and second as a reference price that every retailer must use when advertising deals. When you see a plan advertised as “18% below the reference price,” that 18% is measured against the DMO. In NSW, the current reference price sits at approximately $1,965 per year for a typical household. The AER’s draft determination for 2026-27 proposes bringing that down further from 1 July. The key takeaway: if you are still on a standing offer — the default plan you were put on when you never actively compared — you are almost certainly paying more than you need to. Switching to a competitive market offer takes less than 10 minutes online, costs nothing, and does not interrupt your electricity supply.
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  Which is better, AGL or Energy Australia? Closely matched nationally — AGL has a slight edge for sign-up deals and bundling perks · EnergyAustralia is cheaper for electricity in NSW, AGL is cheaper in VIC · EnergyAustralia offers 12-month fixed rates; AGL bundles Netflix (ad-tier) on select plans · For most households, the difference in estimated annual cost is small — use your postcode to compare directly

  AGL and EnergyAustralia are two of Australia’s three largest energy retailers, and they’re closely matched on price across most markets. On the Canstar database as of May 2026, their cheapest electricity and gas plans sit at comparable annual estimated costs for most capital cities. The concrete differences come down to extras and tariff design: EnergyAustralia offers 12-month fixed-rate plans, meaning your rates are locked and won’t change — useful if you want budget predictability. AGL includes a Netflix ad-tier subscription on certain plans and typically has more generous sign-up credits at any given time. EnergyAustralia offers competitive solar feed-in tariffs (up to 10.2c/kWh) for households with solar panels. For a household without solar and without strong preferences on extras, the actual annual cost difference between the two brands at the same address is often under $50 — making the comparison tool result more important than the brand choice itself. Neither is consistently cheaper than both in every state.
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  Which is cheaper, AGL or Origin? It varies by state — no national winner · AGL is generally cheaper in VIC and QLD · Origin is generally cheaper in SA and ACT · Average usage rate: AGL ~28.5c/kWh vs Origin ~29c/kWh — a marginal difference · Origin wins on solar feed-in tariffs (7–10c/kWh vs AGL’s 6–8c/kWh) and Everyday Rewards points · AGL not available in ACT — Origin wins by default there

  Head-to-head, AGL and Origin Energy represent about 40% of the Australian energy retail market between them — and the question of which is cheaper is genuinely state-dependent. Based on EnergyPlans Australia 2026 pricing data, AGL averages a slightly lower usage rate (28.5c/kWh versus Origin’s 29c/kWh), though the estimated annual cost for an average household differs by roughly $20 — well within the range of variation from plan to plan. Where Origin stands out is for solar households: its feed-in tariffs run between 7–10c/kWh compared to AGL’s 6–8c/kWh range, and it pairs Everyday Rewards points with its premium plans, which appeal to Woolworths shoppers. AGL’s bundled deals and sign-up credits can be more competitive at specific points in the year. The most accurate answer remains the same as always: enter your postcode and actual usage into a comparison tool, because the right plan for your household at your address matters far more than the brand comparison.
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  What is the cheapest source of electricity in Australia? Rooftop solar is now the cheapest source of electricity for many Australian homes with north-facing roofs · New Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) from the Australian Government: up to 3 hours of FREE electricity daily during peak solar hours (10am–3pm), including for renters and households without panels · On-grid options: time-of-use tariffs + daytime usage shifting can significantly cut bills without solar · The AER is introducing free daily daytime power windows from July

  For Australian households that can install solar panels, rooftop solar remains the most cost-effective source of electricity over the system’s lifetime — though the upfront installation cost remains a barrier for renters, apartment dwellers, and those on fixed incomes. A significant development for those who can’t install solar: the Australian Government announced the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) in November 2025, with regulations released in March 2026. Under the SSO, energy retailers will be required to offer at least 3 hours of free electricity each day during peak solar generation periods (typically 10am–3pm), providing up to 24 kWh of free electricity daily to households with smart meters — including renters and homes without solar panels. This is designed to pass the benefit of zero-cost wholesale electricity (which now frequently hits near-zero during midday solar peaks) directly to consumers. For households with flexible schedules, shifting energy-intensive activities — dishwashers, washing machines, pool pumps, EV charging — to the middle of the day can deliver meaningful bill savings without changing provider at all.
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  Can I switch energy providers without disruption to my supply? Yes — electricity is an essential service in Australia; your power is never cut when you switch providers · No disruption to supply, no technician needed, no new wiring · A meter reading is taken and systems are updated; the physical supply chain (poles and wires) never changes · 10 business-day cooling-off period applies — you can cancel within 10 days if you change your mind · Exit fees only apply if you’re on a fixed-term contract before it ends

  One of the most common misconceptions about switching energy providers is that it involves technicians, downtime, or disruption to your supply. In reality, switching is a purely administrative process. The physical poles, wires, and pipework that deliver electricity and gas to your home are owned by the network distributor — a separate company from your retailer — and they never change when you switch. Only the billing relationship and the plan rates change. The new retailer arranges a meter reading, updates the industry systems, and you begin receiving bills from the new provider on your next billing cycle. The Australian Energy Regulator requires that all switching customers receive a 10-business-day cooling-off period, during which you can cancel the switch and return to your current provider at no cost. The one exception where care is needed: if you’re currently on a fixed-term contract with an exit fee, check whether the savings from switching outweigh the exit cost before proceeding.
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  What does the “best offer” message on my power bill mean? Since 2023, under the AER’s Better Bills Guideline, every energy retailer in NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, and VIC must print a “best offer” message on the first page of your bill · It tells you how much you could save by switching to the cheapest plan that same retailer currently offers · It is NOT an independent comparison — only shows offers from your current provider · Treat it as a starting point, then use energymadeeasy.gov.au for a full market comparison

  The “best offer” message is a mandatory consumer protection introduced by the AER under the Better Bills Guideline, which came into effect in 2023 and was strengthened further in 2026. Under this rule, energy retailers must clearly display on the first page of every bill how much you could save by switching to their own best available plan — based on your actual usage history. This makes it much easier to see immediately if you’re on an old plan that’s been superseded by cheaper options from the same company. However, the limitation is important: it only shows you savings within your current provider’s range of offers. A smaller retailer or a newer market entrant may offer significantly lower rates that won’t appear on your bill. The AER’s rule also requires retailers to proactively notify customers at least once every 100 days if a better plan is available. Using the government comparison tool after checking your bill’s “best offer” message is the complete picture.
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  Are dual-fuel (gas + electricity) bundles actually cheaper? Sometimes yes, sometimes no — it depends on the provider and state · Bundling simplifies billing (one account, one provider) and some retailers offer 5–10% discounts on one service when you take both · Lumo Energy won Canstar’s 2026 Most Satisfied Customers award for Dual Fuel nationally · Best advice: compare the bundle cost against buying electricity and gas separately from two different cheap providers — bundles don’t always win on price

  Dual-fuel plans bundle electricity and gas from a single retailer, and they’re marketed heavily as a convenience and cost-saving option. In practice, the benefit depends on whether the provider that has a competitive electricity rate also has competitive gas rates in your area — and that’s not always the case. Providers like Lumo Energy (Canstar’s 2026 national dual-fuel award winner) and Red Energy (2026 NSW gas winner) are consistently rated well on both counts. However, the most cost-effective approach for many households is to pick the cheapest electricity provider for their postcode independently, and then pick the cheapest gas provider — which may be different companies entirely. The administrative inconvenience of two bills is real, but so is the potential annual saving of $100 or more by optimising each separately. Use the government comparison tools to model both scenarios: a bundled plan cost versus the sum of two separate cheapest-available plans.

Use the buttons below to open map searches for energy retailers and consumer help services near you. For the most accurate plan comparison, always use the government tools for your state — they show every available deal in your area.