Which energy companies charge paper bill fees?

Fact Checked

If you receive a paper bill from your electricity retailer, you might be paying extra for the privilege. By opting to receive your power bill digitally, you could save paying a paper bill fee, giving you an instant saving off your power bill.

Read on to find out how much you may be paying in paper bill fees, as well as tips on how to avoid this hidden cost.

What are paper bill fees?

Paper bill fees are charges you pay for receiving energy bills in the mail. They are charged by energy companies to cover the cost of printing and posting out customers’ bills, instead of sending them electronically.

Most fees range between $1-$3.30 per bill, which can add up to $39.60 per year if you receive a monthly statement. And if you receive a separate gas bill, you could be paying double that amount in paper bill fees.

I still want paper bills – I just don’t want to pay

The good news is that if you’re a residential energy customer in New South Wales, you won’t be charged for paper bills under state legislation. Residents in other states, including Queensland and Victoria, on standing offers are also exempt. However, if you’re on a standing offer, your higher energy rates are likely to sting you harder than any fees you receive for paper billing.

Customers who are considered vulnerable, such as concession card holders, can also be exempt from paying paper bill fees. If that doesn’t apply to you, the simplest way to avoid paying paper bill fees can be to switch to a provider or plan that doesn’t include the extra charge by default.

Retailers that charge paper bill fees

Here’s a list of retailers in New South Wales, Victoria, south-east Queensland and South Australia that charge paper bill fees to some customers. Note that this charge could be dependent on your location or the specific plan you choose, as some deals only come with email billing.

• AGL: $1.75 per bill
• Ampol Energy: $1.65 per bill
• Arcline by RACV: $2 per bill
• CovaU: $1.75 per bill
• Dodo: $2.20 per bill
• EnergyAustralia: $1.69 per bill
• Energy Locals: $2 per bill
• Engie: $1.65 per bill
• GloBird Energy: $2.50 per bill
• Origin: $1.75 per bill
• Pacific Blue: $3.30 per bill
• Tango Energy: $3.30 per bill

Retailers that don’t charge paper bill fees

Here’s a list of retailers in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania that don’t charge paper bill fees. In many cases, this is because the retailers operate more ‘online only’ business models and their plans are conditional on accepting email billing.

• 1st Energy
• ActewAGL
• Alinta Energy
• Amber Electric
• Aurora Energy
• Diamond Energy
• Enova Energy
• Kogan Energy
• Lumo
• Momentum Energy
• Nectr
• OVO Energy
• Powershop
• Red Energy
• Sumo

Do paper bill fees differ between states?

If a power provider charges a paper bill fee, it should be a standard cost wherever you live. And, of course, as we mention above, if you live in NSW, you shouldn’t be charged a fee at all. However, before signing up to a paper bill, it’s a good idea to double check with your provider that you won’t be charged extra for the service.

How else can I save on my power bill?

Overall, it’s cheaper for a power company to provide services such as billing options, signing up new customers and customer service online. Therefore, if you’re searching for the cheapest power deals in the market, it could be worthwhile looking for power providers that prioritise their online services.

However, ultimately, the cost of receiving a paper bill is tiny when compared to the cost of a home’s overall energy usage. So if you want to secure the best value electricity plan, start by checking out some of the latest deals below.