Ahh South Australia, home to the world-famous Barossa Valley, the adventurer’s sanctuary that is Kangaroo Island and… sky-high energy prices! Wait, what? Sadly it’s true, South Australians pay more for power than households in any other state, yet almost three quarters of customers in SA remain loyal to three big energy companies, despite having a market packed with other players.
While it’s refreshing to see customers reach out to many lesser-known brands in search of a better deal, it’s important to understand why so many of your neighbours turn to the bigger guys. Is it cheaper rates, quality service, or simply the name that gets these industry heavyweights over the line?
If you’re hungry to know more about the state of energy in your neck of the woods, then keep scrolling, or if you just want to know which electricity deals you can get your hands on now, use the comparison tool below.
On this page:
- Who are the biggest energy providers in South Australia?
- Why is energy more expensive in South Australia?
- Biggest energy providers by market share in SA
- Are SA customers happy with their energy provider?
- Compare Electricity Prices in SA
- Who are the largest gas suppliers in SA?
- What about small business energy in SA?
- Who can South Australians turn to for a good energy deal?
Who are the biggest energy providers in South Australia?
The three largest residential electricity providers in South Australia are AGL, Origin Energy and Simply Energy. AGL has the largest market share in SA with 37.1 per cent, while Origin accounts for 28.5 per cent and Simply Energy represents a notable 9.3 per cent. The next retailers in line are EnergyAustralia (6.6%), Alinta Energy (5.9%) and Lumo Energy (5.6%).
Each of the biggest providers are listed below, however you’ll need to click on the ‘SA’ tab to view prices in South Australia.
AGL
Australia’s oldest energy company, AGL, cements itself as South Australia’s most prominent with almost 300,000 customers. AGL has two market offers for customers to choose from, both offering variable rates. Customers can also take advantage of the retailer’s rewards program.
Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for NSW. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3,900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for Victoria. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4,000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for SE QLD. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex energy network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4,600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4,000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Origin Energy
While Origin Energy is the largest energy company in Australia, it doesn’t match the might of AGL in SA. Still, Origin commands a respectable 228,000+ customer portfolio and has a wide array of plans available to suit a number of households. Expect better savings off the reference price when fulfilling certain criteria, such as signing up online and paying by direct debit.
Origin Energy Prices NSW
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for NSW. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Origin Energy Prices VIC
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for Victoria. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Origin Energy Prices QLD
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for SE QLD. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Origin Energy Prices SA
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Simply Energy
In comparison to AGL and Origin, Simply Energy is a relatively small power company, however that doesn’t mean it can’t pull its own weight in terms of value. Simply Energy has roughly 74,000 customers in SA and has an exclusive deal for customers of a particular motoring club, which offers generous savings.
Here are the Engie plans on our database for NSW. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the Engie plans on our database for Victoria. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the Engie plans on our database for SEQ. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex energy network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the Engie plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Why is energy more expensive in South Australia?
South Australia’s high retail electricity prices can be attributed to the costs of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. It is these costs that are passed onto customers once energy retailers set their profit margins (they’re a business after all). Another factor is that SA also heavily relies on renewable energy like solar and wind farms to produce electricity, as there are no coal-fired power stations. This has caused much debate over the years, with many pointing the finger at renewables, while others blame inflated retailer costs.
Most energy bills will be broken up into two separate charges – electricity usage rates and electricity supply charges. The usage rates are charged in cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for consuming power, while supply charges are billed in cents per day, covering the cost of electricity supplied to homes. In SA, the average supply charge is about 95 cents a day which is reasonable compared to states like Victoria and Queensland. However, it’s the usage rates in SA that make energy more expensive, with the average hovering around 35c/kWh, while other eastern states are well below 30c/kWh.
Biggest energy companies by market share in SA
Here’s a list of electricity retailers and their residential market share in South Australia, on the SA Power distribution network:
- AGL: 37.1%
- Origin: 28.5%
- Simply Energy: 9.3%
- EnergyAustralia: 6.6%
- Alinta Energy: 5.9%
- Lumo Energy: 5.6%
- Powerdirect: 1.7%
- Energy Locals: 1.1%
- Red Energy: 0.7%
- Dodo: 0.5%
- Momentum Energy: 0.5%
- Powershop: 0.4%
- Diamond Energy: 0.3%
- 1st Energy: 0.2%
- Amber Electric: 0.2%
- GloBird Energy: 0.2%
- OVO Energy: 0.2%
- CovaU Energy: 0.1%
The above figures have been sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Retail Energy Market Performance Update for Quarter 4, 2021-22.
Are SA customers happy with their energy provider?
In our latest annual review of SA energy providers, we reached out to more than 800 customers in South Australia to ask them a few questions about their purchase decisions. Here’s what we found:
- 23% picked a retailer based on a brand they recognised
- 46% believe they are getting a good deal on electricity
- 64% stated that switching providers proved to be a good financial decision
Compare Electricity Prices in SA
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. The next three tabs feature products exclusively from AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin.
Here are the AGL Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the EnergyAustralia plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Who are the largest gas suppliers in SA?
Origin Energy is the largest natural gas supplier in South Australia, holding 42 per cent of the residential market, followed by AGL with 28.9 per cent and Simply Energy at 9.6 per cent. Trailing behind is EnergyAustralia with a market share of 8.6 per cent, while Alinta Energy represents 5.3 per cent, Lumo Energy with 3.9 per cent and Red Energy at 0.8 per cent.
What about small business energy in SA?
For small business electricity, it’s AGL who dominates in SA, representing a whopping 41.8 per cent of the local market. Next in line is Origin (27.4%), Alinta Energy (7.2%) and Simply Energy (4.1%). Small businesses choose Origin Energy as their preferred natural gas supplier at 65.3 per cent of SA customer share, while AGL takes care of 19.8 per cent.
Who can South Australians turn to for a good energy deal?
Fortunately for South Australians, there is plenty of competition with many new energy providers giving the bigger companies a run for their money. In terms of the biggest three retailers in SA – AGL, Origin and Simply Energy – they can still do you a good deal if you’re on their best plans, but looking around at other options is clearly a wise move, as you can tell by our comparison table above.
Just be sure to review the base rates of any energy plan before making a decision. As discussed earlier, South Australians pay through the roof for power, so it’s a good idea to check and make sure your current plan is up to scratch. Rather than wasting time and jumping on multiple websites, use our free comparison tool below and compare a wide variety of plans from companies available in your area. All you need is your postcode to get started!
Image credits: amophoto_au/Shutterstock.com, Tatiana53/Shutterstock.com, pikselstock/Shutterstock.com
Original Author: Jared Mullane
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