Tara Donnelly

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology, across news, reviews and how-tos. Tara has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, which means she’s written about countless product launches and industry changes, including the rise of 5G, Australia’s ongoing NBN rollout, the recent years of energy price volatility and the rise of renewable energy sources. Tara also has long experience in writing within the comparison industry, giving her great insights into the information consumers want when determining which plan or device will best meet their needs, while time spent in the financial sector before turning her talent to content lets her crunch the numbers on price with ease. Tara leads the coverage of Canstar Blue’s ratings and awards for the internet and phone sectors and is an expert at advising consumers on how to use comparison tools to find the best power, internet or phone deal. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald. Tara has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident.


Electricity tower

Default Market Offer (DMO) explained

Posted by November 29th 2024

First introduced by energy regulators as a response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) inquiry into electricity prices, the ‘Default Market Offer (DMO) serves as a price cap for electricity on standing offer …



Smartphones piled in a green recycling bin

Mobile phone recycling: Everything you need to know

Posted by October 1st 2024

So you've got a new smartphone, or you're thinking about upgrading to a newer, shiner piece of tech. Splashing out on a cutting-edge device is a big purchase and one that often means your old …


Renewable energy

What is renewable energy and how does it work in Australia?

Posted by November 29th 2024

Renewable energy is a hot topic these days. With countries around the world slowly building their renewable energy portfolios, it seems the pressure is on for Australia to keep up. But what exactly is renewable …


Woman with shopping bags using phone

The best EOFY phone plan and smartphone deals 2024

Posted by June 19th 2024

The mid-year sales season is a great time to bag serious bargains on not just appliances, fashion and homewares, but also smartphones. Telcos and manufacturers alike are slashing prices on devices and plans this end …


Piggy bank by electricity bill

Default power prices to drop July 1: How much will you save?

Posted by June 17th 2024

Australian households on standing offers could see as much as $190 shaved off their annual electricity bills from July 1, with the country's energy regulators locking in default energy prices for 2024-25. The Australian Energy Regulator …




Woman upset at internet outage

How to check for NBN outages in Australia

Posted by May 27th 2024

Having easy access to home internet is essential, whether it’s for work, study or just our day-to-day lives. That’s why it can be especially frustrating if your home internet goes down, when you have no …


NBN prices

How much does the NBN cost per month?

Posted by May 23rd 2024

Whether you’re looking to save some money on your household budget or you’re just wondering if you’re getting the best value for money internet plan, it’s good to know how much does NBN cost per …