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.


Happy young woman using phone with pink background

Expert Picks: Best SIM-Only Mobile Plans (January 2025)

Posted by January 10th 2025

Choosing the best mobile plan is made possible by our expert Value Rank methodology, which places each product under the microscope, examining its price, plan inclusions, customer service and billing. Then we give each plan …


Switching gas providers

What is the average gas bill?

Posted by January 6th 2025

The following information is based on a survey finalised in December 2023 and calculated as an average of estimated quarterly bills based on survey respondents' latest bill. As such, the average quarterly bill sums cited …


Best EnergyAustralia plan

What is the best EnergyAustralia electricity plan?

Posted by January 3rd 2025

Is there anything worse than doing research? We hated it in school and still fear it as adults, especially when it comes to important things like electricity prices. With so many brands and deals in …


Best Origin Energy Plans

What is the best Origin Energy plan?

Posted by January 3rd 2025

With over four million customers under its banner, Origin is one of the big three providers in retail energy. Given its size, Origin Energy has a lot to offer in terms of plans, operating in …


Best energy deals NSW

Expert Picks: Best Value Energy Plans NSW (January 2025)

Posted by January 2nd 2025

This page features some of the best electricity plans from energy providers in NSW on Canstar Blue’s database. Every month, our dedicated team of energy experts will update this page to show you a range …


Brisbane

Expert Picks: Best Value Energy Plans QLD (January 2025)

Posted by January 2nd 2025

Every month our team of energy geeks will update this page with the best offers on our database from QLD electricity providers. This way you’ll always be ahead of the game. The South East Queensland electricity …


Best energy plans in South Australia

Expert Picks: Best Value Energy Plans SA (January 2025)

Posted by January 2nd 2025

This page aims to help you scan through a range of the best electricity plans currently on our database from energy providers in SA. Each month, our dedicated energy experts will update this information to …


Best energy plans Victoria

Expert Picks: Best Value Energy Plans VIC (January 2025)

Posted by January 2nd 2025

This page contains some of the best electricity plans from energy providers in Victoria on Canstar Blue’s database. Every month, our dedicated team of energy experts will update this page to show you a range …


Alinta Energy vs Engie

Alinta Energy vs Engie: Electricity cost comparison

Posted by December 18th 2024

In a contest between two up and coming power companies, we check out Alinta Energy and Engie to see which has the cheapest prices and best overall value. Aside from chipping away at the market share …


Compare AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin energy plans

Alinta Energy vs Origin: Electricity cost comparison

Posted by January 16th 2025

Since its founding in 2000, Origin has established itself as part of Australia’s energy fabric and is now Australia’s largest power provider. Yet, along the journey many other electricity retailers have set up shop, challenging …