An Expert’s Guide to CitiPower
CitiPower is an electricity distribution company responsible for maintaining the energy infrastructure that homes and businesses rely on in Melbourne City and the inner suburbs. It also looks after the poles, streetlights, wires and substations within its region.
CitiPower is a privately-owned enterprise and shares the same owners as fellow Victorian distributor Powercor. Both of these networks claim to supply power to 1.2 million residential and business customers across their respective networks. In this guide, you’ll understand why getting to know your energy distributor is important, plus you’ll find some useful information that may come in handy should you ever need to get in contact.
On this page, you’ll find:
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CitiPower Expert Guide
With a motto of ‘good people in power’, CitiPower claims to supply safe, reliable and affordable energy to homes and businesses. It does this by converting electricity into a lower voltage from transmission lines which is then distributed to customers via poles and wires within its network.
CitiPower also takes care of electricity meters, including any maintenance or installation required at properties around Melbourne. Its network consists of 100,000 kilometres of powerlines (including Powercor) with 14 depots scattered around the region, including a customer support centre in Bendigo and a corporate office in Melbourne.
Here is some general information about when and when not to contact CitiPower:
| When to contact CitiPower | When NOT to contact CitiPower |
|---|---|
| To report a power outage or supply interruption | To query your electricity bill |
| To request a meter installation or upgrade | You’re looking to change energy providers |
| To connect a new property to the grid | There is a fault outside of the CitiPower network |
| To gain approval for rooftop solar (usually lodged through a certified solar installer) | You want advice on finding the best solar installer |
| If you’re making an enquiry about life support equipment or planned outages | To ask about any rebates offered in Victoria |
CitiPower Services
As a distributor, CitiPower maintain the electricity infrastructure, known as the grid or network, which supplies electricity directly to your property. This means that CitiPower is responsible for helping customers with outages or supply issues, as well as connections, providing tariff information, rooftop solar installation and fallen power lines. It also provides helpful guides on how to manage energy usage for residents and business owners.
CitiPower Tariffs
CitiPower is a regulated business, meaning the prices it charges for customers to be connected to the grid are reviewed each year by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). According to its website, CitiPower claims that its network charges and alternative control charges make up about a third (29%) of a customer’s electricity bill.
CitiPower Connections
eConnect is CitiPower’s dedicated platform for connecting to the grid. According to its website, eConnect allows customers to seek pre-approval for solar generation, arrange a new connection, make alterations or disconnect from the grid, book a meter inspection and more. Find out all you need to know by visiting the CitiPower Connections page.
Energy Plans on the CitiPower Network
Most residential customers on the CitiPower network should be free to choose their electricity retailer – the company that bills them for using power. Below are some of the cheapest energy deals in Melbourne on the CitiPower distribution network according to our database.
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†. 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 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 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 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 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 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 Victoria. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Citipower energy 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 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.
CitiPower Company Information
You’ll find some key information below about CitiPower, which may be worth keeping somewhere handy should the lights go out, or you’re looking to get connected to the grid.
CitiPower Contact Details
There are numerous ways to contact CitiPower, including over the phone, through its online submission form, and via post or email (embeddedgeneration@powercor.com.au). As you can see below, the type of contact will depend on your query.
- General enquiries: 1300 301 101 (business hours)
- Life support customers: 1800 066 909 (24/7)
- Service difficulties & faults: 13 12 80 (24/7)
- Postal address: Locked Bag, 14090, Melbourne, 8001
CitiPower Coverage Map
Most of Melbourne CBD and the inner suburbs will be connected to CitiPower, which includes suburbs like Fitzroy, Hawthorn, Richmond, Brunswick, St Kilda and Docklands. There may be areas that overlap with CitiPower, particularly where the network ends, so don’t be surprised if one part of a suburb is on the CitiPower distribution zone, while another part is connected to a different distributor.
CitiPower Outages
CitiPower has a lot of information and helpful links about power outages on its website, including a live outage map, an outage list, notifications, postcode network locator and more. The outage map and list both offer real-time updates of areas that are experiencing loss or interruption of electricity supply. Customers can also follow CitiPower on Twitter for regular updates.
⚠️ Warning sign Our team is ready to respond if needed but make sure you’re prepared in the event of any possible power outages: https://t.co/boRA5X2Yvk https://t.co/0QHUW4P7OI
— CitiPower (@CitiPower) December 1, 2021
Kelseigh Wrigley: Energy Specialist
As Canstar Blue’s Energy Specialist, Kelseigh Wrigley covers the retail energy market, with a focus on electricity, gas and solar. She joined the team after completing a Bachelor of Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology, and has previously written for a variety of online publications, including Hunter and Bligh. You can follow Kelseigh on LinkedIn.
Electricity:
- United Energy for the southern suburbs and Mornington Peninsula, including Frankston, Rosebud, Flinders and Port Arlington.
- Citipower for the CBD and inner-city suburbs, including St Kilda, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Docklands.
- Powercor for western Victoria, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Maryborough.
- Jemena for northern and south-western suburbs including Footscray, Tullamarine, Craigieburn and Sunbury.
- AusNet Services for outer northern and eastern suburbs, including South Morang, Mansfield, Lilydale and Hazelwood.
Natural Gas:
- Australian Gas Networks for most areas of Victoria, including the northern, eastern and southern areas of the metro Melbourne area, the Mornington Peninsula and northern, eastern and south eastern areas of Melbourne.
- Multinet Gas for the eastern suburbs, including Yarra Ranges and south Gippsland.
- AusNet Services for central and western Victoria, including Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
FAQs about CitiPower
Who owns CitiPower?
CitiPower is a privately-owned corporation that has three owners. Its owners are ASX-listed Spark Infrastructure, and Hong Kong stock exchange-listed companies – Power Asset Holdings and CK Infrastructure. These three companies also own fellow Victorian distributor Powercor.
Is CitiPower the same as Powercor?
Not exactly, although both distribution companies are owned by the same companies. CitiPower has a separate network than Powercor, meaning energy prices will differ between distributors. CitiPower’s network looks after Melbourne CBD and the inner suburbs, while Powercor is responsible for western Victoria, including areas like Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Warrnambool.
Can I choose my energy distributor?
No, if you live within CitiPower’s distribution zone, you cannot change your distributor. Some parts of Melbourne may share borders with other Victorian distributors, however. Your property’s electricity distributor should be listed on a recent bill.
Does CitiPower have an app?
While CitiPower does not have a dedicated app for customers, it does have a dashboard named ‘myEnergy’, which allows users to view their energy usage habits. CitiPower’s myEnergy also lets Victorian solar customers view up to two years of historical data.
Do I pay my energy bill to CitiPower?
No, energy bills are to be paid to your retailer – the company in charge of your account. CitiPower does not handle bill payments, but rather looks after the grid and its assets, such as the poles, wires and substations in your area. Look at our handy guide if you’re not sure who your electricity retailer is.