Expert Guide: Energy Locals Review and Ratings
Energy Locals is an up-and-coming retailer taking on the big guys. The provider supplies power to homes and businesses across New South Wales, Victoria, South East Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.
Unlike most retailers Energy Locals claims it does not profit from usage. Instead, the provider gives customers access to fixed wholesale electricity rates for a reasonable fixed monthly membership fee. As a result, Energy Locals’ rates are generally reasonably priced in the market. With a focus on fairness and the fight against climate change, its plans also offer carbon offset energy at no extra cost. Energy Locals has also partnered with Tesla to build a Virtual Power Plant.
In this guide, Canstar Blue takes a close look at Energy Locals, including what’s on offer and what it might cost you to switch to the provider.
Energy Locals prices
So, what can you expect to pay by signing up to Energy Locals? Here are the estimated prices for Energy Locals in NSW, VIC, SEQ, SA and TAS. Click on your state below to see relevant pricing.
Here are the Energy Locals 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 Energy Locals 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 Energy Locals 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.
Here are the Energy Locals plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power Networks 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.
Here is the cheapest published deal from Energy Locals currently on our database for Tasmania. This is a product from a referral partner†. These costs are based on a household with an annual electricity usage of 2,947kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff at a selected postcode in Tasmania, but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. 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.
An expert’s guide to Energy Locals
If you’re wondering what services Energy Locals is offering in your state, look no further than the table below. We summarise what you can expect to find from Energy Locals in NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, NT, TAS and WA.
| State | Electricity? | Gas? |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | ||
| VIC | ||
| QLD | ||
| SA | ||
| ACT | ||
| WA | ||
| TAS |
Energy Locals electricity plans
Energy Locals currently promotes a few residential electricity market offers, but they may not all be available in every state.
Home Classic
Available for NSW customers, this plan offers a $50 refer a friend credit for both the referrer and referee. It has Greenpower options, no exit fees, flexible billing options and variable rates.
Online Member
The Online Member plan gives customers access to wholesale electricity prices for a small membership fee. As the name suggests, this deal requires direct debit payment with monthly billing options available. This offer is currently available in NSW, VIC, SEQ and the ACT, with a $50 refer a friend credit offered in NSW and SA.
A sign-up bonus offer is also available on this plan for new customers in Victoria and New South Wales. This means a $100 sign-up credit to those who stay with the retailer for six months.
Daytime Saver
Available only in VIC, this plan offers lower rates for use between 10am and 3pm each day, as well as a guaranteed discount on total usage.
Local Member
Available to NSW, Victoria, SEQ, SA, TAS and the ACT, the Local Member plan gives customers access to wholesale energy rates for a monthly membership fee. Local Member has no credit card fees or exit fees. Customers in SA can currently claim a $50 refer a friend credit.
The retailer also offers a solar battery specific energy plan in partnership with Tesla, for customers in NSW, VIC, SEQ, and the ACT. For more information on this product, visit our Tesla energy plan page.
Local Rewards
The Local Rewards plan gives customers access to wholesale energy rates for a monthly membership fee. Local Rewards has no credit card fees or exit fees. Customers in NSW can currently claim a $50 refer a friend credit.
Energy Locals gas plans
Energy Locals currently has two gas plans in NSW and one in VIC.
Gas Saver
Energy Locals offer is a variable contract gas plan.
Gas Standing Offer
This is Energy Locals’ standard gas plan with no frills, no lock in contract and no exit fees.
See how Energy Locals stacks up on price against other power providers in your state:
Other expert guides on Australian energy providers worth checking out:
Energy Locals solar
Energy Locals offer a fairly reasonable solar feed-in tariff across the states it operates in. Here’s what prospective solar customers can expect on a market offer in each state:
- NSW: 5c/kWh first 8kWh/day, 3c/kWh thereafter
- VIC: 5c/kWh first 8kWh/day, 3.3c/kWh thereafter
- SEQ: 7c/kWh first 8kWh/day, 3c/kWh thereafter
- SA: 6c/kWh first 8kWh/day, 3c/kWh thereafter
- TAS: 8.94c/kWh
- ACT:7c/kWh first 8kWh/day, 3c/kWh thereafter
Energy Locals’ Solar and Battery Solution
In 2022, Energy Locals was awarded one of Canstar Blue’s inaugural Green Excellence Awards for its ground-breaking Solar and Battery Solution in Sydney Apartment Building. This scheme allowed apartment-dwellers at the Bottlebrush residential development in Northwest Sydney to access onsite solar through the use of 201kW of solar panels and 24 Tesla Powerwalls.
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Contact information and billing details
If you ever need to contact Energy Locals about a product or service, you’ll find all the details below.
Energy Locals contact information
Depending on where you live and the service you are after, Energy Locals has multiple points of contact. Details are listed below:
- General enquiries: 1300 693 637
- Email: hello@energylocals.com.au
- International number: +61 3 6161 3955
Energy Locals billing
Energy Locals recommends that its customers set up a direct debit payment for their bills to avoid additional fees or late payments. This can be set up through customers’ online account under the payment options section.
If customers do not wish to set up a direct debit however, they can pay through one of the following ways instead:
- BPay: Simply log on to your online bank account, choose BPay, and type in the biller code and reference number on your bill.
- Over the phone: Customers can pay using a credit card over the phone. Please note, this may incur an additional fee.
- Online: If you have a credit card, you can also pay online through the Energy Locals website.
Online tools
Energy Locals’ ‘My Account’ website portal lets customers manage all their energy needs in one place. Customers can:
- Access and manage your bills
- View payment history
- Setup direct debited bills
- Review energy usage and history.
Compare Energy Locals in our Most Satisfied Customers Awards
- Best-Rated NSW Electricity Providers
- Best-Rated VIC Electricity Providers
- Best-Rated QLD Electricity Providers
- Best-Rated SA Electricity Providers
Outstanding Value Electricity Plans 2023
In 2023, Energy Locals was awarded Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value award for its electricity plans in Tasmania. This was thanks to the provider’s excellent price performance in the island state.
About the author
This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, Tara Donnelly. Having spent the last decade writing for and editing comparison websites, she’s an expert in all things energy, phone and internet. She loves to highlight the next best deals, while also flagging the things you need to be aware of.
Learn more about Canstar Blue’s Editorial Team.
Energy Locals FAQs
Is Energy Locals any good?
Energy Locals states it passes on the cheapest electricity rates they can and carbon offsets all usage, which is a massive drawcard not only for customers looking to unlock prices at the wholesale rate, but also those who are conscious of the environment. For customers who are simply looking for the best deal on price, it’s important you compare retailers and understand your options.
Is Energy Locals Australian owned?
Energy Locals is based and operated out of Australia with its head office set-up in Melbourne. However the company’s investor, Quinbrook is based out of both the US and Australia. Energy Locals’ CEO and Founder, Adrian Merrick is said to be the companies largest shareholder though.
What services does Energy Locals offer?
| Service | Does Energy Locals offer it? |
|---|---|
| Online chat functionality | |
| 24 hour call centre | |
| Energy saving tips on website | |
| Green energy options | |
| Notifications when bill is available | ? |
| Multiple billing options |
Does Energy Locals offer GreenPower options?
Energy Locals offers three GreenPower plans, with the option to have 10%, 50% or 100% of your electricity usage matched with renewable electricity purchases in exchange for slightly higher rates listed below:
- 10% GreenPower – $0.0039 per unit of usage
- 50% GreenPower – $0.0195 per unit of usage
- 100% GreenPower – $0.039 per unit of usage.
If minimising your carbon footprint is important to you, you’ll may also be interested to know that Energy Locals is a carbon neutral organisation. By purchasing and surrendering Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), recognised under the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS), equal to its expected emissions over the next year, Energy Locals can boast a net carbon emission of zero.