Powerclub Review & Guide

Powerclub is no longer operating. According to the Australian Energy Regulator and Essential Services Commission, existing Powerclub customers will be transferred to a major retailer as part of the Retailer of Last Resort process. Please treat information below as historical only.

Powerclub has recently emerged in the Australian energy retail market, offering a plan model unlike what you may be used to. Rather than charging set rates, as most electricity retailers do, Powerclub is claiming to give you access to ‘wholesale’ electricity prices. The company has just opened up shop in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT and has business energy offerings also available.

Powerclub follows a slew of retailers advertising a ‘what you see is what you get’ approach to energy, removing hidden fees and confusing discounts. Below we’ll explore how simplified this power model really is, and take a look at how Powerclub’s plans work.

How Powerclub works

Powerclub’s business model is unlike that of traditional electricity retailers. Instead of offering up plans where base rates and discounts are set before you start using energy, you receive access to ‘wholesale’ rates. What this means is you’ll be paying rates according to published wholesale electricity costs, which are updated every 30 minutes. In order to access these rates, however, you’ll need to pay a $39 annual fee. There’s the catch!

Naturally, as your electricity prices depend on real-time data, you’ll be best off with a smart meter installed to measure how much power you’ve consumed – and when, but that’s not to say having one is necessary. According to Powerclub, wholesale energy prices will normally vary between minus 1c-10c per kWh, but on occasion reach as high as $15/kWh. To put that into perspective, an average three-person household in NSW uses about 15kWh per day, so regular price spikes – especially in a particularly volatile market such as South Australia – could have a serious impact on your energy bill.

But Powerclub claims to be preventing bill shock by implementing what it calls the ‘Powerbank’. This is a way to ensure ‘coverage’ at times when wholesale prices get unpredictable. You’re expected to pay a deposit, which ranges from $40 per 1,000kWh of your estimated annual usage, to $80, which you will receive back if you choose to leave the provider. The more unstable the wholesale market is where you live, the more coverage Powerclub recommends. The retailer claims that the Powerbank will then cover the difference when wholesale prices get high, and ‘replenish’ when rates are low. And to avoid any surprises on your energy bill, the retailer alerts you to any unusual spikes through its app.

You can select between a time of use or single rate ‘peak’ tariff. There are also options for those with controlled loads. The below video from Powerclub attempts to explain all.

So, what do you pay with Powerclub?

• Annual membership fee of $45 ($79 for business) inclusive of GST
• Daily fee (operational costs at cost, <50c a day for the average household).
• Powerbank deposit
• Electricity at wholesale (includes networks fees and schemes etc at cost)

Powerclub Electricity Rates

See below for more detail on Powerclub pricing across the states. You’ll see that plans have been compared against the Reference Price.

Powerclub Electricity Prices Victoria

In the table below, we show Powerclub prices on the Citipower network in Melbourne. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the VDO, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year, meaning the VDO is $1,292/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

˜Price assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditional discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Citipower network in Melbourne, but prices differ between distribution areas. July 2022.

How does Powerclub stack up on price in Victoria? Find out with our VIC price comparison page.

Powerclub Electricity Prices NSW

In the table below, we show Powerclub prices on the Ausgrid network in Sydney. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,512/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditional discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Ausgrid network in Sydney, but prices differ between distribution areas. July 2022.

See how Powerclub compares on price in our NSW cost comparison page.

Powerclub Electricity Prices QLD

In the table below, we show Powerclub prices on the Energex network in Brisbane. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,620/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 4600Wh/year. Estimated price includes any conditional discounts that may be available. Pricing based on Energex network in Brisbane, but prices will differ between distribution areas. July 2022.

How does Powerclub compare to other retailers in Queensland? See our QLD price comparison page.

Powerclub Electricity Prices SA

In the table below, we show Powerclub prices on the SA Power network in Adelaide. Plans are listed from the lowest priced estimate first. See here for information on the AER Reference Price, which in this comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year, meaning the Reference Price is $1,840/year. Use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area.

*Price assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year. Estimated price includes any conditional discounts that may be available. Pricing based on SA Power network in Adelaide, but prices differ between distribution areas. July 2022.

How does Powerclub compare on price in South Australia? Check out our SA price comparison page.

Powerclub Solar

Powerclub’s solar feed-in tariff is based on an annual estimate of the wholesale market price. At the years end, Powerclub then reviews this price, and if it is higher than what members have been receiving as their feed-in tariff, Powerclub pays the difference as an annual solar bonus.

To compare feed-in tariffs, head to our solar FIT guide.

Powerclub Fees

As mentioned before, joining Powerclub will incur some upfront and recurring fees. You’re expected to pay a fee of $45 per year to access wholesale energy rates, plus an additional amount to support operational costs, which is 28.6c+GST per day and 0.836c+GST per kWh. If you opt for paper billing, you’ll also pay a small charge.

On the flipside, this retailer doesn’t charge credit card fees, move in fees or exit fees, and gives you free access to its members’ app, Powerwatch, where you’ll be able to track wholesale rates and receive tips on how to lower your consumption during an energy price spike.

Should I join Powerclub?

Whether or not you join ‘the club’ will depend on your personal circumstances. For people who are keen on the idea of monitoring their electricity usage – or prefer a hands-on approach to saving on their power bill – Powerclub could be a perfect fit. With access to wholesale prices, customers can switch up their routine to only use large amounts of power when rates bottom out. However, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll get a return on the fees you pay to be with the provider.

But if you’re not the type to fuss over your electricity and would rather just pay a predictable bill at the end of your billing cycle, it may be a better idea for you to choose a plan with consistently low rates. And the good news is, that plan could be waiting for you on the other side of the link below.

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.