Solstice Energy review and rates
Solstice Energy is a retailer and distributor, supplying electricity, natural gas and LPG to thousands of Tasmanians throughout the state. Solstice Energy is comprised of two companies: Tas Gas Networks – which deals with gas distribution – and Solstice, which sells electricity and gas to homes and businesses. Solstice Energy is one of only two natural gas retailers in Tasmania, the other being Aurora Energy.
Known as Tas Gas until 2023, Solstice is privately-owned, launching in 2003 after the state government introduced Full Retail Competition in the Tasmanian gas market. The company claims to hold 65 per cent of the Tasmanian gas retail market, making it the state’s largest natural gas retailer. Tas Gas Networks is also the only gas distributor, owning and operating 800km of gas pipeline, giving over 50,000 homes and businesses access to the natural gas. In this article, Canstar Blue reviews Solstice Energy’s services, rates and products.
Solstice Energy electricity rates
Solstice Energy expanded to sell electricity in the Tasmanian market in July 2024. Solstice offers competitive electricity prices, including usage rates lower than the regulated price and a higher solar feed-in tariff.
| Tariff | Tariff Type | Supply Charge | Usage Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tariff 31 | Light power | 121.50¢/day | 28.16¢/kWh |
| Tariff 41 | Heating and hot water | 22.65¢/day | 18.28¢/kWh |
| Tariff 61 | Controlled Load 1 | 28.00¢/day | 14.72¢/kWh |
| Tariff 63 | Controlled Load 2 | 26.76¢/day | 13.86¢/kWh |
| Tariff 93 | Time of use | 134.98¢/day | Peak: 34.04¢/kWh
Off-peak: 15.85¢/kWh |
Prices as of October 2024. Visit Solstice Energy for more details.
Solstice Energy solar feed-in tariffs
As of July 2024, the minimum solar feed-in tariff rate in Tasmania is 8.935c/kWh. However, Solstice Energy currently offers a rate of 10c/kWh to residential electricity customers.
Solstice Energy gas rates
Solstice offers straightforward rates to residential natural gas customers in Tasmania.
| Customer Type | Daily Supply Charge | Usage Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | 64.50¢/day | 4.854¢/MJ |
Prices as of October 2024. Visit Solstice Energy for more details.
Solstice Energy billing
Solstice Energy has a full suite of standard billing options, as well as some flexible payment options to make budgeting easier.
Solstice Energy payment methods
- Direct debit: Customers can set up direct debit to have Solstice Energy automatically deduct their bill from a designated account. Payments can be set up monthly or fortnightly.
- BPAY: Use the Biller code on your gas bill to pay your gas bill quickly and easily with BPAY.
- Credit card: Pay using your credit card either online or over the phone. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
- Pay by mail: If you’re feeling old fashioned, you can mail a cheque or money order to the Solstice address in Launceston.
- Pay in person: Pay over the counter at an Australia post office or agency. You can use cash, cheque or EFTPOS.
Payment options
- Bill smoothing: Pay off the same amount weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The payment size can be set up to reflect your estimated gas usage to ensure payments are within your budget. Solstice Energy will review the account once a year or at the request of the customer. Solstice will credit or charge you the difference you’ve paid too much or not enough.
- Centrepay: Customers receiving Centrelink can opt to have some of their government payment directed to Solstice, hopefully making the gas bill more manageable when it rolls around.
- Short term payment plans: If you can’t afford to pay off your gas bill in one payment, Solstice can work with you to organise a repayment plan where you can pay in smaller instalments.
- Bill payment extensions: If you just need a little more time to pay your bill, contact Solstice Energy online and they may grant a 10 day extension.
Can I connect to natural gas?
Tas Gas Networks is the sole gas distributor in Tasmania. While pipelines run throughout the state, the mains gas network is limited to five hubs in the most populated parts of the state. Therefore, natural gas is only available to homes and businesses in the following locations:
- Hobart
- Launceston
- Devonport
- Spreyton
- Burnie & Wynard
Keep in mind there’s no guarantee gas connects to your street, even if you live in one of these suburbs. Use the Tas Gas pipeline locator to see if your property has access to mains natural gas.
Is Solstice Energy right for me?
Tasmanians have a fairly limited choice of natural gas retailer – Aurora Energy or Solstice Energy. While Aurora Energy has similar rates and its customers can benefit from the convenience of bundling their electricity and gas, Solstice customers have access to a slew of substantial rebates. For this reason, Solstice might seem the obvious choice for anyone looking to install a new major gas appliance. Otherwise, it really just comes down to personal preference.
As for electricity, Solstice’s recent entry into the market gives Tasmanians slightly more choice when it comes to their home energy. Solstice’s competitive usage rates and higher-than-regulated solar feed-in tariff may be enticing for customers looking to cut their energy costs – but as always, households should compare options before making a decision.
About the author of this page
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, including how to find the best deal for your family. She loves to highlight the next best deals, while also flagging the things you need to be aware of.