A report by Australia’s energy regulator has revealed that households in New South Wales are the most likely to stick with the ‘big three’ power companies, despite a number of new providers entering the fray to take the total number available in the Sydney area to 20+.
Almost 80 per cent of residential customers across NSW are still connected with either Origin, AGL or EnergyAustralia, way above the number in Victoria (54.09%), south-east Queensland (50.7%) and South Australia (72.2%), the report found.
With this in mind, we explore which electricity and gas providers are the biggest in terms of market share in NSW, as well as helpful information about how to find a good deal.
On this page:
- Who are the largest energy providers in NSW?
- Why are energy customers in NSW loyal to the big three?
- Biggest energy providers by market share in NSW
- How many NSW customers are on market offers?
- Compare Electricity Prices in NSW
- Who are the biggest gas suppliers in NSW?
- What about small business energy in NSW?
- Is bigger better in NSW?
Who are the largest energy providers in NSW?
Also known as the ‘big three’, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia and AGL are the biggest electricity retailers in New South Wales. In fact, these three combined make up almost 80 per cent of the NSW retail electricity market, meaning over 2.6 million residential customers are still connected to the big three providers.
Origin Energy
Origin Energy is not only the largest residential electricity retailer in NSW, it’s also the biggest in Australia. There are close to one million Origin customers in NSW, representing nearly a third of the state’s market. It generally has four or five plans to choose from, each of which cater to a variety of different households.
Origin Energy Prices NSW
Here are the Origin Energy 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.
Origin Energy Prices VIC
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 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.
Origin Energy Prices QLD
Here are the Origin Energy 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.
Origin Energy Prices SA
Here are the Origin Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power 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.
EnergyAustralia
The second largest electricity provider in NSW is EnergyAustralia, spanning a residential portfolio of more than 847,000 customers. Like Origin, EnergyAustralia makes up a significant chunk of the NSW market, or 25.2 per cent to be specific. The power company generally offers three variable rate plans.
Here are the EnergyAustralia plans on our database for NSW. These are products from referral partners†. 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 EnergyAustralia plans on our database for Victoria. These are products from referral partners†. 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 EnergyAustralia plans on our database for SE QLD. These are products from referral partners†. 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 EnergyAustralia plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power 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.
AGL
AGL is the third biggest electricity provider in NSW, commanding a sizeable customer base in excess of 807,000. This means that AGL currently retails electricity to 24 per cent of the local residential market. AGL usually has two or three market offers available to NSW customers, including a solar-specific plan.
Here are the AGL Energy 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 3,900kWh/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 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 4,000kWh/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 AGL Energy plans on our database for SE QLD. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the Energex energy network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4,600kWh/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 AGL Energy plans on our database for South Australia. These are products from a referral partner†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4,000kWh/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.
Why are energy customers in NSW loyal to the big three?
In our latest review of NSW energy providers, we asked more than 2,300 NSW energy customers a series of questions to better understand how and why they landed on their provider. Here’s what we found:
- 27% chose a provider based on brand recognition
- 43% believe they’re getting a good energy deal
- 22% stated they have a good understanding of the NSW energy market
- 12% would like to switch providers in the near future
Biggest energy providers by market share in NSW
Here is a list of electricity retailers and their residential market share in NSW:
- Origin: 29.0%
- EnergyAustralia: 25.2%
- AGL: 24%
- Red Energy: 8.6%
- Alinta Energy: 3.2%
- Simply Energy: 1.9%
- Powershop: 1.1%
- Dodo: 1%
- ActewAGL: 0.9%
- Energy Locals: 0.7%
- Momentum Energy: 0.7%
- Powerdirect*: 0.5%
- Sumo: 0.4%
- GloBird Energy: 0.3%
- Nectr: 0.3%
- Tango Energy: 0.3%
- 1st Energy: 0.2%
- CovaU: 0.2%
- Mojo Power: 0.2%
- Diamond Energy: 0.1%
- QEnergy: 0.1%
- ReAmped Energy: 0.1%
The above figures have been sourced from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Retail Energy Market Performance Update for Quarter 4, 2021-22.
How many NSW customers are on market offers?
According to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), 90.3 per cent of electricity customers in New South Wales are currently on a market contract. While it’s encouraging to see more NSW residents actively pursuing the best offers in their area, there are still about one in ten who are likely on a less competitive plan.
Compare Electricity Prices in NSW
How do the big three providers in NSW stack up against the rest in terms of price? Please note that the below prices are based on a set of specific assumptions. Use our comparison tool for an accurate quote in your area.
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†. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Who are the biggest gas suppliers in NSW?
It’s a similar story for natural gas in NSW, with the residential market dominated again by the big three. This time though, it’s AGL out on top with 40.7 per cent of residential customers, EnergyAustralia with 25 per cent and Origin Energy with 19.8 per cent of the market. Following behind these gas suppliers are Red Energy (5.6%), Alinta Energy (2.9%) and Simply Energy (2.1%).
What about small business energy in NSW?
Unsurprisingly, Origin is the largest small business energy provider in NSW, claiming 32.2 per cent of the electricity market and 50.9 per cent for natural gas. AGL and EnergyAustralia are the next biggest, also holding substantial amounts of the small business electricity and gas markets.
Is bigger better in NSW?
With a clear majority of New South Welshmen and women remaining loyal to the big guys, is it a simple case of bigger is better? For many customers, Origin, AGL and EnergyAustralia may offer a safe bet, but for others less likely to gravitate towards a recognisable brand, there could be more suitable deals out there from companies you’ve never heard of.
The big providers can certainly do you a good deal, as long as you’re on one of their cheapest market offers. However, it’s rare to find the big three represented when it comes to the absolute cheapest prices around. That said, you may be willing to spend a little more for the apparent comfort of going with a well-known name
Regardless of which energy provider you choose, remember that the electricity and natural gas in your area comes from the same distribution network. This means that your energy supply will not be compromised if you go with a smaller company. You may, however, find a difference in the level of service provided or other value-add incentives, like bill credits and discounts. This is where our free comparison tool below can help.
Image credits: Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com, Schwabenblitz/Shutterstock.com, stoatphoto/Shutterstock.com
Original Author: Jared Mullane
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