The internet is a weird place, and if it’s not something you grew up with, navigating it can be tricky. And while most of us are around the concept of online shopping, what many may not know is that nowadays, you can even put an energy plan in your virtual shopping cart. We’ve rounded up some of Australia’s online-only energy providers and deals, and explain what you need to know about this relatively new way of purchasing power. As you’ll see, choosing an ‘online-only’ energy plan could be the key to getting the best deal you can. What do we mean by online-only?
What do we mean by online-only?
The definition of online-only varies between electricity retailers. For some, it means they strictly conduct customer service over the internet and through personalised apps, while for others it means they simply favour this business model because it’s cheaper not to operate a physical call centre (or at least, a limited one). Some providers listed below also offer different plans to their dial-up customers, though in most cases, the online sign-up plans hold better value. We’ve provided descriptions below of what to expect from each retailer.
Online-only energy plans
Here’s a list of power providers in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia that are either online-only, or offer a product only available through their website.
- Energy Locals
- Momentum Energy
- OVO Energy
- Nectr
Energy Locals
Energy Locals may operate in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, though it is still a relatively small, lesser-known energy provider. It has a deal called the Online Member, which is only available through its website. Customers are given access to wholesale electricity prices, though this comes at the expense of a small monthly membership fee. This plan requires retailers to self-service and manage their power accounts through the web.
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.
OVO Energy
Following a slew of retailers favouring the online-only business model, OVO Energy has emerged with an online-only business model with a distinct twist. Much like the other online deals, customers will sign-up online, pay by direct debit and receive monthly bills via email. OVO’s offer comes with non-negotiable bill smoothing. This means your retailer estimates how much energy you’ll use that year and what that’ll cost, splitting that down into equal monthly payments. What’s unique about OVO is that it rewards accounts that are in credit by paying a 3% interest on that balance.
Here are the OVO 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.
Here are the OVO 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.
Here are the OVO Energy plans on our database for SEQ. 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 OVO 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.
Nectr
Nectr is an emerging retailer with a “100% digital” focus, so signing up, account management and payment is all done online. That’s not to say this energy company doesn’t have a phone line, it simply means that this company’s efforts are likely to translate into bettering their online service, rather than dial-in. Nectr is currently servicing NSW, VIC, SEQ, SA and the ACT. Customers who are interested in Nectr should also know that this retailer bills monthly.
Here are the Nectr 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.
Here are the Nectr 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.
Here are the Nectr 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.
Here are the Nectr Energy plans on our database for SA. These are products from a referral partner†. 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.
Momentum Energy
Aussie-owned retailer, Momentum Energy, offers a product which is only available to those who sign up online. Nothing Fancy, is the retailer’s low-cost, no frills option in each state it services and rewards customers with cheaper rates in exchange for direct debit payments and signing up online. To be eligible, customers will also have to agree to e-billing and e-communications with the retailer.
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Here are the Momentum Energy 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 Momentum Energy plans on our database for VIC. 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 Momentum Energy 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 Momentum Energy plans on our database for SA. 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. |
Sumo
Sumo also offers some products that require online sign up. The retailer’s Sumo Assure and Sumo Assure Advantage plans are only available to those who sign up online. Additionally, customers on these offers will also need to agree to direct debit payments and e-communications. This is available on respective offers in NSW, VIC and QLD.
Here are the Sumo plans on our database for NSW. 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 Sumo plans on our database for VIC. 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 Sumo plans on our database for QLD. 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 Sumo plans on our database for South Australia. 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.
Plans with online sign-up benefits
While the plans listed above are typically only available when signing up on a retailer’s website, there are a handful of energy deals that although available to customers signing up through call centres, carry extra benefits to those signing up online. Some retailers that offer online sign-up credits from time to time include:
Providers that favour online service to phone
For some other electricity retailers, whilst it’s not essential for customers to sign-up online, they still operate through a heavy web-based focus. Some of the providers below may have websites designed for easy online account management, while others may have specific apps developed from which to monitor power usage. Follow the links for more information.
Something to note
No matter how much an energy company talks about its online-only business model and that all communications must be handled online, industry regulations mean that all energy companies must maintain an active phone line. Some are better at hiding their phone number than others! In some cases, you may find no one answers the phone, but you’re instead invited to leave a message.
Can I trust an online energy deal?
With so much distrust of the internet, we understand that it may be scary to just input your credit card details into a site you’ve never heard of. For that reason, it’s best to take precaution and do your research before signing up to anything. If that provider is listed in our comparison tool, for instance, you can rest assured that it’s a credible company that has undergone validation checks.
With everything from life insurance to getting a home loan able to be done online nowadays, it certainly puts into perspective how regular web-based life admin can be. If you can get a better deal online than what you’re offered over the phone, there’s no real reason not to dive right in – just make sure you’re reading the fine print.
Image credits: Krisana Antharith/shutterstock.com, Pranch/shutterstock.com
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