In this Canstar Blue guide, we reveal the smaller energy providers that should be on your radar this year. We also share some pricing and plan information.
If you’ve just moved into your new place and need to get the lights on in a hurry, it’s understandable that you might turn to one of Australia’s ‘big three’ energy providers. After all, if you stop someone in the street and ask them to name an energy company, chances are they’ll come up with Origin, AGL, or EnergyAustralia, so many of us turn to these providers as a safe pair of hands. But if you’re willing to dig a little deeper into Australia’s competitive electricity market, you’ll find several smaller players equally worthy of consideration. They might even offer you a better deal.
By way of a guide, we’ve listed a few smaller energy providers currently offering some of the most interesting models and/or some of the cheapest power deals around. This is not an endorsement of these providers per se, but a list to get you started. Keep in mind however that, as smaller players, these companies may not operate in every state or region.
Click on each company below to skip ahead:
GloBird Energy
With a name like GloBird Energy, there’s no wonder why Aussies are flocking to this smaller power provider. GloBird Energy has a few market offers across each state, most of which have conditional discounts for customers who sign up to direct debit billing, as well as those who pay their bills on time. So long as customers meet the conditions of each plan’s discounts, GloBird Energy could be a viable alternative to the ‘big three’.
GloBird Energy prices
Here are the GloBird 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 GloBird Energy plans on our database for VIC. 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 GloBird Energy plans on our database for 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 GloBird Energy plans on our database for SA. 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.
OVO Energy
A massive brand in the UK, OVO Energy is trying its luck in Australia, bringing a different approach of billing to our shores. By default, customers who sign up to one of OVO’s market offers agree to bill smoothing, which essentially means that customers pay the same amount for electricity every month. In addition, OVO Energy offers GreenPower add-on options for customers interested in supporting renewable energy generation in Australia. Please note however, that this option comes at a small additional cost.
OVO Energy prices
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.
Energy Locals
Energy Locals is another fresh entrant to the market that’s making waves across New South Wales, Victoria, south-east Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. In its product offerings, Energy Locals’ main schtick are plans that which give customers access to wholesale electricity prices at the expense of a monthly membership fee. Another plus for Energy Locals is its reasonable solar feed-in tariffs.
Energy Locals prices
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.
Nectr
Nectr, with its competitive rates and support of renewable energy technologies, is giving the big companies a run for their money. Operating in New South Wales, Victoria, South East Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, Nectr offers simple, competitive power deals without any confusing discounts. It also includes carbon offset options across its flagship product, with a secondary product focused on GreenPower contributions available in some locations.
Nectr prices
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.
Should you go with a small energy company?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this, but there are some things worth considering:
- Choosing a small (and new) energy company can be a leap into the unknown given that it may be harder to find many online reviews about.
- The bigger energy providers are likely to offer more comprehensive customer service, such as having a 24-hour call centre and online chat support at any time. Some small providers may only talk to you via online chat or at certain times of the day.
- The bigger companies are more likely to offer additional perks that make paying your energy bills a bit easier to stomach. This might include helpful apps, loyalty points, or benefits from the retailer’s partnerships with other service providers.
What are some other small energy providers in Australia?
As we mentioned, there are many more options out there than just the four listed above. Here’s a longer list of smaller energy providers currently accepting new customers across Australia.
Depending on your location, you can compare prices from these providers and more by following the link below.
Original reporting by Jared Mullane
Image Source: patpitchava/Shutterstock
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