Key points
- In WA, electricity and gas prices are regulated in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) and metropolitan areas in Perth respectively.
- Only contestable electricity customers outside the SWIS or who consume more than 50mWh a year can choose their retailer.
- With the near-total deregulation of the gas retail market, the same may occur with the electricity retail market in the future.
Compared to other states and territories, the Western Australia energy market can be confusing. There’s a mountain of regulations regarding which retailers can supply gas and electricity in WA, as well as the energy options that are available to WA residents.
In this Canstar Blue guide, we look at electricity providers in WA, including electricity and gas providers in Perth and surrounding areas.
On this page:
- What energy networks operate in WA?
- Can I choose my electricity provider in WA?
- Electricity distributors in WA
- Electricity providers in WA
- WA and Perth electricity plans and prices
- Can I choose my gas provider in WA?
- Gas distributors in WA
- Gas providers in WA
- WA gas plans and prices
- Will the energy market in WA change?
- Frequently asked questions about WA electricity providers
What energy networks operate in WA?
There are five energy networks in Western Australia: the South West Interconnected System, South Region, North Region, Gascyone/Mid-West, and the North West Interconnected System.
Most customers on these networks will be restricted in their choice of energy supplier, except those on the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
The SWIS is operated by Western Power. It covers the most populated area of Western Australia, from the south-west coast to as far north as Kalbarri. Only customers on this network may have the option to select their electricity retailer.
Can I choose my electricity provider in WA?
Western Australian energy customers fall into two categories: contestable and non-contestable.
Contestable customers
Contestable customers within the SWIS can choose their preferred provider
Customers who reside outside the SWIS are automatically classified as contestable, but Horizon Power is typically the exclusive retailer in most regional areas.
A business using more than 50 MWh of electricity and operating within the SWIS is also considered contestable.
Non-contestable customers
Non-contestable within the SWIS cannot choose their provider, and by default, are supplied by Synergy.
As the average household only consumes around 6MWh per year, virtually all residential electricity customers and the majority of small business customers in the SWIS are non-contestable.
Customers are also non-contestable if they reside within the SWIS and use less than 50 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity each year.
Horizon Power is the only retailer that supplies electricity (both business and residential) in most regional areas outside of the SWIS area.
Electricity distributors in WA and Perth
Currently, there are two licensed distributors, both owned by the WA government:
- Western Power: licensed distributor responsible for building, maintenance, and operation of the electricity network within the SWIS, which includes Perth.
- Horizon Power: licensed distributor and retailer responsible for the generation, distribution, and selling of electricity outside the SWIS.
Electricity providers in WA
Contestable customers can choose from the providers listed below:
- AER Retail
- AGL Energy
- Alinta Energy
- Amanda Energy
- Change Energy
- Horizon Power
- Kleenheat
- Perth Energy
- Rottnest Island Authority
- Synergy (government-owned).
WA and Perth electricity plans and prices
Electricity prices are government-regulated for households and small businesses, as well as some large businesses. This means a government body sets the price for electricity and not the retailers.
The government has upheld a uniform tariff policy for many years, meaning electricity usage and supply charges are the same across the state, regardless of location.
While that’s good for regional customers where electricity is more expensive to supply, it pushes up the price of electricity for South-West customers.
Synergy electricity prices
The majority of non-contestable customers are connected by Synergy. The retailer offers three residential products: Home Plan, Midday Saver and Home Business Plan.
The Home Plan has a flat rate tariff, the Electric Vehicle Add On and Midday Saver have a time-of-use tariff, and the Home Business Plan has a block rate tariff. A dedicated EV charging tariff (Electric Vehicle Add On) is also available to eligible customers.
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| Product | Usage rate (incl. GST) | Supply charge (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Plan (A1) | – 31.5823c/per unit | 113.2200c/day |
| Electric Vehicle Add On | – Peak electricity charge: 52.5313c/unit – Super off peak electricity charge: 8.4050c/unit – Overnight electricity charge: 18.9113c/unit – Off peak electricity charge: 23.1138c/unit |
126.0750c/day |
| Midday Saver | – Off-peak rate: 23.1138c/unit – Peak rate: 52.5313c/unit – Super off-peak rate: 8.4050c/unit |
126.0750c/day |
| Home Business Plan (K1) | – First 20 units per day: 32.9933c/unit – Next 20 (1,650 units) per day: 31.0918c/unit – Over 1,650 units per day: 35.0549c/unit |
199.7900c/day |
Prices sourced from Synergy website, Feb 2025.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a smart meter to sign up for Synergy’s Midday Saver or Electric Vehicle Add On to track peak and off-peak consumption.
Business customers will need to contact Synergy directly to receive a quoted price. You can learn more about Synergy electricity tariffs and find the right option for your household here.
Horizon Power residential electricity prices
Horizon Power is the only choice of electricity retailer for the majority of Western Australians who live outside the SWIS. Horizon Power has three residential products:
- A2 – Standard residential
- K2 – Part residential & part business.
- Prepaid Power.
Horizon Power residential electricity prices
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| Product | Usage rate (incl. GST) | Supply charge (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| A2 – Residential Tariff | – 31.5823c/kWh | $1.1322/day |
| K2 – Combined Use Tariff | – First 20 kWh per day: 32.9933c/kWh – Next 21-1,650kWh per day: 31.0918c/kWh – Over 1,650kWh per day: 35.0549c/kWh |
$1.9979/day |
| Prepaid Power | – Contact Horizon Power for more details | Contact Horizon Power for more details |
Prices sourced from Horizon Power website, Feb 2025.
Customers on the Horizon Power network also have access to a Prepaid Power option. This allows households to pre-purchase their electricity through the Horizon Power app and keep track of usage.
Bill-payers can also share power costs with others in the household or even among other households with this option.
Attentive readers will notice that Synergy and Horizon Power rates are very similar. Again, that’s because Western Australian electricity prices are set by the government. The only difference between the two energy companies is that residential customers outside the SWIS network won’t have access to a time-of-use tariff (Midday Saver).
Horizon Power offers a range of business products with various rates and tariffs. As an example, a charitable organisation is charged lower rates than a small business, while a small business is charged lower rates than a large business. You can see Horizon Power’s business products on its website.
WA solar feed-in tariffs
The solar feed-in tariffs offered by Synergy and Horizon Power in WA are generally much lower than the maximum rates offered in other states and territories.
In WA, residential customers can export unused solar energy under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) if they have a solar system up to 5kW.
You can see the current minimum (off-peak) and maximum (peak) DEBS/feed-in tariff rates for most Synergy and Horizon Power customers below.
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Synergy | 2c (off-peak/shoulder times) | 10c (peak times) |
| Horizon Power | 3c – 16.80c (off-peak/shoulder times based on location) | 10c – 55.9c (peak times based on location) |
Source: Respective retailers, Feb 2025.
Can I choose my gas provider in WA?
The Western Australian retail gas market is fully contestable, meaning natural gas retailers are free to compete in an open gas market.
However, the maximum price of gas is regulated in some of the most populated areas of Western Australia, including:
- Geraldton and surrounding areas
- Carnamah
- Albany
- Perth metropolitan area extending north to Gingin and south to Busselton.
Gas prices are not regulated outside these areas, meaning gas retailers are free to set their usage rates. In addition, retailers may charge additional fees which aren’t regulated by the government.
Gas distributors in WA
ATCO Gas is the sole distributor owning and operating the Mid-West and South-West Gas Distribution Systems (GDS) network across Perth and regional areas such as Geraldton and Busselton.
More than 80% of the Perth metropolitan area is currently serviced by the ATCO network.
Gas providers in WA
There are plenty of natural gas retailers for businesses: however, only five retailers currently supply gas to homes. These are:
These gas companies are all licensed electricity providers in Perth and its greater metropolitan area. Alinta Energy also services the Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Albany areas. Perth Energy is authorised to sell gas in the Perth area but is yet to launch a residential service.
Customers who use more than 0.18 terajoules (TJ) of gas annually can also buy gas from Synergy.
WA gas plans and prices
The state government has a residential gas price cap for small customers in WA. While all gas companies set their prices near this price cap, each retailer provides value offers through conditional discounts (eg. bill credits) to customers who pay their bills on time or pay using direct debit.
If you’re a customer in Perth, you can compare plans on the ATCO network in the table below.
Here are some of the cheapest gas deals on our database for WA. These estimated annual costs are based on the ATCO Network in Perth and yearly gas usage of 7,672 (units), but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest estimated cost. This table contains products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Customers in Albany and Kalgoorlie-Boulder are charged for their gas on a flat rate tariff, meaning the same gas usage rate is charged regardless of the time or amount used.
Standard contract maximum prices – Albany
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| Usage rate | Supply charge |
|---|---|
| 20.34c/Unit | 27.96c/day |
Prices sourced from WA Government. Accurate as of Feb 2025.
Standard contract maximum prices – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
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| Usage rate | Supply charge |
|---|---|
| 16.63c/Unit | 58.26c/day |
Prices sourced from WA Government. Accurate as of Feb 2025.
Will the energy market in WA change?
With around half a dozen natural gas retailers now operating in Western Australia, the market has certainly begun to heat up. We’ve already seen this increased competition create a price war that’s led to incumbent gas retailers upping their game to provide better value for customers. But what about electricity?
As it stands, there have been talks to deregulate electricity prices to open up competition. However, nothing has been set in stone. It’s certainly a hot political topic in WA and the increase in gas retailers could be regarded as a sign that the state is gearing up for electricity competition. This might just be speculation at this point, but the signs all point toward electricity deregulation in the near future.
For now, if you’re a gas customer, then you need to take advantage of the state’s new-found competition. To find the best deal on gas, get started with Canstar Blue’s annual report on the best-rated gas suppliers in WA.
Frequently asked questions about WA electricity providers
Eligible customers in WA can claim several rebates and concessions, including:
- Household Electricity Credit
- Energy Concession Extension Scheme
- Energy Assistance Payment
- Dependent Child Rebate
- Air Conditioning Rebate.
More information is available in Canstar Blue’s guide to energy rebates and concessions in Australia.
Original reporting by Dean Heckscher
Image Source: Richie Chan/Shutterstock.com
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