Best-Rated Gas Suppliers SA

Most Satisfied Customers | Simply Energy

ENGIE (formerly known as Simply Energy) has taken out the top spot in our SA gas supplier ratings for the third year in a row. The retailer scored five-stars for overall satisfaction, bill and cost clarity and customer service, coming out ahead of the other three providers in the state.

How we rate SA natural gas providers

We’ve surveyed 503 bill-paying customers across Adelaide and the surrounding areas to find out what they think about their gas supplier in respect to the customer service, bill and cost clarity and value for money. Keep in mind, while this report looks at four of the most prominent retailers in South Australia, there may be others operating in your area.

How many Australians do we survey for our ratings?

Canstar Blue surveyed 503 South Australian households for their feedback on their natural gas retailer. Respondents had to live in SA, have a gas account and pay the bills for their response to be eligible.

• The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

What criteria are used to rate SA natural gas providers?

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their natural gas provider from zero to 10, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and 10 is extremely satisfied. Provider satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

• Overall satisfaction: measured consumer satisfaction with a natural gas provider as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
• Value for money: cost was low for the quality and effectiveness of the natural gas provider.
• Customer service: the natural gas provider had multiple service points for customers, e.g. telephone, email, online chat.
• Bill and cost clarity: the natural gas provider had an easy-to-understand bill.
• Online tools and advice: the natural gas provider had an app or online account to monitor energy usage, pay bills and manage account information.
• Ease of sign-up: the natural gas provider had a simple sign-up process.

How do we determine the winner?

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

• Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
• When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
  • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Which natural gas providers do we rate?

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

Best SA Natural Gas Providers:

1. ENGIE (Simply Energy)
2. EnergyAustralia
3. Origin Energy
4. AGL

ENGIE – previously known as Simply Energy – has been crowned SA’s top gas provider for a third year in a row, coming out ahead of the state’s ‘big three’ retailers. ENGIE/Simply Energy received five stars for overall satisfaction, with EnergyAustralia not far behind on four stars. Origin Energy and AGL received three stars for overall satisfaction.

Find more detailed information on our ratings methodology.

*Overall satisfaction is an individual rating and not a combined total of all ratings. Brands with equal overall satisfaction ratings are sorted by the mean overall satisfaction score as rated by consumers. Canstar Blue research finalised in December 2023 and published in February 2024.

1. ENGIE (Simply Energy)

Ratings result

ENGIE received five stars for overall satisfaction, bill and cost clarity and customer service this year. It earned four stars for value for money and three stars for ease of sign-up and online tools and advice.

Editor’s notes

ENGIE’s gas plans in South Australia come with variable rates and no lock-in contracts. ENGIE may offer bill credits for combining electricity with gas when you join, however this may not be available at all times. Additional discounts for RAA customers may also be available on occasion.

2. EnergyAustralia

Ratings result

In our latest SA gas review, EnergyAustralia has received four stars for overall satisfaction, bill and cost clarity, customer service and ease of sign-up. It received three stars for value for money and online tools and advice.

Editor’s notes

As one of the biggest electricity and gas companies in the country, you would expect EnergyAustralia to have plenty of offers for South Australians – and you’d be right. Guaranteed discounts are the order of the day, with personal preferences definitely coming into the decision-making process. The retailer a small range of gas plans on offer, one which allows customers to lock in their rates for 12 months and another that offers a big discount. It also has a ‘basic’ deal on an ongoing benefit period for those interested in a no-fuss option. This plan however, does come with slightly higher rates than the others.

3. Origin Energy

Ratings result

Origin Energy received four stars for bill and cost clarity and ease of sign-up. It earned three-star ratings for overall satisfaction, value for money, customer service and online tools and advice.

Editor’s notes

Energy giant Origin has three gas market offers for South Australians: Go Variable, Everyday Rewards Variable and Origin Basic. These products all come with benefit periods of either 12 months or ongoing, depending on the plan. There are no exit fees with Origin’s plans nor are there any lock-in contracts.

4. AGL

Ratings result

Rounding out our SA gas ratings this year, AGL received five stars for bill and cost clarity, customer service and ease of sign-up. It received four stars for online tools and advice and three stars for overall satisfaction and value for money.

Editor’s notes

AGL’s plans have no exit fees or lock-in contracts, but it should be noted the retailer has a habit of changing its plans fairly often, so keep an eye out for product changes and online sign-up credits, which may be available at certain times. You’ll also gain access to AGL Rewards when signing up to a gas plan.

How to get a better deal on gas in SA

Customers connected to the gas distribution network can access one of two types of contracts with their gas supplier – standard contracts and market contracts. Understanding the difference is the first step to saving money.

• Standard contracts have prices set by the retailers, but they have various conditions still set out in law, including the fact that they have no contract period or exit fees.
• Market contracts are set almost entirely by the retailers. They have varying contract lengths and conditions, but often provide the opportunity to save through discounts.

Market contracts will almost always work out cheaper than standard contracts, provided you meet the conditions of any discounts. Market contracts can come with either variable or fixed rates. If you haven’t switched plans in recent years, you will likely save money by switching to a new offer with a discount or other sign-up incentive. Ultimately though, you will need to get to know usage and supply charges and compare rates between different suppliers. If you think you’re paying too much for gas, you probably are. It’s the same deal when it comes to electricity, so make sure you shop around.

Compare gas plans

Meet our energy experts

Tara Donnelly: Utilities Editor

As Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, Tara Donnelly covers the electricity, internet and mobile sectors – topics she’s spent a decade focused on, alongside consumer technology, within the comparison industry. Her telco expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald. 

Meet the Editorial Team

Samantha Mauro-Todd: Consumer Research Specialist

Samantha Mauro-Todd is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and two years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

Meet the Research Team

FAQs about SA natural gas providers

How many natural gas providers operate in SA?

Keep in mind there are several gas companies operating in South Australia. While the four in our review can generally be considered the most prominent, retailers including Alinta Energy, Lumo Energy and Red Energy also sell natural gas across SA. However, the vast majority of households remain connected with one of the big three. Here is a list of gas suppliers currently offering plans in South Australia according to our database:

• AGL
• Alinta Energy
• CovaU
• EnergyAustralia
• ENGIE
• GloBird Energy
• Lumo Energy
• Origin Energy
• Red Energy

Keep in mind, other retailers may be added to this list in the near future.

What is the gas distributor in SA?

In South Australia, the gas distributor is Australian Gas Networks (formerly Envestra). This is the company you will need to contact in the event of a gas leak or other emergencies. If you’re worried about signing up with a small gas supplier, remember these companies are simply the customer-facing part of your overall service. They handle your billing and general enquiries, but it’s the gas distributors that are actually responsible for your supply.

Households who can’t access the natural gas distribution network can purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) instead.

How is gas charged in SA?

Natural gas is charged per megajoule (MJ) – the unit of measurement for gas. The exact price you’ll pay for gas in SA depends on a number of factors, including your gas retailer, plan and tariff. In SA, gas retailers charge for gas in ‘blocks’ of daily usage. For example, you might pay 4.2c per MJ for the first block of 30MJ, followed by 2.2 cents per MJ for all remaining usage. It’s important to check your energy plan information document for all rates. Some suppliers charge for gas in two daily blocks, while others charge in multiple increments.

In addition to these gas usage charges, also pay close attention to the daily supply charges in your price fact sheet. These are the costs you’ll need to pay simply for the pleasure of being connected to the gas network. These can add a significant amount to your overall bill – up to $1 a day in some cases. It’s entirely possible that gas supply charges could contribute a higher proportion of your overall costs than gas usage charges, especially if you don’t use gas for hot water heating. So, be sure to check all the rates listed before making a decision.

What should I look for when picking a gas provider in SA?

There are lots of things to think about when it comes to picking a gas supplier for your home. We asked respondents to our survey in 2023 about their main reasons for picking their gas supplier. This is what we found:

• 31% wanted the same brand for both electricity and gas supply
• 26% shopped around and compared plans and prices
• 20% were attracted by a big discount
• 16% went with a retailer name they recognised
• 8% were attracted by a different sign-up incentive (e.g. movie tickets)

Just over a quarter of gas customers in SA (27%) signed up to their supplier over the phone and one-fifth (20%) did so online. This year, we found that 37% of South Australians think they get a good deal on gas.

Past ratings

Which brands have previously won Canstar Blue’s Customer Satisfaction Award?

Here are the previous winners of Canstar Blue’s Natural Gas Suppliers – SA Customer Satisfaction Award:

• 2022: Simply Energy
• 2021: Simply Energy
• 2020: Origin Energy
• 2019: EnergyAustralia
• 2018: EnergyAustralia
• 2017: Simply Energy
• 2015: Simply Energy
• 2014: Origin Energy
• 2013: Simply Energy
• 2012: Origin Energy
• 2011: TRUenergy