Energy plans lose their value over time, as the deal the retailer lured you in on lapses or your discount period ends. The best way to save money is often to switch from your current plan to a better value deal. And while that may sound like a lot of work, it doesn't have to be.
If you're prepared to switch, you have two main options.
On this page:
- Use a service to find the best deal and switch plans for you
- Switch electricity or gas providers yourself
Use a service to find the best deal and switch plans for you
Using a switching service is an option for you if you're in: New South Wales, South East Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania or Victoria.
Find a better energy deal with Bill Hero
CHOICE has partnered with energy switching service Bill Hero to help you save on electricity and gas and find the right plan for you.
Bill Hero meets CHOICE's standards for a consumer-friendly service: it doesn't take commissions from energy companies and it compares every publicly available deal.
Here's how Bill Hero works
- Choose between electricity or gas – $49 annual subscription, or electricity and gas – $79 annual subscription.
- There's a $50 savings guarantee for either electricity or gas, or $80 for both combined.
- Upload your bill and automatically compare the whole market.
- They offer $350 average savings for subscribers.
- They'll switch you again every time they find a better deal.
Find a better energy deal
Bill Hero helps you save on your energy bill.
Go to Bill HeroSwitch electricity or gas providers yourself
If you don't want to pay someone to complete your switch, there are state and federal government resources that help you do it for yourself. Your choice comes down to the state or territory you live in.
The federal government's Energy Made Easy service lets you compare all available energy plans, but you have to complete the switch yourself.
Australian Capital Territory
You have one option in the ACT: the federal government's Energy Made Easy service. It lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
New South Wales
You have one option in NSW. The federal government's Energy Made Easy service lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
Northern Territory
Your choice of electricity provider is restricted: most NT customers are supplied by government-owned Jacana Ltd.
South Australia
You have one option in SA: the federal government's Energy Made Easy service. It lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
South East Queensland
You have one option in South East Queensland: the federal government's Energy Made Easy service. It lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
The rest of Queensland doesn't have a broad selection of energy retailers, but you can still choose between a couple.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
Tasmania
You have one option in Tasmania: the federal government's Energy Made Easy service. It lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
Victorian Energy Compare lets you compare all your options in that state but you have to switch yourself.
Victoria
You have one option in Victoria: the state government's Victorian Energy Compare service. It lets you:
- compare all the available energy prices and plans in your area
- refine by contract term or payment option, or features like Green Power
- upload your most recent bill for more personalised results.
You need to complete the switch yourself.
Western Australia
Your choice of electricity provider is restricted: most Western Australian customers are supplied by Synergy.
Find a better energy deal
Bill Hero helps you to save on your energy bill.
Go to Bill HeroStock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
