Simply Energy review

Simply Energy provides power and gas to just under 400,000 customers around Australia. Here's what you need to know before deciding whether to switch to Simply Energy.

CHOICE staff

Last updated: 29 March 2022

Simply Energy was established in 2005 by international power company ENGIE, which operates in over 70 countries worldwide. It has its head office in Melbourne, Victoria, and provides electricity and gas to customers across Australia.

On this page:

Which states does Simply Energy supply?
CHOICE Expert rating on Simply Energy
CHOICE Verdict on Simply Energy
Simply Energy's energy sources

Simply Energy supplies electricity to NSW, Queensland, SA and Victoria, and natural gas to its customers in SA, Victoria, WA and NSW. Its call centre is in the Philippines.

ENGIE has divested all high-carbon generation facilities in the Asia Pacific region and operates wind and solar farms, and hydro plants. However, it also operates, and sources energy from, gas-fired plants.

Simply Energy also offers GreenPower offsets to its customers. It is carbon neutral for its product, certified by Climate Active.

Contact details for Simply Energy

simplyenergy.com.au

1800 005 114

Which states does Simply Energy supply?

CHOICE Expert rating on Simply Energy

CHOICE Verdict on Simply Energy

Environment

Parent company ENGIE owns and operates wind and solar farms, and hydro plants.
Simply Energy offers GreenPower carbon offsets, and is carbon neutral.
But it sources power from gas-fired power generators and buys energy from open market where coal still dominates.
It has not taken an active stance on strong climate policy, nor has it committed to ending coal use by 2030.
Simply's green energy score has dropped from 4 out of 10 stars in 2019-20, to 2.5 in 2020-21.
In Australia, ENGIE has divested all high-carbon power generation facilities.

Customer service

11,295 Simply Energy customers (2.8%) made complaints against the company in 2020-21. This is less than half the complaints lodged in 2019-20.
66% of calls are answered within 30 seconds.
The average wait time is 111 seconds when calling customer service, which has tripled since our 2019-20 survey.
5.1% of calls made to Simply Energy in 2019/20 were abandoned before being answered.
Simply Energy was fined $2.5 million in 2021 for switching customers to new contracts without their consent.

Simply Energy's energy sources

While the energy mix breakdown for Simply Energy was not readily available, its parent company ENGIE's power generation mix as of the end of 2018 is below.

Green Electricity score

This score is based on the company's Green Electricity Guide star rating.

Complaints score

This score is based on the number of complaints measured as a proportion against the number of customers. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

Call response score

This score is based on how likely the retailer is to answer a call within 30 seconds. The higher the percentage, the better. Data via the Australian Energy Regulator – updated annually.

July 2021 - Simply Energy hit with $2.5m fine after sales contractors allegedly impersonated customers in scam - An Australian energy company has been fined $2.5m after two external door-to-door sales agents allegedly used false names and made-up accents to switch customers to new contracts without their consent.

July 2021 - Hundreds caught up in alleged 'phoney accent' energy switch - Simply Energy has paid penalties totalling $2.5 million after two external door-to-door sales agents allegedly used phoney accents and fake names to switch hundreds of customers to new energy contracts without their consent.

October 2020 - Infrastructure Capital Group To Acquire A Majority Interest In Australian Renewable Energy Trust - Infrastructure Capital Group, a leading Australian infrastructure manager, with c.A$2.5bn of equity under management, is pleased to announce its Australian Renewables Income Fund ("ARIF") has agreed to acquire a 75% interest in the Australian Renewable Energy Trust ("ARET")

May - 2020 - The Media Store wins the Simply Energy account - Energy retailer Simply Energy has appointed independent media agency The Media Store as a new agency partner.

April 2020 - Coronavirus energy bill relief on its way to Australian households - Australians have one less bill to worry about this month as energy providers roll out new coronavirus support measures for customers facing hardship.

Feb 2020 - Simply Energy advances the digital enablement of their business - Simply Energy, the Australian retail arm of ENGIE group, has signed an agreement with Hansen Technologies to augment the energy retailer's existing platform.

November - Simply Energy, The Smith Family supporting disadvantaged SA youth - Simply Energy is giving back in South Australia - one of its "stronghold states" - through ongoing support of The Smith Family's Learning for Life program.

October - Pubs clinch state-wide renewable energy deal to cut electricity bills - A ground-breaking deal between a brewing giant and one of the world's biggest energy generators is poised to slash energy costs for up to 300 pubs across NSW.

April - Home solar energy trading platform coming near you after funding boost - An online marketplace designed to let households trade their excess solar power has received the backing of the government renewable energy agency.

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Stock images: Getty unless otherwise stated.

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