Author: Compare Club
Here’s our list of the top 10 energy companies, based on customer service, prices, and more. Compare plans and start saving today.
Electricity and gas for your home should be easy and affordable. Whether you’re moving or are simply after a better deal, Compare Club will compare Australia’s top energy providers and help you cut your energy bills. Over 1 million Australians worked with Compare Club to lower their household expenses last year, so you know you’re in good hands.
But how do Australia’s leading energy providers stack up? Here’s our guide to Australia’s top 10 energy companies based on company size, benefits, price and more.
Key Points
The best way to save money on your electricity bill is by comparing energy plans and making the most of the current offers.
Working with Compare Club’s experts is a quick and hassle-free way for you to find out about better deals.
Energy companies update their special offers all the time, so it pays to talk through your options with an expert.
Choosing the best energy provider depends on what you’re looking for.
Read on to learn more about the top 10 leading energy companies in Australia:
SUMO
Sumo Power is Australian owned and operated, with a good reputation for customer service. They also provide internet, so it may be an attractive option for people who like to bundle their services. Choose from three residential plans and seven small business plans, based on where you live or work.
They don’t currently have a rewards program.
Key Points:
Excellent customer service rating through Trustpilot reviews
Australian owned and operated
The ability to bundle internet with your energy
Sumo Energy at the time of writing offers electricity and gas plans in NSW and Victoria.
Electricity only plans are offered in Queensland. There are currently no plans available in the ACT, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory.
SUMO is on Compare Club’s panel.
Nectr
Nectr is an Australian energy retailer offering Solar, Battery, and Solar + Battery energy bundles with no upfront costs, making your move to renewable energy more affordable. Award winning, Nectr is a finalist in the industry’s 2022 Customer Satisfaction Awards Energy for best rated electricity provider in NSW and QLD.
Nectr is currently ranked among the top 10 greenest energy retailers in Australia, according to the nation’s Green Electricity Guide.
Key Points:
Nectr supplies electricity to SE Qld, VIC, NSW and the ACT.
Certified carbon neutral.
Customers can purchase solar, solar + battery or battery plans bundled with affordable and exclusive electricity rates.
Less than 1% of customers lodged complaints in 2022.
Nectr is on Compare Club’s panel.
EnergyAustralia
EnergyAustralia is one of the largest energy retailers in Australia, providing electricity and gas to more than 1.7 million residential and small business customers in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and South Australia. According to the Australian Energy Regulator, Energy Australia answered 66% of its calls in 30 seconds or less. Customers can earn Virgin Velocity Points as well as purchase carbon offsets.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Queensland.
Not Australian owned.
Rated average by the AER for answering customer calls.
2% of customers complained in 2022.
EnergyAustralia is on Compare Club’s panel.
AGL
Founded in 1837, AGL is one of Australia’s oldest companies, today servicing over 4.5 million customers. Customers can link their account with Flybuys, as well as use an energy reporting tool that closely tracks energy usage. The company also offers carbon offsets.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland.
Partially Australian owned.
Rated average by the AER for answering customer calls.
2% of customers complained in 2022.
Origin Energy
Origin Energy was established in 2000 and today has over 4.2 million electricity customers. They sell electricity as well as natural gas in Australia. Origin is also involved in exploration operations for natural gas and solar panel installation. Origin has recently committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2032. Customers have access to the Origin App, which lets you see your daily power usage, pay bills and more.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Queensland.
Partially Australian owned.
Rated average by the AER for answering customer calls.
1% of customers complained in 2020/21.
1stEnergy
1st Energy was established in 2014 and currently has almost 40,000 customers. The head office is in Melbourne, and the call centre is in Brisbane. It’s partly Australian owned. The company doesn’t own or operate any coal, gas, solar or wind energy. 1stEnergy was the first retailer to enter the Tasmanian energy market.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland.
Australian based, and partly Aussie-owned.
One of the smaller energy retailers.
2.6% of customers complained in 2022.
1stEnergy is on Compare Club’s panel.
Dodo
Not everyone knows that Dodo retails energy services as well as broadband and mobile phones. Dodo Power & Gas serve around 100,000 customers across the country, which is about 1% of Australia’s energy consumer base. Dodo is the trading name of Vocus Energy Group. While there are offices based in Melbourne, the call centres are located in Manila, the Philippines.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland.
Partly Australian owned.
Rated good by the AER for answering customer calls.
2.6% of customers complained in 2022.
Dodo is on Compare Club’s panel.
Energy Locals
Energy Locals is not a huge player, only offering electricity to over 46,000 households in 2022, or just under 0.49% of Australia’s residential energy consumers, according to 2021–22 figures. It claims to offer carbon offsets, solar feed in tariffs and smart meter installations. Energy Locals is one of the few energy retailers still offering a fixed fee structure that claims to give you the cheapest usage rates.
Key Points:
States available: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, ACT and Tasmania.
An Australian owned retailer, Energy Locals has headquarters and call centres in Victoria.
Rated average by the AER for answering customer calls.
1% of customers complained in 2022, and this number appears to be rising.
Energy Locals is on Compare Club’s panel.
ActewAGL
ActewAGL was formed in 2000 when AGL and Icon Water came together in the country’s first utility joint venture. It’s a sister company to AGL (above). The company supplies over 170,000 customers with electricity in the ACT, as well as providing gas to some regional parts of NSW. They answer 62% of customer calls within 30 seconds. ActewAGL offers customers carbon offsets, as well as comprehensive energy efficiency products. Their ‘EvenPay’ service lets members even out the cost of their energy bills with set, regular payments.
Key Points:
States available: ACT, New South Wales.
Partially Australian owned.
Rated average by the AER for answering customer calls.
1% of customers complained in 2022.
ActewAGL is on our panel.
OVO
OVO Energy was founded in the UK in 2009 but only established an Australian presence in 2019. Though its operations are still run via the Bristol headquarters in the UK, OVO has a local call centre in Melbourne.
OVO offers renewable energy services and 10% GreenPower energy by default. Customers can choose to upgrade to 100% GreenPower as well. There are also benefits for electric vehicle drivers called OVO Drive, which includes savings of $0.05/kWh off your power bill standard rate when you charge their car between 00:00 and 05:00.
OVO also predicts your annual energy usage then divides this by 12 so you pay the same rate every month by default (a process called bill smoothing). If this leads to your account being in credit, then OVO will pay 3% interest on the balance.
Key Points:
States available: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia
Foreign owned.
Rated good by the AER for answering customer calls.
1.7% of customers complained in 2022.
OVO Energy is on Compare Club’s panel.
FAQs
How can I get the cheapest price on my energy?
First, get out your latest energy bill and have a look at your supply and usage charges. This will be your baseline cost to compare with. Next, use Compare Club to compare energy prices from the top energy companies in Australia. They’ll help you find the best deal available.
Which energy companies are Australian-owned?
Here’s a list of all Australian-owned energy companies:
Amber Electric
Aurora Energy
Bright Spark Power
CovaU
Discover Energy
Elysian Energy
Ergon Energy
Energy Locals
Future X Power
LPE
People Energy
Pooled Energy
Powershop (Australian and New Zealand-owned)
QEnergy
Synergy
1st Energy
How many electricity providers are there in Australia?
There are 114 electricity providers in Australia. Not all providers are available in all states, so it pays to check before you buy.
What red flags should I look out for with energy providers?
Look out for these red flags:
Poor customer service (long waiting time or poorly trained staff).
A large number of complaints to the energy regulator.
Bad reviews online.
Unexpected rise in billing amounts.
Mistakes on your bill, such as an incorrect meter number.
If you’re having trouble with your energy provider, you can contact the energy ombudsman scheme in your area. Find out more here.
If you want to switch energy providers, Compare Club can help you compare companies and find a better price.
What is the difference between a tier 1 and tier 2 energy retailer?
Tier 1 retailers hold more than a 10% market share in the network region. Tier 1 retailers include Origin Energy, AGL and EnergyAustralia.
Tier 2 retailers are the remaining retailers who hold less than 10% market share in a network region.
They are typically privately-owned retailers like 1st Energy.
What’s the best energy company?
This really depends on what state you live in, your household’s particular energy usage needs, and what you value. It’s best to compare your options from multiple retailers, particularly as the industry continues to evolve and new offers enter the market. Don’t forget, being larger in size doesn’t automatically mean the ‘best’ or cheapest deals.
Find the best energy deals in your state in Compare Club’s state guides below:
This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.
References Green Electricity Guide Ratings 2021. Australian Energy Regulator, Annual Retail Markets Report, 2020-21, November 2021. Powershop, Carbon Neutral Certification, November 2021. Canstar, Which energy companies are Australian owned, November 2021.
