Energy Providers NSW: The Energy Market in New South Wales
New South Wales, one of the states within the National Electricity Market, offers residents the ability to choose from a number of energy providers. Understanding the energy market in NSW, and knowing what you can do to make the smartest energy choices for your household, can help you save money and reduce your energy consumption.
Default market offer (DMO) in NSW
While shopping around and comparing energy plans, you’ve probably noticed the “reference price” mentioned. The reference price, or Default Market Offer (DMO) is a price set by the government to protect and inform consumers. The DMO has two main functions:
- To protect consumers from exponential energy prices if they choose not to engage with the energy market and instead remain on the Standing Offer. While the Standing Offer doesn’t necessarily offer the cheapest energy rates on the market it does prevent energy providers from charging you more if you don’t qualify for, or choose not to subscribe to, a discounted Market Offer.
- To inform consumers about energy plan prices and how much less (or in some instances more) expensive an energy retailers market offer is, compared to the standard offer. This is often shown as “X% off the Reference Price” in the details about an energy providers electricity plan.
| Distribution Network | Annual estimated usage | DMO on a Flat-Rate tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 3,900kWh / year | $1,462 / year |
| Endeavour | 4,900kWh / year | $1,711 / year |
| Essential | 4,600kWh / year | $1,960 / year |
*Source: AER - Default Market Offer - Price determination 2020-21 Final Determination
Average energy usage in NSW
Residents of New South Wales pay among the highest energy prices within the NEM, only behind South Australia for most expensive average electricity bills. The average NSW household pays around $1,600 annually on electricity alone, while those households with pools can end up paying even more.
Thankfully, with a few energy-saving measures, you can lower your energy bills and turn your home into an energy-efficient powerhouse. A few simple energy-saving measures can include:
- Unplugging appliances when they’re not in use, to prevent them from zapping extra energy from your house
- Switching to energy-efficient appliances with a high star-energy rating
- Installing insulated curtains over your windows
- Replace old single-pane windows with double or triple glazed windows
- Invest in solar energy with New South Wales' solar rebates and concessions
NSW energy rebates and concessions
To help with the increasing costs of energy, the NSW government also has a number of rebates and concessions for residents in the state. If you’re having trouble paying your energy bills, or facing financial difficulties, it’s best to first get in touch with your energy provider to find out what all your options are, which can also include payment plans or postponing a payment.
- Family Energy Rebate NSW: Up to $180 per year
- Gas Rebate NSW: Up to $110 per year
- Low Income Household Rebate NSW: Up to $285 per year
- Seniors Energy Rebate NSW: Up to $200/year
- Pension Supplement NSW
- Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (EAPA) NSW
- Life Support Rebate NSW
Payment dispute with your energy provider?If you're having a problem with your energy provider, whether its a payment dispute, complaint, or other issue, your energy ombudsman in NSW can help to resolve the problem in a free and fair way.
Energy providers NSW
Residents of New South Wales can switch their energy provider whenever they want, and have some of the highest number of energy providers in the country. Below, we outline some of the energy providers available, as well as the fuel type they offer to NSW residents so you can compare energy plans and find the best for you.
| Energy provider | Plan name | % off the reference price | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReAmped Energy | ReAmped Advanced | 32% discount | $994 / year |
| Mojo Power | All Day Breakfast | 31.67% discount | $999 / year |
| GloBird | Easysave | 31% discount | $1,006 / year |
| Nectr | Friends Clean | 20% discount + $100 bill credit |
$1,017 / year |
| Tango Energy | Home Select | 26% discount | $1,084 / year |
| Kogan Energy | Market Offer | 26% discount | $1,089 / year |
| Alinta Energy | HomeDeal Electricity | 25% discount | $1,101 / year |
| Ovo Energy | The One Plan | 24% discount | $1,114 / year |
| Powerclub | Powerbank Home Flat | 24% discount | $1,115 / year |
| Energy Locals | Online Member | 24% discount | $1,116 / year |
| Sumo | SumoAssure | 22% discount | $1,138 / year |
| Momentum Energy | SmilePower Flexi | 21% discount | $1,150 / year |
| Simply Energy | Simply NRMA | 21% discount | $1,151 / year |
| AGL | Essentials | 21% discount | $1,155 / year |
| Powershop | Shopper | 14% discount + 6% discount with Mega Pack |
$1,176 / year |
| Click Energy | Lily Plus | 19% discount | $1,184 / year |
| Origin Energy | Origin Go + Everyday Rewards | 18% discount | $1,199 / year |
| Dodo | Market Offer | 17% discount | $1,206 / year |
| EnergyAustralia | Total Plan | 16% discount | $1228 / year |
| Enova Energy | Community Plus | 15% discount + 3% pay-on-time discount |
$1,209 / year |
| Elysian Energy | Simple Plan | 12.4% discount + 3.1% pay-on-time discount |
$1,235 / year |
| Red Energy | Living Energy Saver | 15% discount | $1,240 / year |
| 1st Energy | 1st Saver Plus | 3% discount + 10% pay-on-time discount |
$ 1,267 / year |
| Diamond Energy | Everyday Renewable Saver | 3% discount + 4% pay-on-time discount with direct debit |
$1,354 / year |
| Amber Electric | Amber Plan | Wholesale rates - discounts vary | $1,462 / year |
Source: Energy providers basic plan. Rates valid within Ausgrid Distribution Network on a single-rate tariff. Estimated annual cost includes conditional discount and are based on average usage of 3,900kWh/year. Discounts and rates vary depending on location. Valid February 2021.
With full retail contestability within the state, customers can easily switch energy providers in NSW if they want. Switching is simple, all you need to do is get in contact with your new provider and sign up for the plan you want and they’ll let your old provider know about the switch. Once you have your final meter reading from your previous retailer, you’ll get your final bill and officially be switched to your new plan.
Cheapest energy providers NSW
Not all energy providers offer the cheapest electricity in New South Wales. Below we outline some of the cheapest electricity providers and plans in New South Wales with the biggest discounts in the state.
| Nectr Friends Clean |
ReAmped Advanced |
OVO Energy The One Plan |
Powerclub Powerbank Home Flat |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discount off the reference price | 20% discount | 27% discount | 24% discount | 24% discount |
| Daily supply charge | 99.99c / day | 91.55c / day | 67.65c / day | 80.44c / day |
| Usage rates | 20.57c / kWh | 18.96c / kWh | 22.22c / kWh | 20.05c / kWh |
| Estimated annual cost | $1,115.92 / year | $1,074 / year | $1,114 / year | $1,114 / year |
*Source: Provider websites. Costs based on 3900kWh average annual usage within the Ausgrid network. Prices valid August 2020.
Largest energy providers NSW
EnergyAustralia, AGL, and Origin Energy are the three biggest energy providers in Australia. In New South Wales, these three energy providers (known as the Big Three) have a combined total market share of over 80%. Here we outline these three energy providers' best electricity plans so you can compare their energy prices in New South Wales.
| Origin Energy Max Saver |
AGL Essentials |
EnergyAustralia Total Plan |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Discount off the reference price | 17% discount | 17% discount | 17% discount |
| Daily supply charge | 71.47c / day | 75.67c / day | 70.3c / day |
| Usage rates | 24.43c / kWh | 24.024c / kWh | 24.53c / kWh |
| Estimated annual cost | $1,214 / year | $1,214 / year | $1,213 / year |
*Source: Provider websites. Costs based on 3900kWh average annual usage within the Ausgrid network. Prices valid August 2020.
Energy distributors in NSW
Residents of NSW have three electricity and three gas distributors who supply energy to the state. Knowing which distributor services your area is important, as they are the ones you contact if your electricity goes out or you smell gas. In addition, they maintain the electricity grid and gas lines, and they will usually post on their website about any known outages or scheduled maintenance.
| Service District | Emergency Number | General Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavour Energy | Southern & western metropolitan Sydney | 131 003 | 131 718 |
| Essential Energy | Country & regional NSW & some ACT | 132 080 | 132 391 |
| Ausgrid | Inner, northern & eastern metropolitan Sydney and surrounds | 131 388 | 131 535 |
| Service District | Emergency Number | General Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Ranges Pipeline | Tamworth | 1800 676 300 132 771 131 909 |
(02) 6761 5522 |
| Jemena Gas Networks (NSW) | Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong and parts of country NSW | 131 909 | 1300 137 078 |
| Wagga Wagga Gas Distribution Network (Australia Gas Networks) | Wagga Wagga | Gas leak:1800 GAS LEAK Fault1800 898 220 |
1300 001 001 |
