TrustPilot
3.2/ 5
From 4 reviews; 75% are 1-star
Expert review
Expert review
Red Energy review
If you are thinking about switching energy providers in Australia, our Red Energy review can help. As one of the larger retailers in the country, backed by renewable generator Snowy Hydro, Red Energy offers electricity and gas plans with incentives for everyone. Below we review the plans, solar offer and what real customers say, then give our verdict.
100% Australian owned
Plans in 5 states
Qantas Points
No exit fees
At a glance
How Red Energy scores
A snapshot of how customers rate Red Energy. Reviews are mixed and change over time, so always check the latest before you switch.
ProductReview
1.9/ 5
587 of 838 reviews are 1-star
Australian owned
100%
Owned by Snowy Hydro since 2004
Where it operates
Red Energy availability by state
Red Energy does not sell energy in every state. Here is where you can get each service.
| State | Electricity | Gas |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Victoria | ✓ | ✓ |
| Queensland | ✓ | ✓ |
| South Australia | ✓ | ✓ |
| Western Australia | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tasmania | ✗ | ✗ |
The plans
Red Energy plans reviewed
All Red Energy plans within a network share the same rates; the difference is the additional benefit or incentive. There is something for most households.
Living Energy Saver
A simple electricity and gas plan with competitive rates, no contract term and no exit fees. Flexible billing and a renewable matching promise on every unit consumed.
Simplest plan, no exit fees, renewable matching
Qantas Red Saver
Earn up to 10,000 bonus Qantas Points for electricity and 5,000 for gas at sign-up, plus 2 points per $1 on bills paid on time. No lock-in contract and $0 exit fees.
Up to 15,000 bonus Qantas Points at sign-up
Red Taronga Flex
NSW customers get a Zoo Friends Family Flex annual membership for one adult and two children, plus discounts at Taronga cafes and gift shops, with a renewable matching promise.
NSW only · 365 days at Taronga Zoo
Red Solar Saver
For NSW solar households: a higher feed-in tariff of 18c/kWh for the first 5kWh exported (vs the standard 6c/kWh), with a renewable matching promise and no contract term.
NSW solar · 18c/kWh for first 5kWh
Red EV Saver
For electric-vehicle owners with a smart meter: free electricity use between 12pm and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, with no contract term and $0 exit fees.
Free weekend electricity for EV owners
Solar offer
Red Energy solar reviewed
Red Energy has a solar feed-in tariff for households with solar panels in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia (not the ACT). Feed-in tariffs are decreasing nationally, but Red Energy still offers one of the higher standard rates in NSW and Queensland. See the full rates guide.
| State | Standard FiT | Red Solar Saver FiT |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 6c / kWh | 18c / kWh (first 5kWh) |
| Victoria | 8c / kWh | N/A |
| Queensland | 11.5c / kWh (first 5kWh) | N/A |
| South Australia | 3c / kWh | N/A |
Feed-in tariffs depend on your state and plan and change over time.
Customer reviews
What customers say about Red Energy
Like most energy providers, Red Energy reviews are mixed. Australian ownership and service are the standout positives; contact wait times and the solar program are the main gripes.
What customers like
- 100% Australian owned and operated, backed by Snowy Hydro
- The only Red Energy call centre is located in Melbourne
- Red Energy rates tend to be some of the cheapest
- Customer service is generally easy to deal with
Common complaints
- Some customers find the sign-up tactics misleading
- Difficulty contacting customer service and long hold times
- Billing and connection issues reported by some customers
- Many negative reviews relate to the solar program
Have been with Red Energy for approximately 6 months now and haven't had any issues. Never had to wait long to call them and all my requests were dealt with in a timely manner. Being renewable and Australian owned is a massive thing for me, so this is a great company to support. Most companies are foreign owned in Australia! Definitely recommend.
I requested that my gas and electricity bills be terminated since I moved house; however, only the electricity bill was terminated. Red Energy then gave me bills for an extra 9 days after I had already moved out, which means they asked me to pay another tenant's bill. I hope they learn from the mistake and improve their service in the future.
Everyone's experience is different — people are more likely to write negative reviews than positive ones, and the source of unverified reviews is not always clear. Always do your own research when comparing providers.
Our verdict: is Red Energy any good?
Red Energy is a long-standing, 100% Australian energy company backed by a major renewable generator, making it a safe choice for any Australian household. It offers plans and rewards to help the transition to renewables, such as its renewable matching promise, solar feed-in tariff and electric-vehicle plan.
However, Red Energy is not as green as it claims: parent company Snowy Hydro is still operating and building gas-powered generators, and there are greener providers in the country. As always, compare plans and providers for your address before switching.
Common questions
A Selectra expert answers your most common Red Energy review questions
Red Energy is one of Australia's larger energy providers, 100% Australian owned by renewable generator Snowy Hydro. It offers electricity and gas plans in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, with a focus on renewable energy and customer incentives.
Red Energy offers several plans with uniform rates within each network: Living Energy Saver (simple, no exit fees), Qantas Red Saver (earn Qantas Points), Red Taronga Flex (NSW Zoo membership), Red Solar Saver (higher NSW solar feed-in tariff) and Red EV Saver (free weekend electricity for EV owners). See the rates page for pricing.
Red Energy sells electricity and gas in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. It does not operate in Western Australia or Tasmania.
Red Energy offers feed-in tariffs in NSW (6c/kWh standard, 18c/kWh for the first 5kWh on Red Solar Saver), Victoria (8c/kWh), Queensland (11.5c/kWh for the first 5kWh) and South Australia (3c/kWh). There is no feed-in tariff in the ACT.
Red Energy is a reliable, fully Australian-owned provider backed by Snowy Hydro, with plans that encourage renewable energy use and reward customers. Its environmental credentials are mixed, since Snowy Hydro still operates and is expanding gas-powered generators. It remains a safe, straightforward choice, but it is always worth comparing plans for your address before switching.
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Is Red Energy the right retailer for you?
Red Energy is a safe, Australian-owned choice, but not always the cheapest. Compare it against other retailers that supply your address to find the plan that fits how you actually use electricity and gas.