Electricity and gas bills: comparing plans, saving money and getting rebates

Australian Energy Regulator (AER, which runs Energy Made Easy); state government energy departments and energy ombudsman schemesVerified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

In Australia you buy electricity and gas from a retailer. At the same address you can switch freely between retailers and plans, and prices vary a lot. In NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT, compare plans on the AER's official site Energy Made Easy; in VIC use Victorian Energy Compare. Every three months your bill must tell you whether a cheaper plan is available. If you cannot pay a bill, your retailer must by law offer you a payment plan and hardship help. If you hold a concession card, you can apply for your state's energy rebate.

Key facts

Official comparison site: Energy Made Easy: A free, independent government comparison service run by the AER for residents of NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT. Start by entering your suburb or postcode. To compare plans using your actual usage, enter the NMI (National Meter Identifier) printed on your bill.¹
VIC: Victorian Energy Compare: The Victorian Government's independent comparison website for electricity and gas. A comparison takes about 5–10 minutes and you need your most recent bill. Helpline 1800 000 832.¹⁰
What the Default Market Offer (DMO) is: The electricity price the AER sets by law every May for NSW (the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy network areas), south-east QLD (Energex) and SA (SA Power Networks), applying from 1 July to 30 June the following year. It is the most a retailer can charge on a standing offer (the default price if you never chose a plan), and the reference price retailers must compare against in their advertising. It is not the best price: there are usually cheaper market offers available. The new DMO prices apply from 1 July 2026.²
VIC: Victorian Default Offer (VDO): Set by the Essential Services Commission, not by retailers, and applies from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Retailers must put you on the VDO if you ask, and discounts in advertising must use the VDO as the reference price.⁹
'Could you save money on another plan?' on your bill: Every three months your retailer must tell you on your bill whether it has a cheaper plan for you. If it does not, the bill tells you how to compare other retailers on Energy Made Easy. Your bill also shows your usage, charges, extra fees, plan details and when any discount ends.³
Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund: current status: It ended on 31 December 2025. The last round (1 July to 31 December 2025) gave each household and eligible small business up to A$150, paid automatically as two quarterly credits of A$75 on electricity bills; in 2024–25 it was up to A$300 per household. The government now advises concession card holders to apply for their state's energy rebate.⁴
Your legal rights if you cannot pay: Under the National Energy Retail Law, retailers must help customers who have trouble paying. They must offer a payment plan of smaller instalments (for example fortnightly), check whether you are eligible for government rebates or concessions, and tell you about financial counselling services. They may also give you more time, waive late fees and check that your plan suits you. You can ask for a payment plan even if you are not in a hardship program. As long as you keep to the plan, the retailer cannot disconnect you. Free financial counselling: National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007.⁵
Complaints: state energy ombudsman (free for consumers): NSW: Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW 1800 246 545; VIC: Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria 1800 500 509; QLD: Energy and Water Ombudsman 1800 662 837; SA: Energy and Water Ombudsman South Australia 1800 665 565; TAS: Energy Ombudsman Tasmania 1800 001 170; WA: WA Energy and Water Ombudsman 1800 754 004; NT: Ombudsman NT 1800 806 380; ACT: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal 02 6207 1740.⁷
Moving house: connecting and transferring: Tell your retailer early that you are moving and give your new address, or you may keep paying for electricity at the old address after you leave. If you can take your plan with you, ask the retailer to read the meter at both addresses, ideally the new one before you move in. A newly built home needs a new connection: contact an electricity or gas retailer yourself; a new meter may be needed and it can take months, so start early. Renters must open their own account with a retailer. If you need a new plan at the new address, check what plans are available there on Energy Made Easy.⁸
NSW: Low Income Household Rebate: Up to A$285 per financial year for retail customers, or A$313.50 per financial year for embedded network customers (where the building buys power in bulk). Your name must be on the electricity account and you must hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card issued by Services Australia or DVA. Retail customers apply directly through their retailer by giving their card number; embedded network customers apply online through Service NSW, and applications for this year close on 30 June 2027.¹¹
VIC: Annual electricity concession: Electricity account holders with a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card get 17.5% off their electricity usage and service charges all year (calculated after retailer discounts and solar credits), except for the first A$171.60 each year. It can be backdated up to 12 months. Just call your retailer and give your card number. If your yearly electricity costs are more than A$4,038.82 (for the year from 1 December 2025), apply separately for the Excess Energy Concession. Concessions information line 1800 658 521.¹²
QLD: Electricity Rebate and Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate: The electricity rebate is A$399.47 a year and the reticulated natural gas rebate is A$96.45 a year (including GST). Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Veteran Gold Card holders can apply for both; Health Care Card holders can apply for the electricity rebate only; the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card does not qualify. You must be the account holder, the address must be your main home, and there is one rebate per household. Apply through your electricity or gas retailer; once approved it is taken off your bill automatically.¹³

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Anyone renting or owning a home in Australia who pays their own electricity and gas bills (if your apartment building or retirement village buys power in bulk, you are in an embedded network, and comparing plans and rebates work differently)
Anyone who wants to switch retailer or plan to save money: NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT use Energy Made Easy; VIC uses Victorian Energy Compare. WA and NT have different retail markets and are not covered on this page
State energy rebates generally require a concession card such as a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card, and you must be the account holder; the cards accepted and the amounts differ by state
Any residential customer who cannot pay a bill: hardship help and payment plans are a legal right, whatever your visa status

How do I do it? Steps and process

Open an account when you move in
Find the retailer's name on the previous bill or in the letterbox. Contact the retailer before you move in to transfer your account or open a new one, and ask them to read the meter. If the home is newly built and not connected, apply for a new connection as early as possible. Renters open their own account. Take a photo of the meter reading as a record.
Understand your bill
Your bill shows your plan name, usage, charges, extra fees and when any discount ends. In DMO areas, the retailer must state how much cheaper or dearer your plan is than the reference price, as a percentage. Look out for the 'Could you save money on another plan?' message that appears every three months.
Compare plans on the official website
In NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT go to energymadeeasy.gov.au, enter your postcode and the NMI from your bill, and you can compare every retailer's plans using your actual usage and see your current retailer's best price. In VIC go to compare.energy.vic.gov.au with your latest bill; it takes about 5–10 minutes. Compare the overall rates, not just the discount percentage.
Switch plan or retailer
Once you have chosen, contact the new retailer to sign up. Before you sign, ask what type of contract it is, when it ends and whether the price can go up. You can also call your current retailer first and ask the questions the AER suggests: what contract am I on, when does it end, will the price rise, and is there a better deal? VIC customers can ask their retailer to move them to the VDO.
Apply for concessions and rebates
If you hold a concession card, call your retailer and give your card number: in NSW apply for the Low Income Household Rebate, in VIC the Annual electricity concession (there is a separate winter concession for gas), in QLD the Electricity Rebate and the gas rebate. If you switch retailer, give your card number again.
Contact your retailer early if you cannot pay
Do not wait for a disconnection notice. Call, explain your situation and ask for a payment plan or to join the hardship program; ask about rebates and having late fees waived. Do not agree to a plan you cannot afford. While you keep to the plan, the retailer cannot disconnect you. For help, call the free National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
If it is not resolved, go to the ombudsman
Complain to your retailer first. If the retailer does nothing, refuses to let you into its hardship program, or you cannot agree about a disputed bill, contact your state's energy ombudsman; the service is free. While a complaint is being handled, the retailer cannot disconnect you.

What documents do I need?

Your most recent electricity or gas bill (it shows your NMI, plan name and the retailer's phone number)
Your concession card (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Veteran Gold Card or similar) and your Services Australia CRN or DVA number
Your new address and move-in date, and the meter readings at the old and new addresses (when moving)
Proof of identity (retailers ask for it when you open an account)

What should I watch out for?

An advertisement such as '20% below the reference price' is only useful for comparing retailers' claims. It does not mean your bill will be 20% lower: what you pay depends on your usage, where you live and when you use power.
Discounts often have conditions (paying on time, direct debit) and they expire. When a discount ends, the plan can become much dearer. Your bill shows when the discount ends, so compare again before then.
If you have a smart meter, consider a time-of-use plan and run your washing, car charging and similar at the cheap times. From July 2026 the AER requires retailers in DMO areas to offer an opt-in Solar Sharer Offer (three hours of free electricity around midday, priced under the time-of-use DMO). Ask your retailer whether it suits you.
If a door-to-door or phone salesperson wants you to sign up on the spot, say no first. Check on the official comparison website yourself before you decide.
Concession card rebates are not applied automatically: you must give your card number to every new retailer. In VIC the concession can be backdated 12 months, so if you missed it, ask for it.
Energy Bill Relief has ended, so it is normal that the federal quarterly credit no longer appears on your bill. If someone calls offering to 'apply for an energy rebate' for you and asks for your bank details, it is most likely a scam. Rebates only come through your retailer or the state government.
This page is a plain-English summary of public information. State rules and rebate amounts can change every year, so check Energy Made Easy, Victorian Energy Compare and your state government website. It is not financial advice.

What has changed recently?

2026-07-01
The 2026–27 Default Market Offer (NSW, south-east QLD, SA) and Victorian Default Offer prices take effect, applying until 30 June 2027.Source: energymadeeasy.gov.au ↗
2025-12-31
The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund ends; after this there is no federal quarterly credit on bills.Source: energy.gov.au ↗

Common questions

How do I compare electricity prices in Australia? Which comparison website is the official one?

In NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT use Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au), the free, independent comparison site run by the AER. Enter your postcode and the NMI from your bill to compare every retailer's plans using your actual usage. In VIC use the Victorian Government's Victorian Energy Compare (compare.energy.vic.gov.au) with your latest bill; it takes about 5–10 minutes. Compare the overall rates, not just the discount percentage.

What do 'reference price' and 'Default Market Offer' on my bill mean?

The Default Market Offer (DMO) is the electricity price the AER sets every May for NSW, south-east QLD and SA, applying from 1 July for a year. It is the most a retailer can charge on a standing offer, and the reference price retailers must compare against in advertising. It is not the cheapest price: cheaper market offers are usually available. In VIC the equivalent is the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), set by the Essential Services Commission.

I have just moved into a new place. How do I connect electricity and gas, and how long does it take?

Find the retailer's name on the previous bill or in the letterbox, contact them before you move in to transfer or open an account, and ask for a meter reading. Renters open their own account; photograph the meter reading. Tell your old retailer your new address early, or you may keep paying for the old address. A newly built home needs a new connection from a retailer; it may need a new meter and can take months, so start early.

I have a Health Care Card. Is there an electricity rebate, and how do I apply?

Yes, but it differs by state. In NSW the Low Income Household Rebate is up to A$285 per financial year. In VIC the Annual electricity concession takes 17.5% off your electricity charges, except the first A$171.60 each year. In QLD the Electricity Rebate is A$399.47 a year, but Health Care Card holders cannot get the gas rebate. You must be the account holder. Call your retailer and give your card number, and do it again if you switch retailer.

Is the government's Energy Bill Relief still available?

No. The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund ended on 31 December 2025. The last round gave each household up to A$150 as two quarterly credits of A$75 on electricity bills. It is normal that the federal credit no longer appears on your bill. If you hold a concession card, apply for your state's energy rebate through your retailer instead.

I cannot pay my electricity bill. Will I be disconnected? Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, you can pay in instalments. Under the National Energy Retail Law your retailer must offer a payment plan of smaller instalments, check whether you qualify for rebates and tell you about financial counselling. You can ask for a payment plan even if you are not in a hardship program. As long as you keep to the plan, the retailer cannot disconnect you. Free financial counselling: National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007.

My energy company overcharged me and ignores my complaint. Who do I contact?

Complain to your retailer first. If they do not resolve it, contact your state's energy ombudsman, which is free for consumers: NSW 1800 246 545, VIC 1800 500 509, QLD 1800 662 837, SA 1800 665 565, TAS 1800 001 170, WA 1800 754 004, NT 1800 806 380, and in the ACT the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal on 02 6207 1740. While a complaint is being handled, the retailer cannot disconnect you.

Are comparing plans and rebates in Melbourne (VIC) different from other states?

Yes, they are different. VIC does not use Energy Made Easy: compare plans on the Victorian Government's Victorian Energy Compare (helpline 1800 000 832). The reference price is the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), set by the Essential Services Commission, and you can ask your retailer to put you on it. The rebate is the Annual electricity concession: 17.5% off electricity charges for concession card holders, backdated up to 12 months. Call your retailer and give your card number.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Energy Made EasyAustralian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
Default Market Offer: The Electricity Price Safety NetAustralian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
What's on your energy bill?Australian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
Energy Bill Relief FundDepartment of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water · energy.gov.au
Having trouble paying your energy bill?Australian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
DisconnectionsAustralian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
Useful contactsAustralian Energy Regulator · aer.gov.au
Your energy supply when moving house or businessAustralian Energy Regulator · energymadeeasy.gov.au
Victorian Default OfferEssential Services Commission Victoria · esc.vic.gov.au
Victorian Energy CompareDepartment of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Victoria · compare.energy.vic.gov.au
Low Income Household RebateNSW Climate and Energy Action · energy.nsw.gov.au
Annual electricity concessionDepartment of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria · services.dffh.vic.gov.au
Electricity and gas rebatesQueensland Government · qld.gov.au
AER releases final Default Market Offer 2026-27Australian Energy Regulator · aer.gov.au

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