Compare energy providers in SA

Energy providers we compare in Adelaide and SA

Cheapest electricity providers in Adelaide and South Australia

These are the cheapest electricity plans in our database for July 2026.

The estimated annual costs are based on a household on the SA Power Networks network using 4,000kWh of electricity a year on a single-rate tariff.

Your actual costs will depend on the plan you choose and how much electricity you use.

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Cheapest gas providers in Adelaide and South Australia

These are the cheapest gas plans in our database for July 2026.

The estimated annual costs are based on a typical household on the Australian Gas Networks network using 14,000MJ a year.

Where a plan uses stepped rates, we've included the minimum and maximum values.

How do I choose an energy provider in SA?

South Australians pay more for electricity than any other state, so the details below are worth a few minutes of your time:

• The gap to the reference price. SA electricity plans must publish how far above or below the reference they sit, which makes it the fastest way to rank them. The bigger the discount, the better. There's more on how the benchmark works below.
• How the charges are split. Every bill is a daily supply charge plus a usage rate. If you're a small household, hunt down a low supply charge. If you run the air conditioning all summer, the usage rate is what moves your bill.
• What the perks are really worth. Sign-up credits and rewards points only pay off if the underlying rates are sharp. Price the plan over 12 months before the freebies sway you.
• The Basic Plan Information Document. Conditional discounts, extra fees and rate-change terms all live here. It's a 2-minute read that can save you a nasty surprise.

Energy plans and tariffs in SA explained

Rates aren't the whole story. Your tariff controls when those rates apply, and in the country's most solar-soaked state, the right tariff can take a real chunk off a bill.

Electricity tariffs in SA

• Single rate: You'll get charged a single rate for your energy use, regardless of the time of day.

• Time of Use: You'll pay different rates depending on the time of day, with peak, off-peak and sometimes shoulder periods. In South Australia, many plans also include a cheap midday 'solar sponge' rate, when there's plenty of solar energy flowing into the grid. You'll need a smart meter to access these plans.

• Demand: Think of it as an extra charge based on the busiest moment of your electricity use during peak hours. If you tend to run lots of appliances at once, you could end up paying more.

• Controlled load: This is a discounted rate for an appliance wired on its own circuit, most commonly electric hot water.

• Solar feed-in tariff: What you're credited per kWh of solar you send to the grid.

Gas tariffs in SA

• Flat rate: You pay the same rate per MJ, no matter what time of day you use gas.

• Block rate: The price changes depending on how much gas you use each day. You'll pay one rate for the first block of gas, then a different rate once you use more. This is the standard pricing structure in South Australia, which is why annual cost estimates are the fairest way to compare plans.

How much does energy cost in SA?

Every electricity plan in SA is measured against the reference price.

The reference price is an annual benchmark set by the Australian Energy Regulator that estimates what a typical household would pay if they were on a standing offer.

For 2026-27, it's $2,334 a year for a typical SA household.

Every plan must show how it compares. So if a plan says it's 20% less than the reference price, its estimated cost is 20% lower than that benchmark.

Unlike NSW and Victoria, SA has a single electricity network (SA Power Networks), so the same benchmark applies across the whole state, from Adelaide to the regions.

There's no reference price for gas in SA, so the annual estimate on each plan is the most reliable way to compare gas plans.

Solar in SA: feed-in tariffs and the 'solar sponge'

South Australia has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar in the country, with more than 440,000 systems installed.

On sunny days, solar can supply a large share of the state's daytime electricity demand.

That level of solar generation has also changed how households are rewarded for exporting power to the grid:

• Don't pick a plan on the feed-in rate. There's no minimum feed-in tariff in SA, and most flat-rate offers now sit close to zero. That means a plan advertising a high feed-in rate can be a poor deal if it comes with higher electricity usage rates.
• Daytime is your friend. Using your solar power during the day to run appliances like the dishwasher, washing machine or air conditioner saves you the full retail electricity rate, which is usually worth more than the credit you'd get for exporting that power.
• Batteries unlock evening rates. Some retailers offer time-varying feed-in tariffs, paying more for solar exports at certain times, such as after sunset when the grid needs extra supply.

If your solar system was connected before 30 September 2011, you may still be on the legacy premium feed-in tariff. Check the scheme's conditions before making changes to your system or account.

What is the Solar Sharer Offer in SA and do I qualify?

From 1 July 2026, retailers with more than 1,000 customers in SA have to offer an opt-in plan with 3 hours of free electricity between 12pm and 3pm every day, capped at 24kWh a day.

This is known as the Solar Sharer Offer.

Note the window is 12pm to 3pm in SA, an hour later than in NSW and Queensland.

You don't need solar panels to sign up, but you do need a smart meter.

The catch is that rates outside the free window are much higher than on a standard plan.

The offer is regulated by the AER. These are the Solar Sharer rates for SA in 2026-27:

The offer only beats a normal plan if you can move your big appliances, like the dishwasher, washing machine, EV charger or pool pump, into the middle of the day and keep them out of that long peak window.

Can I get any energy rebates or concessions in SA?

There's no more automatic federal bill relief, with the national credits finishing on 31 December 2025.

South Australia's concessions work a little differently to other states. There's no concession for mains gas bills.

The main concession is applied to your electricity account, or paid directly to you if your home runs on off-grid energy like bottled LPG.

Unlike most states, you apply for SA concessions through ConcessionsSA (via the online household concessions form or on 1800 307 758), not your energy retailer.

SA retailers can't set up or transfer the concession for you, so if you switch providers, remember to update your details with ConcessionsSA once your first bill arrives.

When's a good time to compare and switch energy plans?

With SA prices the highest in the country, comparing pays off more here than anywhere. These are the moments to do it:

• It's July. Benchmarks and plan prices are updated at the start of July. SA's reference price rose 1.4% this year, unlike every other state where it fell. If your plan gets more expensive, it's worth seeing whether there's a better deal out there.
• Your bill flags a better offer. At least every 100 days, your retailer has to tell you on your bill if there's a cheaper plan available. Use that as a starting point, then check whether another retailer can offer you an even better deal.
• Your first-year discount has run out. Many energy plans come with discounts or special rates for the first 12 months. Once that benefit period ends, your plan can quietly revert to higher standard rates, so it's worth checking your bill and comparing again before the price jumps.
• You've moved. SA might have one electricity network, but your energy options can still change depending on where you live. Always compare plans again when you move to a new address.
• A price-change notice arrives. Retailers have to let you know before they increase your rates. When that notice lands, it's a good time to compare plans or ask if they can offer you a better deal.

How do I switch energy providers in SA?

Switching energy providers takes about 10 minutes if the account is in your name:

1. Grab your latest bill. It has the key details you'll need, including your usage, rates and meter number.
2. Enter your postcode. Even though SA has one electricity network, plans and prices can still vary by address.
3. Sign up with your new provider. They'll handle the switch, including letting your old provider know. Your old provider will just send you a final bill.
4. That's it. Your power stays connected, no one needs to visit your home, and you have a 10-business-day cooling-off period if you change your mind.

The main exception is embedded networks, which are common in some apartment buildings, retirement villages and caravan parks.

In these setups, the site owner buys energy in bulk and sells it on to residents.

Your choice of provider can be limited, but you'll still keep your eligibility for SA energy concessions.

Frequently asked questions

• Why is electricity so expensive in South Australia?

  SA relies heavily on gas-fired power and interstate connections when the wind and sun aren't producing, and it costs more to run a long, skinny grid for a spread-out population.

  This year there's an extra factor: the AER lifted SA's reference price 1.4% for 2026-27, partly because of high-priced grid stability events in 2025, while every other state's benchmark fell.

• What is the average electricity and gas bill in SA?

  Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker puts the average SA electricity bill at around $422 a quarter, with gas at $285.

  Household size, electric heating and your tariff type all push that figure around, so use it as a ballpark rather than a benchmark.

  Our guide to average energy bills in Australia shows how SA stacks up against the other states.

• What's the difference between a market offer and a standing offer?

  Every SA electricity plan is one or the other.

  Market offers carry the competitive rates and sign-up deals, and they're where the savings are.

  Standing offers exist as a safety net.

  They're priced around the reference price, and you'll usually only be on one because a market plan expired or you've never switched.

  Check a recent bill if you're not sure, or see our guide to energy contracts and benefit periods.

• Will my power be cut off when I switch providers?

  No, it won't. The switch happens in your retailer's billing system, not at your house.

  SA Power Networks keeps supplying you through the same wires and meter regardless of who sends the bill.

• Do I need to tell my current provider I'm leaving?

  There's no need. Once you sign up, the new retailer arranges the transfer, and the only thing your old one sends is a final bill.

  It's worth glancing at your current plan's fact sheet for exit fees first, although they're fairly uncommon.

• Can I switch energy providers if I rent?

  As long as the electricity account is in your name, switching is your call, not your landlord's.

  The two exceptions are embedded networks and rentals where energy is bundled into the rent, since in both cases the account isn't yours.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

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