Compare electricity and gas providers in Canberra and the ACT

Why should you compare energy plans in the ACT?

Shopping around for an energy plan isn't the most exciting task, but making the most of the competitive energy market in the ACT is your best bet for cutting those household bills.

For example, the gap between the cheapest and priciest single-rate electricity plans in our database can be about $990 a year.

Here are a few less obvious reasons to compare energy plans:

• Discounts often only last for the first 12 months.
• Your provider might move you to a pricier plan if you don't renegotiate once your plan benefits expire.
• If you're moving house, your current provider might not offer the best deals for your new location.
• You might have been notified of a price increase.

How do I choose an energy provider in ACT?

When you're comparing electricity or gas plans from different providers, keep an eye out for these key details:

• Guaranteed discounts: These usually last up to 12 months. Look for plans offering the biggest discounts. For electricity, these discounts are compared to the reference price set annually by the energy regulator on 1 July. Aim for a plan that's priced below the reference price. The discount will be shown as a percentage.
• Usage rate and supply charge: Check both the usage rate and the supply charge. The usage rate determines what you'll pay per unit of energy used, while the supply charge is a daily fee for being connected to the grid.
• Sign-up deals and extra perks: Apart from the annual estimate or rate breakdowns, look for sign-up offers like $150 bill credits for new customers or rewards points with programs from Woolworths or Qantas. The caveat is the plan these are being offered on could be more expensive so make sure you keep an eye on the usage rates. Depending on your needs, a provider offering energy usage tracking might also be useful.
• Additional costs: Before signing up, read the fine print to see if the provider charges extra fees such as credit card charges or late payment penalties.

What you should know when comparing plans and tariffs

You now have a basic understanding of what to look out for when choosing an energy provider.

However, there are a few more quirks to look out for (we know, we know, energy isn't fun but saving you money is our top priority so bear with us).

Electricity tariffs

• Single rate: You'll pay one flat rate for your energy use, no matter the time of day.
• Time of Use: Your rates will change depending on peak or off-peak hours. There might even be a separate rate for the 'shoulder period,' which falls between peak and off-peak times. Unsurprisingly, peak period rates are higher. You can only move on to this tariff if you have a smart meter.
• Demand: Some plans come with a demand charge on top of a single rate or Time of Use tariff. Again, you'll need a smart meter for it. This charge is based on your highest power drawn during peak times and can vary month to month.
• Controlled load: This applies if you have a separate meter for specific appliances like electric hot water systems or pool pumps.
• Solar feed-in tariff: If you've got rooftop solar panels, look for plans with a feed-in tariff. This tariff decides how much you'll get paid for sending excess energy back to the grid.

  You can run through each of these in more detail in our guide to electricity tariffs.

Gas tariffs

There are two types of gas tariffs you might come across, although most providers tend to go with block rates:

Flat rate: This one's pretty straightforward – you pay the same rate for your gas no matter when you use it or how much you use.

Block rate: With this type, your rates change based on how much gas you use. For example, you might pay one rate for the first 45MJ, a different rate for the next block, and another rate for the block after that.

Which energy providers do we compare in Canberra and the ACT?

Finder compares some of the ACT's most popular energy providers including ActewAGL.

To keep things simple, we've split our lists for electricity and gas, but you'll see that some providers offer plans for both. These are known as dual-fuel providers.

Electricity providers

• ActewAGL
• Amber Electric
• CovaU
• EnergyAustralia
• Energy Locals
• Nectr
• Origin Energy
• Red Energy

Gas providers

• ActewAGL
• CovaU
• EnergyAustralia
• Origin Energy
• Red Energy

How much does electricity cost in Canberra and the ACT?

How much electricity costs can vary depending on your retailer and what tariff you're on.

The average price of electricity hovers around 30.27 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), based on single rate tariff plans in our database.

Energy supply charges will vary depending on your energy distributor and can cost around 116.58 cents.

What is the average price of gas in Canberra and the ACT?

Gas costs between 3.38 cents and 4.59 cents per megajoule (MJ). Gas plans usually come with tiered rates, meaning the price can vary depending on your energy usage throughout the month or quarter.

Again, supply charges for energy will vary depending on your energy distributor and can cost around 74.96 cents.

**We used postcode 2600 to give you the average usage rate and supply charge for both electricity and gas.

Am I eligible for an energy rebate if I live in the ACT?

Some residents will be able to get an $800 energy rebate in the 2024-2025 financial year from the territory government. It is calculated as a daily rate and applied straight to your bill.

On top of this, there's the $300 energy bill relief available to all Australian households from the federal government as of 1 July 2024.

It's being paid in $75 installments each quarter.

It's best to head to the ACT government's website directly to get the most up-to-date information on rebates and if there are any others available for medical support.

Or, you can call your energy retailer to help you out.

How are energy prices set in the ACT?

Energy is deregulated in the ACT, meaning retailers are allowed to set their own electricity and gas prices.

However, there is one caveat. The government does regulate the price direction of standing offer electricity plans offered by ActewAGL.

These are also known as Default Market Offers (DMO), with rates set on 1 July annually. They act as a safety net for people who don't shop around.

Ideally, you should want to take advantage of the ACT's deregulated energy market and sign up for a market offer. They tend to be cheaper than the default offer (also known as the reference price) and often come with discounts.

Renewable energy in ACT

Since 2020, the ACT has sourced 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

However, gas is still a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The ACT is aiming to transition away from it by 2045.

What is GreenPower?

Your electricity provider can't send renewable energy straight from the grid to your home. That's where GreenPower steps in.

It's a government scheme allowing providers to buy renewable energy based on your usage, from 10% to 100%. You can add it to your plan for an extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the reference price for electricity in the ACT?

  The 2024-2025 reference price for single rate electricity plans in the ACT is $2,316 for the year assuming energy consumption of 6,315kWh.

  The reference for single rate tariff plans with controlled load is $2,651 for the same kWh energy consumption.

• Who is the gas supplier for the ACT?

  The main gas distributor in the ACT is Evonenergy.

• Which electricity provider is the best in Canberra?

  The best electricity provider in Canberra will usually be whichever energy retailer is offering the cheapest rates at any given point.

  You can check out our guide to the cheapest energy plans to find out which retailer is offering the best prices.