1st Energy review
Amid rising energy prices, 1st Energy remains a reasonable choice for households in VIC and TAS seeking out an electricity plan
NSW residents may be better off shopping around elsewhere as plan prices don't stack up well against the reference price. This is a benchmark set by the energy regulator to help you compare electricity plans.
For now, its market offers in QLD and SA are paused for new customers. We'll update our guide when the market offers are once again made available.
If you're in VIC, you can also sign up to 1st Energy's gas plan if you prefer to bundle your services with the same provider. Just keep in mind this might not be the cheapest option.
Pros
- Australia-based customer support
- No credit card fees
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Ausgrid network who consumes 3911kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Jemena network who consumes 4000kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Energex network who consumes 4613kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the TasNetworks network who consumes 6315kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer on the AusNet Services network who consumes 46000MJ yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Deal
Get a $150 sign-up credit on your 2nd month with 1st Energy Smart Saver plan
Sign to the 1st Energy Smart Saver plan and get a $150 credit on your 2nd bill. Available to residents in NSW, QLD and TAS. T&Cs apply.
Read a more detailed view on
Rewards and features
1st Energy doesn't offer much in the way of additional bells and whistles but depending on where you live, you could get access to:
Pay-on-time discounts
NSW households that sign up to 1st Energy's electricity plan are able to get a 5% discount whenever they pay their bill on time.
It's a similar situation for those signing up to the retailer's gas plan in VIC. However, the discount is slightly lower at 3%.
Customer service
Local customer support Phone call and social media Financial hardship assistance How can I get in touch with 1st Energy?
If you have a question or concern, you can reach 1st Energy's Australia-based support team in a few different ways:
- Ring the customer service line between 8:30am and 6pm AEST, Monday to Friday
- Fill out an enquiry form on its website
- Get in touch via 1st Energy's social media accounts such as Facebook or Twitter
Customer satisfaction
There aren't any reviews for 1st Energy on Finder just yet but we've collated ratings from other sources:
As of 2 May 2024, 1st Energy scored:
- Product Review: 3.8/5 stars (535 reviews)
- Trustpilot: 4.4/5 stars (278 reviews)
- Google: 3.8/5 (908 reviews)
- Keep in mind: These reviews are subjective and may not reflect your own experience. Use reviews to only inform your research when choosing a new plan.
Solar energy
1st Energy doesn't offer dedicated solar plans but you can access feed-in tariff rates on its normal electricity plans.
Green energy
Is 1st Energy environmentally friendly?
Green Electricity Guide Rating: 3.54/10
1st Energy came in the bottom third of energy providers on the 2022 Green Electricity Guide (34th out of 47 providers) but has shown improvement from the previous report.
It scored points for not being actively involved in fossil fuel extraction, but failed to take an active stance on climate change. It also has low transparency about its energy and buys its power from the open market (where fossil fuels dominate).
1st Energy also doesn't offer carbon-neutral plans or the option to add on GreenPower.
GreenPower is a government initiative that lets you buy green energy and put it back into the grid via select partners. 1st Energy is not one of these.
Now that you've read our review of 1st Energy, you can have a look at its plans once again before signing up.
If you're still on the fence, you might benefit from comparing other energy providers on Finder before committing to a decision.
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