Energy Locals review

Our verdict: Energy Locals offer reasonably priced electricity plans that are 100% carbon neutral at no extra cost.

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Energy Locals review

Energy Locals does things a bit differently to traditional energy retailers.

It allows you to access wholesale electricity rates by signing up to an annual membership, meaning it won't earn money directly from your power usage.

The prices are reasonable across the majority of the states even after taking into account its membership fee. Plus, you get the added perk of supporting a green energy provider.

The main caveat is it doesn't offer gas plans. If you prefer the convenience of bundling your electricity and gas with the same provider then Energy Locals may not be right for you.

Pros

  • 100% carbon neutral plans
  • Option to add-on GreenPower and support renewable energy
  • Australian customer support

Cons

  • There's no over the phone support on cheaper plans
  • Some plans have limited payment options, offering just direct debit
  • No mobile app to manage your plan or track usage

Finder Awards badge

Congratulations, Energy Locals!

Energy Locals won the award for 'Green Energy Retailer of the Year' in the 2024 Green Awards.

Full list of 2024 winners

Compare electricity plans from Energy Locals

Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Home Classic
Basic Plan Information | (LCL852292MRE1@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
23% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,400/year
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Local Rewards
Basic Plan Information | (LCL852316MRE1@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
16% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,520/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Online Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL852328MRE1@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
16% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,520/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 3 of 4 results
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Ausgrid network who consumes 3,900kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Local Rewards
Energy Fact Sheet | (ENE577665MR@VEC)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariff
Reference price
8% less than
Victorian Default Offer
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,340/year
$167.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Online Member
Energy Fact Sheet | (ENE577685MR@VEC)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
8% less than
Victorian Default Offer
Plus an extra 7% below the Victorian Default Offer if you meet the conditional discount requirements
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,340/year
$1,240 if you meet the conditional discount requirements
$167.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Local Member
Energy Fact Sheet | (ENE577647MR@VEC)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariff
Reference price
2% less than
Victorian Default Offer
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,430/year
$257.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 3 of 3 results
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Citipower network who consumes 4000kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Online Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL833109MRE2@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
10% less
than reference price
Plus an extra 5% below the reference price if you meet the conditional discount requirements
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,850/year
$1,750 if you meet the conditional discount requirements
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Local Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL833155MRE2@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
7% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,910/year
$257.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 2 of 2 results
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Energex network who consumes 4,600kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Local Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL833116MRE2@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanyControlled loadFeed in tariff available
Reference price
8% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,540/year
$257.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Online Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL833163MRE2@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanyControlled loadFeed in tariff available
Reference price
10% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,480/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 2 of 2 results
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the SA Power Network who consumes 4,000kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Local Rewards
Basic Plan Information | (LCL744095MRE4@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
13% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,110/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Online Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL744101MRE4@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
12% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,130/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Local Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL756586MRE3@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
10% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,190/year
$257.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 3 of 3 results
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer on the Evoenergy network who consumes 6,500kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Reference price Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Local Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL755619MRE4@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
10% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,080/year
$257.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
Energy Locals - Online Member
Basic Plan Information | (LCL755627MRE4@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariffFeed in tariff available
Reference price
13% less
than reference price
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$2,020/year
$197.88 membership fee included
Go to siteView details
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Showing 2 of 2 results
The estimated yearly cost includes GST for a household in the Tasmanian Networks zone. We've used postcode 7000 to help you get an idea of prices, however, these may vary slightly depending on where you live. Always double-check plan details that matter to you.

Compare gas plans from Energy Locals

Name Plan features Charges Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Gas Saver
Basic Plan Information | (LCL856308MRG1@EME)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariff
Pricing
Supply: 83.2c/day
Usage: 2.98 - 4.08c/MJ
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$960/year
$910 if you meet the conditional discount requirements
Go to siteView details
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Showing 1 of 1 results
The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer on the Jemena network who consumes 18542MJ yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Plan features Charges Typical annual cost
Energy Locals - Gas Saver
(ENE588281MR@VEC)
Energy Locals logo
Green CompanySingle rate tariff
Pricing
Supply: 99.96c/day
Usage: 4.21 - 4.82c/MJ
Estimated cost/year (typical usage)
$1,010/year
$960 if you meet the conditional discount requirements
Go to siteView details
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Showing 1 of 1 results
The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer on the Australian Gas Networks network who consumes 46000MJ yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.

EnergyLocals offers

Deal

Free membership to entertainment app

Residents from VIC can get a free membership to the Entertainment app when they sign up to Local Rewards plan. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Additional 7% discount on your electricity bill

Customers in VIC can stay connected for 6 months on the Online Member plan to get a further 7% less than the reference price on your electricity bill. T&Cs apply.
Deal

$100 electricity credit

New customers in NSW, VIC and QLD can get a $100 electricity credit on the Online Member plan. NSW and VIC customers will also receive an additional $50 gas saver credit on select plans. T&Cs apply.

Read a more detailed review on


Rewards and Features

Rewards and features

Energy Locals is a little light on perks but you do get:

💰 Refer a friend credit

Both you and your friend can get $50 off on your next electricity bill when you mention their name when signing up.

🧾 Monthly billing

This can help you manage your energy bills more effectively if you're not keen on the traditional quarterly bill option.

♻️ 100% carbon neutral plans

Energy Locals offers 100% carbon offsets for emissions from your power use, at no cost to you.

Customer Service

Customer service

Australia icon
Local customer support
Social Media
Social media
Payment assistance
Financial hardship assistance

How can I get in touch with Energy Locals?

Energy Locals has a number of ways for you to get in touch, mostly during the week.
You can:

  • Call up the Australian support team on weekdays between 8:30am - 6:30pm AEST (not available with "online" plans)
  • Drop a message on the Energy Locals Facebook or Twitter social media pages
  • Send through a quick email with any questions or problems you might have

Customer satisfaction

As of 12 December 2024, Energy Locals has received the following review scores:

  • Product Review. 4.8/5 stars (2,173 reviews)
  • Trustpilot. 4.2/5 stars (53 reviews)
  • Keep in mind: These reviews are subjective and may not reflect your experience. Use reviews to inform your research when choosing a new plan.

Solar Energy

Solar energy

How much does Energy Locals pay for solar feed-in tariff?

Energy Locals doesn't offer dedicated solar but it does offer feed-in tariffs on its usual electricity plans.

  • Good to know: Energy Locals runs a Community Solar project that allows buildings to take advantage of solar, including owners and renters.
Name Product AUFEG-CDR Solar feed-in tariff
Green Company
TAS
8.94 cents per kWh
Green Company
ACT
3 to 7 cents per kWh
Green Company
QLD
2 cents per kWh
Green Company
NSW
1 cents per kWh
Green Company
VIC
cents per kWh
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Green Energy

Green energy

Is Energy Locals environmentally friendly?

Green Electricity Guide Rating: 8.09/10

When it comes to being environmentally friendly, Energy Locals scores pretty well.

According to Greenpeace's Green Electricity Guide, it's one of the top 3 providers in Australia based on its green credentials.

You can also access GreenPower add-on on all its plans. This will enable the provider to send renewable energy back to the grid by matching your power usage.

You can decide whether you want 10%, 50%, or 100% of your household electricity consumption matched by renewable energy. It'll cost you:

  • 10% GreenPower: 0.39 cents per kWh
  • 50% GreenPower: 1.95 cents per kWh
  • 100% GreenPower: 3.90 cents per kWh

On the downside, it still relies on the market for electricity which is mostly burnt from coal and gas.

Ready to sign up with Energy Locals?

Now that you've read our review of Energy Locals you can check out its plans once again before signing up. Alternatively, if you're unsure, you can compare other energy providers on Finder before commiting to a decision.


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Writer

Cameron Micallef was an investment and utilities writer for Finder. He previously worked on titles including Smart Property Investment, nestegg and Investor Daily, reporting across superannuation, property and investments. Cameron has a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies/ Commerce from the University of Wollongong. Outside of work Cameron is passionate about all things sports and travel. See full bio

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