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
2023 Finder Green Awards
Green Energy Retailer of the Year
Energy Locals
Energy Locals won for its impressive clean energy initiatives, competitive GreenPower pricing and the option of carbon neutral energy across all its plan.
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 SA Power Networks network who consumes 4011kWh 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 Evoenergy network who consumes 6100kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Deal
Free membership to entertainment app
Residents from NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT and TAS get a free membership to the Entertainment app when they sign up to Online Member - Local Rewards plan. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Free membership for 6 months
New customers in NSW can get 50% off on their membership fees by signing up for Energy Locals’ Online Member plan.
Deal
Additional 9% discount on your electricity bill
Stay connected for 6 months on the Online Member plan to get a further 9% less than the reference price on your electricity bill. T&Cs apply.
Deal
$150 loyalty credit
Get a $150 loyalty credit after 6 months. Available to VIC residents only. T&Cs apply.
Read a more detailed review on
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
Local customer support Social media 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 3 May 2024, Energy Locals has received the following review scores:
- Product Review. 4.7/5 stars (1,494 reviews)
- Trustpilot. 3.9/5 stars (38 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
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.
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.
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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