Energy Compare in Melbourne: How to Compare Energy Plans

How Does The Energy Market Work in Melbourne?

More than 200,000 km of underground and overhead power wires in Melbourne deliver electricity. The Australian Energy Regulator handles the expenses.

Significant energy changes in the 1990s moved government-owned energy to the private sector. Thanks to the 2002 Full Retail Contestability, Melbourne residents may now select their own gas and electricity provider, which means lower costs if you know how to shop around.

Victorian Default Offer

Under the Victorian Default Offer, the Energy Services Commission (ESC) sets what it considers to be a reasonable price for power, not the electricity companies. "Access to a fair electricity deal even if they are unable or unwilling to engage in the retail market" is now possible for Victorian customers.

To compare offers and get the best deal possible, you may either ask for the ESC's most recent default offer or use their preset figure.

Standing Offers and Market Rates

Every energy provider will provide a basic, non-discounted plan, and many will also offer a selection of more competitive market offerings that may be more appealing to specific clients than others.

Standing Offer: Energy providers often post their most expensive plan as part of their default pricing structure. When Victoria deregulated, if you were automatically assigned to an electrical company, you would have been put on a standing offer.

The default standing offers made by electrical suppliers and across various power networks varied significantly. Most Victorians have picked their provider instead of sticking with the default standing offer. However, 9% of consumers have not received a better market offer. These clients are squandering hundreds of dollars annually and would be paying the highest rates.

Market Rate: Due to increased competition in the power sector, market offers have the potential to result in significant savings. Depending on several factors, such as payment methods, timely payments, bundled energy, or other choices, these prices typically provide a variety of savings.

Various energy firms offer various price structures and programmes to attract clients based on their demands and use. Selecting an electrical retailer whose plans include your desired services is crucial, even if annual power rates might vary significantly depending on your chosen firm.

Electricity Providers & Distributors In Melbourne

In this part, we discuss the popular electricity providers in Melbourne and then show the differences between electricity providers and distributors.

Popular Electricity Providers in Melbourne

Melbourne's four popular electricity providers and their speciality and deals are as follows:

1. EnergyAustralia

EnergyAustralia provides a variety of power use plans, allowing customers to select the one that best suits their needs:

Special offers they have:

Discounts when you use both their electricity and gas services.

Rewards for customers who stay with them for a long time.

Support for using more renewable energy.

Various payment options, such as receiving a discount for automatic payments.

2. Origin Energy

One of the top companies assisting consumers with using power in their homes is Origin Energy. They provide plans with fixed costs, plans with variable prices, and plans that use renewable energy. Additionally, they offer savings for bundling services or paying online, and their customer support is consistently excellent.

3. BlueNRG

A corporation called BlueNRG provides power to residences and commercial buildings in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. Depending on your power consumption, you can pay a fixed or variable price.

4. Simply Energy by ENGIE

Simply Energy provides some of Australia's best power prices and is part of the larger ENGIE organisation. Plans are classified as either fixed or variable. Fixed-price plans have constant costs throughout, whereas variable-price plans have varying prices.

Difference Between Electricity Distributors And Providers

In Melbourne, suppliers and distributors are two key players in energy delivery to households and businesses.

Electric distributors own and run the substations, underground cables, and power lines supplying energy to homes and businesses. Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) is another name for electricity distributors. They are responsible for reacting to power outages and upholding the electrical grid's security and dependability.

Energy providers buy power from generators and then sold to end users. They are responsible for invoicing, customer service, and determining the pricing users pay for power. Five electricity distributors are in charge of supplying power to residences and commercial buildings throughout Melbourne. These distributors are:

• Citipower
• Jemena
• Powercor Australia
• AusNet Services
• United Energy Distribution

Here is a table summarising the key differences between electricity distributors and electricity providers:

Compare Energy Plans in Melbourne 

Delving into Melbourne's energy provider landscape might be intimidating because it's one of the largest and most varied. Your tastes and energy usage patterns will determine which Melbourne energy supplier is ideal for you.

There are several more factors to consider, even if choosing the most affordable gas or electricity package might be tempting. Energy plans occasionally come with alluring bonuses and rebates that help you make additional savings outside of your electricity payment. 

It's also possible that some other companies don't have the best offers but have outstanding customer support. They are situated entirely in Australia, making getting in touch with them more straightforward.

We have researched and compared all energy suppliers based on the expected yearly cost to identify Melbourne's most affordable power plans and providers.

How To Find The Best Electricity Deals in Melbourne?

With more than 20 merchants to select from, Melbourne's energy market is among the most competitive in Australia. This implies several options to move to a better contract and reduce the amount you pay for power.

In September 2023, the Australian Energy Regulator stated that ordinary families on the CitiPower network could save $421 on power annually by moving from the basic offer to the best bargain on the market. In late 2023, the ACCC examined the costs of more than 5 million residential consumers nationwide.

In Melbourne, over twenty rival energy providers sell power at discounted prices. Thus, it's critical to consider all your possibilities to reduce your energy expenses significantly. Comparison energy pricing offerings from various retailers is the most straightforward approach to locating Melbourne's greatest electricity rates. The following elements should be taken into account when comparing power plans:

Cost: The most significant consideration when comparing power plans is per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Specific merchants offer discounts in exchange for contract signing, timely payments, or direct debit.

Time-of-use (TOU) and single-rate energy tariffs are the two primary types available in Melbourne. Under single-rate tariffs, electricity is priced the same throughout the day and night. Under TOU tariffs, electricity is priced differently depending on the time of day and night, with peak rates usually higher than off-peak rates. A TOU rate can be wise if you use most of your power during off-peak hours.

Features: A few power suppliers provide extra features, including bill smoothing, loyalty programmes, and green energy plans. When evaluating plans, consider the elements that are most essential to you.

Victorian Energy Upgrades

By aiding with the shift to renewable energy sources, the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) programme may save you money on your energy bill in Melbourne while also helping the environment.

The VEU Programme seeks to:

• Lower Victorians' energy costs.
• Contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Encourage investment in renewable energy in Melbourne
• Support job creation and innovation in industries providing low-energy services

All Victorian households qualify for the $250 Power Saving Bonus in 2023. This one-time payment helps cope with the growing cost of energy bills. It was first implemented in 2022 as a component of the COVID relief package, and in 2023, a second round of payments was made to assist with the continuous increase in energy prices.

Several state and federal rebates and incentives are also available for Melbourne households. Pensioners, concession card holders, and low-income families may be eligible to help with gas and electricity plans.

Furthermore, the Utility Relief Grant assists those facing unforeseen financial difficulties in paying past-due water or electricity bills. Applications for this incentive, which offers assistance of up to $1,300, must be made through your electricity provider.

How to Lower Your Electric Bills in Melbourne?

Apart from choosing and comparing energy in Melbourne, there are many ways to save on your electric bills, such as controlling your primary energy consumption, reducing the use of thermostats, choosing energy-efficient appliances, turning them to solar energy, and more.

Control the Main Energy Consumption: You may lower your total energy usage in your home by locating energy hotspots. Certain energy hotspots are simple to recognise, such as lights left during the day or appliances always left on. Refrigerators, swimming pools, and other hard-to-detect ones, like air leaks or drafts, are examples of additional hotspots.

Reduce the Thermostat: Reducing the temperature of your hot water system is one of the simplest methods of saving money on gas. The Department of Energy claims that if you set your thermostat seven to ten degrees lower for eight hours a day, you may reduce your gas cost by up to ten per cent.

Invest in a Smart Docking Station Upgrade: Since the epidemic, employees who work from home have directly contributed to the increase in the price of power. If you are working from home, you utilise more gadgets than average.

However, you may lower energy costs by implementing a few easy home improvements. To prevent your gadgets from squandering energy when in sleep mode, you can, for instance, upgrade your power board, use a bright power strip, or install a surge protector. To further save expenses, make sure to switch off appliances before going to bed.

Use the Economy Option on Dishwashers: Many individuals need to be aware that dishwashers include an economy option that lowers the cost of water heating. Examining the water-rating labels is a smart move when buying a dishwasher. Please select the highest-rated option, which will ultimately result in cost savings.

Choose Solar Energy: Melbourne's energy future is driven by the growing need for sustainable development and renewable energy. Customer choice and the ever-increasing need to fulfil government emissions objectives are the driving forces behind these requests.

Melbourne houses increasingly use solar electricity, an excellent feature given the city's summertime sunlight. Solar panel installations, both residential and commercial, are trending upward. Melbourne is going to be a central hub for solar energy.

Technology innovation is also growing. With battery storage technology, excess energy produced by solar panels may be stored and used when demand is highest. Customers benefit financially from this and become less dependent on conventional energy sources.

If you want to try solar energy but have a limited budget, consider investing in a solar generator first. We highly recommend Jackery Solar Generator, which combines Jackery Solar Panels with a Portable Power Station to fully utilise solar energy.

Jackery Solar Generators Explained

Residents of Melbourne frequently deal with rising demand for environmentally friendly solutions and variable energy rates. Jackery Solar Generators offer an inventive and environmentally friendly substitute for conventional energy sources. They provide unparalleled dependability, efficiency, and performance, whether you're trying to reduce your electricity costs or be ready for any emergency.

Melbourne's varied energy needs necessitate flexible solutions. Jackery Solar Generators offer a dependable means of saving money, lowering carbon emissions, and always having power. For Melbournians exploring alternative energy solutions, Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus and Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro are versatile and efficient. 

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

With its exceptional capacity and adaptability, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus redefines home backup systems and outdoor power supplies.

• Scalable Power Options: By including additional battery packs, the base capacity may be increased from 2 kWh to a remarkable 12 kWh. This feature makes Explorer 2000 Plus perfect for prolonged power outages or heavy appliances.
• Excellent Output: Capable of producing up to 3000W, it quickly powers necessities such as washing machines, heaters, and refrigerators.
• Durable and Sustainable: The LiFePO4 battery technology guarantees stability and dependability for many years, with a lifespan of 10 years when used daily.
• Eco-Friendly Charging: When necessary, choose quick AC charging or use solar panels to capture Melbourne's plentiful sunshine for a clean, renewable power source. Whisper-Quiet Operation eliminates the typical noise generators, creating a calm indoor or outdoor atmosphere.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

Compact and portable, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro offers an excellent solution for smaller households or mobile power needs.

• Versatile Capacity: With a 1002Wh capacity and 800W output, it is ideal for powering lights, phones, laptops, and other small appliances. Regardless of weekly usage, the battery's maximum capacity will remain at 80% after a decade of utilisation.
• Easy-to-Carry Design: Weighing only 11.5 kg, the lightweight and ergonomic design makes it easy to transport for outdoor activities or emergencies.
• Safety First: Outfitted with an intelligent Battery Management System and ChargeShield technology, it provides stable voltage and protects your appliances from damage. Its exceptional battery standby exceeding 365 days at 80%capacity establishes an industry benchmark, making it optimal for emergency backup power.
• Fast Charging for Busy Lifestyles: Thanks to advanced MPPT technology, it charges faster and more efficiently. A full charge takes only 8 hoursvia an AC adapter or 9 hours with 2*SolarSaga 80W panels. It's an ideal choice for those looking for reliable and quick power on the go.

Energy Compare in Melbourne FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about the energy compare in Melbourne.

1. Why is electricity so expensive in Melbourne?

Electricity prices are rising due to increasing wholesale expenses. The primary cause of the price increase is the notable rise in the cost of wholesale power. These expenses would have increased dramatically without the Australian government's Energy Price Relief Plan.

2. What is the normal electricity bill in Melbourne?

To help you visualise the expenses, the average monthly power bill in Victoria for homes from late 2022 to late 2023 is around $84, with variations depending on the size of the family. This is an explanation: Typically, a single-person family makes around $75 per month.

3. How much is the gas bill in Australia?

The study indicates that Australians pay around $65 for gas on a typical monthly basis as of February 2024. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution—living elsewhere can significantly impact gas costs.

Final Thoughts

Many variables, including your energy use, the time of day you consume electricity, and the plan you select, can affect the price of electricity in Melbourne. This page compares the energy plans in Melbourne and offers strategies to save energy bills. Also, you can try the Jackery Solar Generator to charge household appliances with solar energy.