Compare Electricity Providers ACT

Residents in the Australian Capital Territory now have more choice when it comes to electricity retailers. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your rates, this might be the perfect time to start shopping around for a better deal.

Because everyone has different budgets and needs, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to energy plans. But don’t worry – we’re here to help. This handy guide to gas and electricity in Canberra and across the ACT has all the recent and relevant information you need to find a plan which suits you.

Increased energy competition in the ACT

As an ACT resident, you have the power to choose your electricity retailer. While there may not be a lot of players in the market, the recent entry of a third provider suggests competition in this area might be starting to heat up.

Three electricity retailers may not seem like much of a selection, but when it comes to finding a great energy plan, it’s always handy to have options. Switching to a better deal could even see you pocketing potential electricity savings.

Of course, how much you save will depend on many factors, including your energy usage, eligibility for discounts and the type of contract you’re on.

Electricity customers in the ACT can ask for a contract with a regulated electricity price, which means the price is set by the government, or you can opt for a market retail contract.

Market contracts give retailers greater flexibility in how they design their rates – provided they meet the National Energy Retail Law requirements – and may include discounts, different billing periods, and additional fees and charges.

So don’t just go with the first offer on the table. Make sure you take the time to carefully compare plans to find the best deal for your needs and budget.

ACT energy concessions

Getting on a better energy plan is one thing, but if you need a little extra help covering your gas and electricity charges, you may be able to apply for a government rebate.

The ACT provides an Energy Concession and a Utility Concession to eligible households to offset the rise in basic utility costs, including water. If you qualify for the rebate, you could receive a maximum rebate of just over $600. From 1 July 2017 these concessions will be combined to provide additional support for eligible households.

To be eligible, you must be the primary holder – that is, yours is the first name appearing on the concession card – of one of the following cards:

• Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC).
• Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card (HCC).
• Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card, Gold Card or TPI.

If you are the primary holder of a Health Care Card, you must make a new application for the Utilities Concession each time you are issued a new card. Remember, too, that your name and address on the card must be the same as the name and address on your energy bill or transaction record. Rebates can only be claimed from the start date of your concession card.

The future of electricity prices in the ACT

Sustainability is a hot topic at the moment, and the ACT has set an ambitious target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2060.

The Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS) supports this goal by encouraging energy efficiency in households and businesses across the ACT. It also aims to help low-income households reduce energy use and costs.

First introduced as the Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act in 2012, the EEIS was extended to 2020 after a review reported high levels of satisfaction among participating households, and showed that it reduces the cost of energy to both residential households and small-to-medium businesses.

The scheme includes:

• A territory-wide energy savings target.
• Energy-saving targets for electricity providers.
• Financial penalties for providers who do not meet these obligations.
• The option for energy providers to subcontract some parts of their business.
• Compulsory annual reporting on compliance by electricity providers.

The EEIS is funded by ACT electricity retailers, who then pass on some of these costs to their customers. But don’t worry – the projected energy savings are expected to be bigger than the costs of the scheme.

In fact, the Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates average weekly savings to be $3.19 per household, which more than covers the estimated average weekly cost of $0.62. And the energy efficiency measures being put in place now mean ACT customers will continue to benefit from savings even after the scheme costs end in 2020.

How can iSelect help you save on energy?

The ACT may be small, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with big energy bills.

You’d be surprised how easy it is to compare gas and electricity plans from our range of providers* and see if you can save – especially when you let iSelect do the legwork for you.

We’ll search plans we offer from our range of energy providers across the territory*, so all you’ll have to do is choose one that meets your needs and budget.

If you decide to switch energy suppliers, rest assured that doing so is simple and painless, and your power supply won’t be disrupted during the changeover.

Best of all, we won’t charge you a cent for our service.

So, stop overpaying for gas and electricity and get a better deal on energy today.

Finding a gas and electricity plan from our range of providers is quick and easy with iSelect. Simply enter your postcode here to get started.