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Compare Electricity Providers in Canberra
Compare Electricity Providers in Canberra
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Julia PaszkaSee our range of Energy Providers
iSelect does not compare all providers in the market or all plans offered by our partners in your area. Not all plans or special offers are available to all customers and some may only be available over the phone or on the website. Learn more.
How does the electricity market work in Canberra?
Canberra has a regulated electricity market, which means the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission keeps an eye on things to make sure Canberra’s electricity providers all play fair. But when it comes to who’s in charge of billing your electricity, the choice is yours.
You can pick between a market offer (usually cheaper and comes with perks like discounts and GreenPower options) or a standing offer, which is basically a government-backed safety net deal with capped prices. So, whether you want a bit of structure in your energy plan, or the freedom to jump to whatever plan is cheapest, Canberrans have the pick of the bunch when it comes to powering their home.
Why should I compare electricity providers in Canberra?
Picking an electricity plan without comparing is like choosing a movie based on its title. It might sound like what you’re after, but two hours in, you might be wondering what you just watched.
Comparing electricity suppliers in Canberra gives you the chance to find something that actually fits your needs and budget. Maybe you work from home all week, charge an EV every night, or just want a smaller power bill. No matter what you want from your provider, there’s likely one out there to match. Comparing at least every 12 months could be a simple way to dodge hidden fees, escape bill shock, or stop paying for extra benefits that you’ll never touch. A quick check now could end up meaning fewer surprises later and more flex in your budget for the fun stuff (like a nice dinner and a show at The Street Theatre).
It’s easy to get a better deal with iSelect
Switching electricity providers is so easy, you shouldn’t even break a sweat.
Tell us about yourself
Share a few details about your household and the type of electricity plan you’re after.
Explore your options
Search and filter a range of electricity plans based on what’s important to you.
Pick your preferred plan
Once you’ve found an electricity plan you like, you can close the deal online or speak with one of our electricity comparison experts over the phone.
Get connected, no worries
Let us know which plan you’d like to move to, and we can handle the switch, saving you time and hassle.
Compare a range of electricity providers in Canberra
See if you can find a better deal for your home
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How much does electricity cost in Canberra?
Electricity prices in Canberra can swing quite a bit, just like the rest of the country. Recently, ActewAGL raised its default electricity plan (called a ‘standing offer’) by 10.11%, mostly due to inflation. This meant the regulator had to update its official price cap to keep it in line with current costs. As a result of these changes, the average Canberra home could see its electricity bill jump up by about $214 annually.1ICRC – Retail electricity price recalibration 2025-26: standing offer prices for the supply of electricity to small customers
So, what does this mean for you? We’ve gathered a few estimated annual figures to show you how this change might affect different household types. While your final bill will depend on your provider, location, plan, and usage, the table could help give you a better picture of what your future bills might look like.
Estimated changes to Canberra electricity bills between 2024–25 and 2025–26
| Consumer type | Annual usage (kWh) | Estimated annual bill 2024–25 | Estimated annual bill 2025–26 |
| Small | 3,800 | $1,240 | $1,366 |
| Average | 6,500 | $2,122 | $2,336 |
| Large | 7,500 | $2,448 | $2,695 |
Source: ICRC – Retail electricity price recalibration 2025-26: standing offer prices for the supply of electricity to small customers, p13.
How do I choose an electricity provider in Canberra?
Contract type
When it comes to electricity, for some people, flexibility matters as much as the price. Fixed-rate contracts can mean cheaper or steadier prices, but they’ll usually lock you in for a set time, so if something better comes up, you won’t be able to jump ship without paying some exit fees. Flexible or variable plans can give you more freedom, but rates can change more frequently, as your provider sees fit. So, you might need to be more vigilant in checking out what the competition has to offer to make sure you’re getting a deal that’s right for you.
Fees
Every provider has its own set of fees. Most will have varying connection, disconnection, late payment, exit, and more fees that you may need to pay at one time or another. But who will charge you what, and how much it’ll cost you, will all depend on your exact provider. One plan might charge you a setup fee but go easy on exit costs, while another could have high fees all around. Always check the details before signing up to make sure it works for your budget.
Discounts and concessions
Concessions are mostly run by state and federal governments, but some providers also offer their own range of price perks, like an early bird discount for paying before your bill’s due. But most of the time, these provider discounts are conditional, which means you need to hit the bullseye before you can get the prize. So, it’s worth double-checking what you need to do to qualify for the discount and making sure that it’s doable for you.
Green energy options
You don’t need solar panels and a full setup to have an environmentally friendly home; many providers in Canberra offer renewable or carbon-offset plans, where your electricity usage is matched with power from renewable sources. These GreenPower plans cost a little extra than a standard plan but help support cleaner energy in the state. However, they won’t contribute to the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity target. You could also look for providers that already use renewables as a part of their standard mix.
Helpful tip
If your home doesn’t already have a smart meter, getting one installed could make tracking your energy use a breeze (and maybe even help lower your bills). Smart meters send your usage directly to your provider, which means no estimated bills, just accurate, up-to-date readings. Smart meters also allow you to see exactly when you’re using the majority of your power, which can help you jump onto time-of-use tariffs to take advantage of those cheaper rate periods.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
Frequently asked questions
Who is my electricity distributor in Canberra?
Canberra’s main distributor is EvoEnergy. It handles the behind-the-scenes stuff like generating and transporting power before it reaches your retailer, who then sells it to you. Think of it like the publisher who transforms the manuscript into a nice, neat book, before it’s sent to hit the shelf at your local bookshop. Some remote ACT areas are covered by Essential Energy, but only areas outside the city of Canberra.
Which electricity providers are available in Canberra?
At iSelect, we currently compare products from the following energy retailers in Canberra:
Some other electricity retailers across Canberra include:
- 1st Energy
- ActewAGL
- Active Utilities Retail
- Alinta Energy
- Altogether
- Amber Electric
- Ampol Energy
- Arc Energy Group
- Aurora Energy
- Blue NRG
- Brighte Energy
- CleanCo Energy
- CleanPeak Energy Retail
- CovaU
- CPE Mascot
- Diamond Energy
- Discover Energy
- Dodo
- Ellis Air Connect
- Energy Locals
- Ergon Energy
- Evergy
- Flipped Energy
- Flow Power
- Future X Power
- GEE Energy
- GloBird Energy
- Glow Power
- Humenergy Group
- iGENO
- Locality Planning Energy
- Localvolts
- Macarthur Energy Retail
- Metered Energy Holdings
- Microgrid Power
- Momentum Energy
- Nectr
- Next Business Energy
- OVO Energy
- Pacific Blue Retail
- PowerHub
- Powershop
- Powow Power
- Radian Energy
- Savant Energy
- Seene
- Shell Energy
- Silver Asset Energy
- Smart Energy
- Solstice Energy
- Stanwell
- Sumo
- Tango Energy
- Telstra Energy
- Telsa Energy
- Veolia Energy
- WINConnect
- YES Energy
- ZEN Energy
Note: Just remember that iSelect can only help you compare with some providers, not all of them.
What electricity rebates or concessions are available in Canberra?
Energy Bill Relief Fund
The Energy Bill Relief Fund has been a nice bonus seen in many bills across the past few years, and it’s being extended again until the end of 2025. Eligible households can get up to $150 in energy bill rebates until the end of 2025. Payments are split into two $75 chunks and applied directly to your bills each quarter.
Electricity, Gas, and Water Rebate
Households with certain concession cards (like a Pensioner Concession Card, Veteran Gold Card, ACT Services Access card, or Health Care Card) can get up to $800 per year back on electricity, gas, and water costs.
ACT Life Support Rebate
If you or someone in your home uses life-support equipment, you could be eligible for a rebate to help cover electricity costs. To be eligible, the person must use certain equipment, like a respiration or dialysis machine, prescribed by an ACT medical practitioner for a life-threatening condition, and your address must be the principal place of residence for that person.
Medical Heating and Cooling Rebate
For people with medical conditions that affect body temperature regulation (like MS or Parkinson’s), this rebate can help with the higher energy costs of heating and cooling. You’ll need an eligible concession card and one of the listed primary conditions to apply.
How is my electricity billed in Canberra?
Your electricity bill is made up of two main parts: your usage and supply charge.
- Your usage charge is based on how much power you consume, charged per kilowatt hour (kWh). It either works on a flat rate or varies depending on the time of day. This is called peak/off-peak pricing or a time-of-use tariff. It means your usage charges will depend on the time of day you’re using power.
- Your supply charge is the daily fee set by your provider just for staying hooked up to the main grid. That means you’ll need to pay this even if you’re away for a month and don’t use a drop of power.
How do I manage my electricity plan when moving house?
If you’re happy with your current provider, it’s as easy as going online or giving them a call with your move-out and move-in dates so they can handle the connection and disconnection.
If you’re switching, you can do the heavy lifting all by yourself. This means calling your old provider about disconnecting, getting a final meter read, researching plans, and setting up a new account with your new provider. Or you can let iSelect do all the hard yards for you. Our team will help you compare and take care of all the switching admin. That way, you’ll walk into your new home with power ready to go – no candles required.
How do I switch my electricity provider in Canberra?
Switching is simple with iSelect. You can change providers anytime, and after a quick comparison with us, we can help you set up your new account and even handle the handover with your old one – no awkward break-up call needed. To sign up, you’ll usually just need your address, ID, and preferred connection date. Once confirmed, you’ll get your new plan details and terms in writing before the switch officially kicks in.
Get started on comparing energy plans today!
Save time and effort by comparing a range of energy plans with iSelect
iSelect does not compare all energy providers or plans in the market. The availability of plans may change from time to time, depending on who iSelect’s providers are and what plans they make available to iSelect. Not all plans made available from iSelect providers may be compared by iSelect either due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, so not all plans or providers compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Some plans and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Energy plans are available only for properties located in eligible areas of Victoria, New South Wales, South East Queensland, South Australia and ACT. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.