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Compare Electricity Providers in Melbourne
Compare Electricity Providers in Melbourne
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Dean IpavizSee 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.
Why should I switch electricity providers in Melbourne?
Your relationship with your electricity provider isn’t like a marriage. They aren’t helping you put the kids to bed or making memories with you on that once-in-a-lifetime holiday, after all. So, if another electricity provider catches your eye, you’re free to follow your heart – once you’ve done your research.
You might want to switch electricity providers to lock in lower rates, score some extra discounts, or simply find a better fit for your lifestyle. Changing plans is just a part of life. Of course, when it comes to switching, it can really pay to size up the competition. That way you can make an informed decision.
How does the electricity market work in Melbourne?
Melbourne’s electricity market has been privatised since 2002 and deregulated since 2009. Sounds dry, but it’s actually pretty handy for you. Deregulation means electricity providers can create a bit of competition in their plan prices, which can be great for your wallet.
But don’t worry, it’s not the Wild West. Providers can’t just make up rates as they go (that would be madness!). A default price is set by the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) each year, which acts as a benchmark price to keep things in check. This acts as a reference point and a cap that all energy providers base their own electricity prices on.
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 electricity providers in Melbourne
See if you can possibly find a better deal for your home
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Easily compare, select and save from our range of plans and providers.
More than 1.7 million online energy comparisons made
Since 2018, iSelect has helped everyday Aussies compare energy plans online more than 1.7 million times.
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If you’re tangled up in tariffs or trying to figure out what plans you’re eligible for, we can help you cut through the jargon.
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Sometimes a good deal just can’t be beat. If we can’t offer you a better value plan, we’ll be upfront with you.
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How much does electricity cost in Melbourne?
Electricity costs in Melbourne aren’t one-size-fits-all. Prices depend on things like your location, provider, and plan. But to give you a ballpark figure, let’s check out the average cost per kWh across Victoria’s energy distributors. This can help you see how your plan stacks up and where you might save.
How do I choose an electricity provider in Melbourne?
Picking an electricity provider isn’t as easy as grabbing the one with the flashiest number on the ad. If you want a plan that clicks for your household, there are a few boxes to tick first.
Understand your usage
Think about how you use energy day-to-day. Are you working from home and powering your laptop, washing machine, and coffee machine all day? Or are you out of the house and mainly using energy at night? Your habits will guide you to the right rates – for example, a cheaper rates in the evening might suit a night owl, while a flat rate could work better for someone with a consistent routine.
Contract types
That big, shiny number on the ad? It’s not the whole story. If you check the details of your contract – like whether it’s a fixed or variable rate, payment options, and any additional fees (like disconnection) – not only will you have no surprises down the track, but you can have more confidence in your choice.
Discounts and concessions
No one wants to stretch their budget so paper thin they can practically see out of it. So, it’s always worth looking out for any discounts or rebates you might be eligible for. Just don’t forget to read the fine print, especially when it comes to conditional discounts (where you need to meet certain requirements before they kick in).
Green energy options
With climate change always in the back of everyone’s mind, choosing a greener provider is a big tick for a lot of people. Whether you’re after a compatible solar feed-in tariff plan, a provider that invests in renewable energy, or one that offers carbon offsets, going green doesn’t just feel good – it’s the ultimate green flag for the future.
Helpful tip
Many of Melbourne’s energy providers now offer carbon-neutral plans for their customers. This allows climate-conscious customers to cancel out their home emissions through carbon offsets via nature or technology based credits.
Dean Ipaviz
Sustainability Expert and Presenter
Which electricity distributors operate in Melbourne?
Ever wonder who’s really powering your home? While you might think your electricity provider does it all, it’s more like a dynamic duo: Batman (the provider) is the face of the operation, but Robin (the distributor) is working behind the scenes, making it all happen. Your electricity distributor doesn’t just deliver energy – they own the poles, wires, and infrastructure that keeps your home connected to the grid. Electricity providers, on the other hand, buy this energy and sell it to you.
Melbourne’s a big city, so it takes five electricity distributors to keep the lights on across its suburbs. Unlike providers, you don’t get to pick your distributor – it’s assigned based on where you live.
In your day-to-day, knowing your distributor won’t make much of a difference. But it can come into play when looking at electricity plans, particularly if you want to go for the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) , which determines your pricing based on your location. At its heart, the VDO isn’t the cheapest electricity plan around, but the Essential Services Commission maintains it as a safeguard, making sure you don’t pay nail and tooth for your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Which electricity providers operate in Melbourne?
If you thought Melbourne had a smorgasbord of distributors, just wait until you see how many electricity retailers there are.
Some of the retailers compared by iSelect are:
However, there are also other providers on the list, including:
- 1st Energy
- Alinta Energy
- Amber Electric
- Arcline by RACV – Energy
- Blue NRG
- CoPower
- CovaU
- Diamond Energy
- Dodo
- Electricityinabox
- Energy Locals
- Flow Power
- GloBird Energy
- Indigo Power
- Kogan Energy
- Momentum Energy
- MYOB powered by OVO
- Nectr
- Next Business Energy
- OVO Energy
- Pacific Blue
- Powershop
- Real Utilities
- ReAmped Energy
- SmartestEnergy
- Solstice Energy
- Sumo
- Tango Energy
- The People’s Grid
That makes a lot of electricity plans to compare! Just remember that iSelect can only help you out with a few of these.
How is my electricity charged in Melbourne?
Let’s be real – power prices have been causing some serious stress since the global energy crisis hit in 2021. In fact, when we surveyed 1,000 Aussies in late 2023, only 8% of them felt they were easily coping with higher power bills.1iSelect commissioned i-Link Research to conduct a national online survey between 2 November and 7 November 2023. The sample is n=1,000 Australians 18+ years, with data weighted to represent the population by age, state and gender, and is representative of all Australian adults 18+. So, if you’re comparing plans with cost top of mind, we don’t blame you.
But here’s the thing: your electricity bill isn’t just one big number. You might have a few different charges coming together to make that final bill amount.
- Supply charge: This is the daily cost of keeping your place connected to the electricity grid. It won’t go up or down, no matter how much electricity you use in a day.
- Usage charge: This is where your electricity use comes into play, along with tariffs. This charge will change depending on how much electricity you use in a day – and sometimes when you use it.
- Single rate tariff: This is a flat rate for your usage charge. It can make it easy to figure out what your electricity bill will look like if you know your average daily usage.
- Time-of-use tariff: This usage charge takes into account when you use your electricity. For instance, it might come with a higher rate during peak demand times in the evenings but a lower rate during the middle of the day.
- Controlled load tariff: If you’re lucky enough to have a pool or heated flooring, you could have those electricity-hungry appliances on a separate meter and usage rate to help smooth out your bills.
- Demand tariff: This tariff takes into account your usage as well as the demand you put on the electricity grid, particularly at peak times
- Solar feed-in tariff (FiT): With solar panels, you can put electricity back into the grid and get paid for it, although FiTs are a lot lower than they used to be.
- Late fees: These are more likely to hurt your wallet than the late fees that come from your local library. Pay your bill late and you might find it got bigger while you weren’t looking.
- Discounts: From signing up for a particular plan to paying by direct debit, you might be able to shave a little off your bill.
Understanding which tariffs you’re on could give you a great place to start comparing. Or, if you want to make the most of your solar power and panels, a plan with a high FiT might make the most of your system.
No matter your setup, comparing plans based on how you use electricity is the best way to take charge of your bill – and keep those pesky late fees at bay.
What energy concessions or rebates can I get in Melbourne?
Discounts are always a sweet little bonus, but if your household needs extra support, there are some handy rebates and concessions you should know about:
2024-25 Energy Bill Relief
The Australian Government and state and territory governments are jumping in with a $300 rebate to help take the pressure off homes during the cost-of-living crisis.2Victoria State Government – Energy Bill Relief Fund This rebate should be automatically added to your bill, so make sure to check.
Annual electricity concession
If you’ve got a health care or pensioner concession card, you could be eligible to get 17.5% of your electricity bill back. The catch is that it doesn’t kick in until after the first $171.60 of your bill, but anything above will get the discount.3Victoria State Government – Annual electricity concession
Excess electricity concession
Got a bill higher than $3,985.13? If you hold a valid concession card, you’re eligible for 17.5% of your bill back.4Victoria State Government – Excess electricity concession This is calculated after retailer discounts and solar credits have all been applied.
Medically cooling concession
If you need a cool and comfortable home for medical reasons, you could get a concession between 1 November and 30 April. If you’ve got an eligible condition that affects your ability to self-regulate your temperature and you have an eligible concession card, you could get a concession for 17.5% of your electricity usage.5Victoria State Government – Medical cooling concession
Life support concession
Got a life support machine at your house? If you have an eligible concession card and use an approved machine that uses at least 1,880 kWh (or have someone in your house who does), you could get added support. If you tick all the boxes, this concession could cover the cost of 1,880 kWh (470 kWh per quarter).6Victoria State Government – Life support concession
Non-mains energy concession
If you use a non-main source of energy like LPG or generator fuel and you have a valid concession card, you could be eligible for a rebate based on how much you paid for each energy type in a year.
Where can I compare electricity providers in Melbourne?
If it’s time for greener grass, iSelect can help you compare a range of electricity plans from a selection of providers. You can get started right now – even if you’re still in your PJs – with our online energy comparison tool or by calling our energy comparison experts on 1800 664 532.
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.