.svg)
Compare electricity providers in Victoria
Compare electricity providers in Victoria
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 do electricity prices work in Victoria?
Victoria has a deregulated electricity market; this means electricity retailers can set their own prices, called market or retail offers. The Victorian Default Offer is a regulated standing offer price that acts as a benchmark to help customers compare market offers against the standard reference price. So, Victorians essentially have 2 choices: opt for the default offer or hunt around for a competitive market offer deal.
How is my electricity billed in Victoria?
On your bill there’ll be 2 charges: a daily supply charge, the charge for being connected to the grid, and a usage charge, based on how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity you’ve used, which will determine how you’re billed and your final price. For example, looking at the Powercor distribution zone rates from the 2026–27 Victorian Default Offer, using 20 kWh for one day at a usage rate of 0.28 cents per kWh would cost $5.64 per day. Add on the average supply charge of $1.38 a day, and you’d be looking at a daily billing of $7.02.
Your electricity is billed to you every quarter, but it can be billed monthly if organised with your energy companies. How exactly your electricity is billed can look a little different depending on your meter type, tariff type, usage and any extra fees.
How to compare your energy
Tell us about yourself
Share a few details about your household and the type of energy plan you’re after.
Explore your options
Search and filter a range of energy plans based on what’s important to you.
Pick your preferred plan
Once you’ve found an energy plan you like, you can close the deal online or speak with one of our energy 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.
We make energy plans easy to understand
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.
We know energy
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.
We tell it how it is
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.
Compare how you want to
Our Australian-based energy comparison experts are only a call away, or you can compare online. It’s up to you!
While our service to you is provided free of charge, we know there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Learn more about how we make money.
How much does electricity cost in Victoria?
In Victoria, the average cost of electricity is $1,591 for residents on an annual usage of 4,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh); this is according to the 2026–27 Victorian Default Offer (VDO). This average price set by the VDO has been decreasing slowly since its spike to $1,755 in 2023–24. How this benchmarking price will translate to your bills will depend on your location, the energy plan you’re on and whether you have any tariffs or solar panels that can affect the way you’re billed.
To see how electricity prices in Vic have been moving over the past few years, we’ve gathered the average electricity price determined by the VDO from 2022 to 2027. It’s not an all-inclusive view of every Victorian household, since different homes will have different charging methods and cost per kWh on their energy bills, but it’s a handy way to see what recent prices have looked like.
| Year | Price |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | $1,403 |
| 2023–24 | $1,755 |
| 2024–25 | $1,655 |
| 2025–26 | $1,675 |
| 2026–27 | $1,591 |
Note: These figures reflect Victorian Default Offer average prices from 2022 to 2027 for a residential customer with an annual usage of 4,000 kWh, based on data from the Essential Services Commission. Actual costs may vary depending on location, energy usage habits and tariff types.
What is the Victorian Default Offer (VDO)?
The VDO is a regulated standing offer price set by the Essential Services Commission to ensure fair electricity costs, especially for more remote homes where the costs of supplying and getting electricity can be higher. The VDO also acts as a benchmark, giving Victorians a reference point to compare market offers. It’s likely that the VDO will not be the most affordable option when compared to retail plans, but it will come with the stability of set prices, except for once per year when it’s reset.
Even if you don’t pick the VDO, it’s a good pricing benchmark to help you compare. All electricity retailers have to show how their market offer plans compare to the VDO, so you can get a quick idea about whether something is a good deal or just a good marketing team.
What types of electricity plans are there in Victoria?
In Victoria, electricity plans are available in 2 categories: standing offer and market plans. Both come with either a fixed or a variable rate. Fixed-rate plans will stay the same the entire length of your contract, while variable rates are able to change during your contract length. Within these options, there are solar plan options as well as different tariff types like time-of-use plans, which will change the way your electricity is charged.
Fixed-rate plans
Fixed-rate plans lock in a set price per kilowatt hour rate for your electricity usage. They’re great if you like consistency of how your energy usage will be charged.
Just be aware that fixed-rate energy plans might only last for a certain length of time (generally one or 2 years) before they’re up for renewal, and after this time, your retailer may automatically shift you to a higher rate.
Variable-rate plans
Variable-rate plans have usage rates that move up and down with the market, which means more variance in your regular billing. If your plan is going to see any price changes, your provider must give you at least 5 business days’ notice before the rate change is implemented.
Helpful tip
A cheaper rate might be tempting, but it could mean being locked into a contract for a number of years. While fixed contract terms can offer a bit more stability in your bills, they can come with exit fees if you decide to leave when another cheaper plan pops up.
If you like the flexibility to switch providers when a better deal comes along, or you’re not sure what the next few years will look like, a no-lock-in contract might be a better fit. Taking a few extra minutes to compare your options now could save you money and hassle down the track.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
How do I choose a suitable electricity provider in Victoria?
Picking out a suitable provider for your home means checking your usage and supply charges and how they will affect your bills, double-checking what type of contract you’re signing up for and checking all the details around any fees. You should also think about how long it’ll take to switch providers and how to make sure you stay connected during the switchover process.
Check your usage and supply charges
Your usage (how much energy you use) and supply charges (daily charge for connected electricity) can be more helpful in choosing the right electricity provider than the final price of your bills. Knowing the patterns behind your energy usage and how certain usage and supply rates will work will help you understand the inner workings of your bill.
Just remember that depending on your tariff, you might see a few extra usage charges on your bill, so make sure to account for everything when comparing.
Double-check all your fees
The fees that could apply with a specific provider might impact your choice of electricity provider. Most providers will have fees for moving house, cancelling early or even just getting a paper bill in the mail. So you’ll want to understand when you might be charged since this could really affect the end price of your electricity bills from month to month.
If you find yourself switching energy providers often to chase a great offer, make sure to check for any early exit fees or surprise charges that could pop up before actually making the switch.
Check the contract type
Some plans come with variable rates that move with the market, while others are fixed, locking you in for a certain timeframe. There are also benefit periods within certain contracts, which offer a discounted price for a limited period before reverting to a standard rate. Making sure you understand the ins and outs of your contract will help you finding a better match for you without any surprises.
Timeline to switch providers
You’ll need to consider how long the switchover will take from one provider to another. This can depend on the type of meter you have and your home’s setup, but you’ll be switched over either at your next meter read, or possibly within matter of days. Homes with smart meters can see this process happen quicker, so make sure to check your provider’s timeline and line up your disconnection/connection dates with that.
Frequently asked questions
Who is my electricity distributor in Victoria?
Who your distributor in Victoria is will depend on where you’re located in the state, but it will be one of Powercor, Ausnet, United Energy, Jemena or Citipower networks. Distributor networks are in charge of getting your power to your home through poles and wires, while your retailer bills you for the electricity you use.
Which energy providers are in Victoria?
AGL, Red Energy, Origin Energy, 1st Energy and EnergyAustralia are a few of the providers available across Victoria. The exact list of electricity providers available to you will depend on your location, your home’s power setup, tariff type and your energy use habits.
At iSelect, we currently compare a range of plans from the following energy retailers in Victoria:
Some other electricity retailers across Victoria include:
- 1st Energy
- Alinta Energy
- Amber Electric
- Arc Energy Group
- Blue NRG
- CovaU
- Diamond Energy
- Dodo
- Energy Locals
- Flipped Energy
- Flow Power
- GloBird Energy
- Indigo Power
- Kogan Energy
- Momentum Energy
- Nectr
- OVO Energy
- Pacific Blue Retail
- Perpetual Energy
- Powershop
- Real Utilities
- SmartestEnergy
- Solstice Energy
- Sumo
- Tango Energy.
Note: Just remember that iSelect can only help you compare a range of plans from some providers, not all of them.
What energy rebates or concessions can I get in Victoria?
Rebates and concessions available in Victoria include the Annual Electricity Concession, Excess Electricity Concession, Life Support Concession, Medical Cooling Concession and the Non-Mains Energy Concession. The exact rebates and concessions a Victorian household can receive depend on the eligibility requirements.
- Annual electricity concession: With an eligible concession card, you can get 17.5% off your electricity usage and service costs. It just won’t apply to the first $171.60 of your energy bill.
- Excess electricity concession: This is essentially the annual electricity concession but for those with annual bills bigger than $4,038.82. You’ll still need to hold a valid concession card to be able to get 17.5% off your usage and service costs.
- Life support concession: If you or someone else in your house needs an eligible life support machine, this concession can help reduce the cost of 1,880 kWh (470 kWh per quarter). The electricity account holder will need an eligible concession card.
- Medical cooling concession: For certain periods of the year (1 Nov – 30 April), you can get this concession of 17.5% to help keep your home cool. To get it, you need an eligible concession card and you or a member of your household have to have a medical condition that makes it hard to stay comfortable in the heat.
- Non-mains energy concession: Do you use a non-main source of power, like electricity accessed through an embedded network? If you hold an eligible concession card, you could save $58–666 annually, depending on how much you pay for each energy type.
Since these energy discounts come directly from the government, it won’t matter which electricity retailer you’re with. You should see these concessions applied to your electricity bill regardless. So, that’s one less thing to stress about as you compare.
What electricity plan discounts are available in Victoria?
Discounts on your electricity can include sign-up discounts, pay on time discounts, rewards, discounts for going paperless or paying by direct debit and more. The exact discounts available on your electricity plan will depend on your provider and the specific plan you’ve signed up for. There are conditional discounts as well, which means you need to meet a requirement like paying your bill on time to be unlocked, while others are guaranteed and stick around as long as you’re on the plan.
You’ll need to check whether these discounts are a permanent feature on your plan, or if they’re a guaranteed discount with a condition that needs to be met regularly, before jumping in with a single plan.
What kinds of electricity tariffs are available in Victoria?
In Victoria, you’ll be able to choose from single rate, time of use, controlled load, demand and other tariffs (including solar feed-in tariffs). The tariffs available to your home will depend on your provider, your home’s meter and power setup and your usage habits. If you want to change from a standard flat rate to another type of tariff, it’s important to look at your usage habits and find the option that best aligns with your patterns.
- Single-rate tariff: this is a one-rate tariff, which means no matter when you use your electricity or how much of it you use, you’ll only ever have to worry about one charge rate.
- Time-of-use tariffs: With this type of tariff, your day will be split into different chunks: peak, off-peak and Solar Soak. Peak times (think early evening) will cost more than off-peak (midnight to early morning), while Solar Soak sits in the middle of the day between when usage ramps up and down.
- Controlled-load tariffs: If you’ve got underfloor heating or an electric water heater, you can get a different electricity rate to try and curb your bill. It usually means having energy-hungry appliances on a separate meter and restricting when they can be used (usually in off-peak hours).
- Demand tariffs: A demand charge tariff focuses on how intensely you’re using electricity at once, rather than simply how much. It’s sort of like charging based on the maximum speed you drove rather than how far you went.
You might find that different tariffs are more appealing based on what you know about your electricity consumption or how you want your bill to be calculated. So, when you’re comparing plans, it might help to look at both the rate and usage cost, along with what type of tariff is available.
How do I manage my electricity plan when moving house?
About a week or 2 before moving out, you should contact your energy provider to close your account. They’ll need your move-out date for a disconnection at your current home, the move-in date for your new place and details for a final meter reading. They could also charge a disconnection or connection fee, but this depends on your plan and provider. If you’re moving into a new home without power, give yourself extra time for inspections and reconnection.
If you’re renting, your landlord should be the one to organise all the connections to be switched on at your new place, but renters are the ones in charge of reconnecting their electricity in their name. This should be done around a week before you move in as well.
When you’re moving home, you might want to switch energy plans too. This can be an ideal time to make sure your current plan still works for your home. If you want help to take another task off your growing list, iSelect can help make comparing a range of electricity plans simple.
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.