.svg)
Compare electricity providers in South Australia
Compare electricity providers in South Australia
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 South Australia (SA)?
SA’s electricity market has deregulated retail pricing and falls under the National Electricity Market. This means that SA homes can choose an energy provider and plan that meets their needs. It also means that electricity retailers in SA can set their own prices, within the limits set by the Default Market Offer (DMO). This creates more competition and potential savings for those on market offers (plans set by retailers).
If you’d prefer an energy plan that’s a bit more regulated, there’s the DMO, which is a comparison price set by the Australian Energy Regulator. This is what retailers can’t exceed when deciding on their market plan prices. The DMO is priced to be fair, but not necessarily the cheapest. You might see it called a standing offer contract, although you’re welcome to sign up for one sitting down.
Why should I compare electricity providers in SA?
Comparing electricity providers in SA helps you make sure you’re paying a fair price for an electricity plan that suits you. It could mean finding a plan with more perks like discounts, green energy options, different tariffs or more flexible rates that support your home’s energy usage. Even if your current plan is the best option for your home, comparing means you can confirm that your plan is working to your advantage as much as possible.
If that isn’t reason enough, then just think about South Australian weather. SA’s scorching summers and toe-curling winters mean your electricity bill will likely get a workout all year long. If you find that your bills keep creeping up every quarter, comparing could be the simple solution to save energy costs where it really counts. If you want to compare plans, iSelect can help.
It’s easy to get a better deal with iSelect
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 SA
See if you can find a better deal for your home
We make electricity plans easy to understand
Easily compare, select, and potentially save from our range of plans and providers.
Over 1.7m online electricity comparisons
Aussies have made over 1.7 million electricity comparisons online with iSelect since 2018.
We know electricity
Whether you’re looking for additional features on electricity plans or just to save on your bills, we can help you sift through the jargon.
Trained comparison experts
Call our team of friendly comparison experts and compare from our range of electricity plans and providers available.
How much does electricity cost in SA?
The average electricity bill for a home in South Australia costs about $2,334 for 4,000 kilowatt hours, based on the Default Market Offer (DMO), which is a comparison price set by the Australian Energy Regulator. While electricity retailers can set their own market prices, the DMO is a good benchmarking tool to help you weigh up how much your electricity plan will cost you and whether it’s affordable for you or not.
If you want to look a bit deeper into what drives these prices, it can help to look at wholesale prices – one of the largest influences on the DMO’s price. Wholesale electricity is essentially the price energy retailers pay before it’s passed along to you. Compared to other DMO regions, South Australia has the second-highest prices, which explains why the 2026–27 DMO has increased slightly more than in other states.
| Year | Regulated price |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,941 |
| 2020-21 | $1,832 |
| 2021-22 | $1,716 |
| 2022-23 | $1,840 |
| 2023-24 | $2,273 |
| 2024-25 | $2,216 |
| 2025-26 | $2,301 |
| 2026-27 | $2,334 |
Note: These figures reflect indicative standing offer prices for homes using 4,000 kWh per year on a flat rate within South Australia from 2019 to 2027, excluding GST. This data is based on information from the Default Market Offer set by the Australian Energy Regulator. Actual costs may vary depending on household location, provider and usage. Data retrieved July 2026.
What does the future of electricity prices look like in SA?
For the next year, at least, South Australians will be seeing a slight increase in energy prices, with the Default Market Offer (DMO) increasing in 2026–27 by 1.4%. The exact effect this will have on individual households will differ depending on your plan type and usage levels.
But what about the state’s renewable energy scene? SA loves relying on sustainable sources and is aiming to hit 100% net renewables by 2027, helped by its sunny climate and growing number of solar and wind farms (plus some handy grid-scale solar batteries). Unfortunately, this means that when the sun isn’t shining, the state is more vulnerable to volatile electricity pricing. In the first three months of 2026, SA experienced more frequent electricity price spikes than any other state. Hotter weather in these months led to higher energy use, while lower wind generation meant less renewable energy was available to help cover these increased energy needs. This explains the increase in wholesale prices and overall energy prices laid out in the DMO.
Comparing SA electricity explained
Understanding the basics of SA’s market and how your home uses its power is a great way to stop you from wandering in the dark. But don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Watch our short video for a quick recap on all the things you should know before comparing.
Laura Crowden
ISELECT SPOKESPERSON
How do I choose an electricity provider in SA?
Choosing an energy provider for your South Australian home means you need to think about the plan’s supply and usage rates, the tariff type, any fees or discounts attached and, if you have solar panels, what the feed-in tariff is. Understanding these points before you start comparing will make things a lot easier when finding an electricity plan that matches your home’s needs and budget.
Electricity rates
Your usage and daily supply charges will always appear on your energy bill, so choosing a plan with rates that match your budget is important. Your supply charge is a fixed amount you get charged every day and your usage charge is based on how much electricity or kilowatt hours you use. Understanding your current rates can help you look for a plan that offers better value.
Fees
Different electricity providers will have different fees and charges within their plans, so it’s worth checking the details before signing up. These can include late payments, paper bill charges or even disconnection and reconnection fees. While these fees likely won’t be on every bill you get, they can certainly add up over time, so it’s worth seeing what fees might apply on your plan before signing up. If you are frequently comparing, you’ll want to check that your plan has no exit fees, so you can smoothly jump onto another plan that works better for you.
Tariff types
Different providers offer different tariff options, which determine how your electricity usage is charged. Time-of-use tariffs come with different rates depending on when you use power; peak has the highest rates, off-peak sits in the middle and solar sponge are the cheapest. There are also single-rate tariffs, which have a flat rate, demand tariffs, which are based on how intensely you use electricity, and controlled-load tariffs, which run energy-heavy appliances, like electric vehicles, on another meter to run at cheaper periods.
The tariff you’ll be able to use depends on your home’s location and setup. Some tariffs, like time-of-use tariffs, require a smart meter. Unlike manual meters, these generally collect usage readings every half hour, so you can get more accurate billing.
Solar feed-in tariffs
If you have solar power, the feed-in tariff (FiT) offered by an electricity provider can be an important factor when comparing because a higher FiT means more credit for the excess solar energy you export back into the grid. But with more solar being generated across the state, the export price is slowly decreasing, so make sure to weigh up whether a plan with a feed-in tariff is worth it for your home or not.
You could also find more value from your solar system by using as much clean electricity as possible instead of relying on the feed-in tariff. But this all depends on your household’s usage patterns.
Discounts
Discounts can make one electricity plan look more appealing than another, but it’s important to make sure you’re eligible for them. Some discounts can only be applied once you meet a certain condition, like paying by direct debit or on time. So, if you do see a nice-looking discount, just remember to check whether it’s a conditional discount, and whether it’s achievable for you.
Helpful tip
Getting the most out of solar isn’t just about chucking a few panels on the roof. You’ll want to set things up to maximise solar generation in the winter months when the sun is at its lowest. Ideally, having your panels face north-east to north-west with nothing blocking the light is the best option. Tilting your panels a bit can also help them soak up more of those sweet UV rays.
It can also be worth your time to chat with a renewable energy consultant. They can help tailor your solar setup to SA’s sun patterns. And with feed-in tariffs getting lower, investing in a battery to store extra energy could help you potentially pay off your system quicker.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
Frequently asked questions
Which electricity providers operate in SA?
EnergyAustralia, Lumo Energy, ENGIE and Red Energy are some electricity providers that operate in SA. The exact electricity providers available to your home will depend on your postcode, house usage, your energy tariff and whether you use solar energy.
Some of the electricity retailers in SA compared by iSelect include:
There are other electricity retailers in SA, including:
- 1st Energy
- ActewAGL
- Alinta Energy
- Amber Electric
- CovaU
- Diamond Energy
- Dodo
- Energy Locals
- Future X Power
- Globird
- iO Energy
- Kogan Energy
- Locality Planning Energy
- Momentum Energy
- Nectr
- Next Business Energy
- OVO Energy
- Pacific Blue
- Powershop
- RAA Energy
- Sumo
- Tango Energy
- Zen Energy.
Just remember that iSelect can only help you compare from a selected range of providers.
Which electricity distributors operate in SA?
The only electricity distributor that operates in SA is SA Power Networks. Distributors are the ones who keep the lights on by managing the infrastructure that delivers electricity to your house, while your electricity retailer is the one that sells your energy to you. Thankfully, you don’t need to pay your distributor directly. Any costs will already be baked into your bill, because who wants to be dealing with more bills?
What rebates and concessions apply in SA?
Electricity rebates and concessions available in SA include the energy bill concession, cost-of-living concession and the energy discount offer.
- Energy bill concession: If you’re on a low or fixed income and hold a valid concession card or get a Centrelink payment, you could get up to $291.78 to help cover your energy bills.
- Cost-of-living concession: If you’re on a low or fixed income, you could get up to $270.60 for 2026–27 to put towards electricity bills, council rates and medical expenses.
- Energy discount offer: Eligible concession card holders with Origin Energy could get a discount of up to 20% on their electricity bills.
What are the peak, off-peak and shoulder times in SA?
In SA, peak times are 6 am – 10 am and 4 pm – 12 am, off-peak is 12 am – 6 am, and solar sponge is 10 am – 4 pm. These are the different rate periods you’ll pay on a time-of-use tariff. Rates during the solar sponge are the cheapest throughout the day since this is when solar output is at its highest. Rates are higher at peak times and slightly cheaper at off-peak times.
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.