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Comparing Electricity Providers in South Australia
Comparing Electricity Providers in South Australia
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.
How does the electricity market work in SA?
South Australia’s electricity market has deregulated retail pricing, which makes it a little bit of a free-for-all (in a good way). Letting retailers decide what they want to charge for their plans means they’re always competing, and competition = potential savings for you.
But if you’d prefer something a bit more regulated, there’s the Default Market Offer (DMO). Set by the Australian Energy Regulator, 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.
At the end of the day, it’s your call whether you hop onto a standing offer – just check what’s available in your area first.
Why should I compare electricity providers in SA?
South Australia doesn’t hold back with its weather. Their 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.
But comparing your electricity plan isn’t just about snagging a better price – you could also score discounts, green energy options, and more flexible rates. Why walk away with the first plan you see when you can shop around to find one that leaves a little bit extra in your budget?
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How much does electricity cost in SA?
Since electricity retailers can set their own market prices, the DMO isn’t a perfect snapshot of SA’s electricity costs. But it does give you a solid ballpark figure and helps you track whether prices are trending up or down.
And if you want to take in the whole bird’s-eye view, you can look at wholesale prices – one of the largest influences on the DMO’s price.
Wholesale electricity is basically the price retailers pay before they send it along to you. In the first half of 2024, these costs jumped from $83 a quarter to $148, but this was most likely due to the change of seasons.1Australian Energy Regulator – Data – state of the energy market 2024 – chapter 2 – National Electricity Market, figure 2.3 When looking at FY2023-24 SA rose to the equal second most expensive state in the country for wholesale electricity costs at $103 per MWh. Even though that’s a 32% drop from the previous financial year, electricity costs haven’t had a great year to plateau out, with low renewable output network outages and more impacting the state.2Australian Energy Regulator – State of the Energy Market 2024, p18
What does the future of electricity prices look like in SA?
If predicting electricity prices was easy, we probably wouldn’t have had to deal with the 2022 energy crisis. While there are no guarantees, there are some pretty good signs to be hopeful about.
And in SA, those signs are powered by the sun. The state loves relying on sustainable sources and is on track to hit 100% net renewables by 2027. It’s an ambitious goal, but it’s doable when you think about the sunny climate of South Australia and its growing number of solar and wind farms (plus some handy grid-scale solar batteries).
Need proof? Just think back to 1 October 2023, when rooftop solar met a whopping 99.7% of SA’s total electricity demand from 1:00 to 1:30 pm.3The Guardian – Hope for power bill relief as eastern Australia’s wholesale electricity price tumbles And a year later, in Q3 of 2024, SA had some of the highest levels of negative wholesale prices in the National Energy Market. Translation? So much solar power was being generated that there wasn’t much demand for electricity from the grid.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. SA was also one of the most volatile states in the same 2024 quarter, thanks to factors like market caps returning, chilly nights, low wind conditions and network outages. But even with all these ups and downs, SA saw one of the lowest average wholesale prices, with a 38% decrease from Q2 of 2024.4AEMO – Quarter energy dynamics Q3 2024, figure 10
So, while we can’t predict the future, one thing’s for sure: SA’s energy game is looking bright.
Comparing SA electricity explained
Is comparing your electricity plan sinking lower and lower on your to-do list? You’re not alone. But don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. 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.
Laura Crowden
ISELECT SPOKESPERSON
How do I choose an electricity provider in SA?
Finding a new electricity provider is like dating. That first date might leave you thinking you’re a match made in heaven. But once the honeymoon period is over, you might realise you aren’t gonna get the happily ever after you were hoping for. So, before you say yes, it could be worth knowing what you want, so you don’t get stuck in an electricity relationship that’s all take and no give.
Electricity rates
Think of your rates like the price tags on your electricity. There’s usually a fixed amount you get charged every day (known as a supply charge) and a usage charge based on how much electricity (or kWs) you use. Understanding your current rates can help you look for a plan that offers better value.
Fees
Depending on the electricity retailer, a variety of fees might turn up on your next bill. 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.
Tariff types
Your tariffs can affect how much you have to pay each quarter. Time-of-use tariffs, for example, come with different rates depending on when you use power. In peak times, like in the early evening, the rates might be higher because there’s more demand, compared to late at night when most people are in bed. There are also single-rate tariffs, which have a flat rate, and demand tariffs, which look at how intensely you use electricity, among others.
If you’re on a time-of-use tariff, a smart meter will be a game changer. Unlike manual meters, these collect usage readings every half hour so you can get more accurate billing.
Solar feed-in tariffs
Solar isn’t just great for the planet; it can help your electricity bill too. The trick is in the feed-in tariffs. These are the rates paid to you for selling excess solar-generated electricity to the grid – sort of like a reverse usage charge. A higher feed-in tariff can mean more credit for you, but it might also come with higher usage charges.
You could also find more value from your solar system by using as much of that clean electricity as possible instead of relying on the feed-in tariff. But this all depends on your household’s usage patterns.
Discounts
While your electricity retailer may not have as many discounts as your local rug store, they can still be worth keeping an eye out for. Just be careful to get the full story on any electricity discounts, particularly the conditional kind. These are ones that need you to do something to unlock the discount, like paying by direct debit or on time. So if you do see nice-looking discounts just remember to see if there are any attached conditions and if they’re achievable for you.
Helpful tip
Getting the most out of solar energy doesn’t simply mean installing a few panels. The aim should be to maximise solar generation in the winter months when the sun is at its lowest, a north-east to north-west orientation with no obstructions is the ideal scenario. Adjusting the panels so they’re tilted can also help them soak up those sweet UV rays. And seeking out a renewable energy consultant doesn’t hurt either! The right consultant can even help you tailor your solar panels to South Australia’s specific sun patterns. With the state of the current feed in tarrifs finding the money for batteries to store any excess energy is the quickest way to paying off your system.
Dean Ipaviz
Sustainability Expert and Presenter
Frequently asked questions
Which electricity providers operate in SA?
With over 1.8 million people calling South Australia home as of 30 June 2024,5Australian Bureau of Statistics – National, state and territory population June 2024 a lot of people need electricity. Luckily, there are a few different electricity retailers to choose from in SA.
Some of the electricity retailers in SA compared by iSelect include:
There are some other electricity retailers in SA including:
- 1st Energy
- 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.
While these companies may sell you electricity – and some even generate it – there are a few other key players to be aware of. Distributors, like SA Power Networks, are the ones who keep the lights on by managing the infrastructure that delivers electricity to your house. 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?
A great electricity plan can help you save, but rebates and concessions could help you save even more. In SA, there are a couple to watch out for, including:
- 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 $274.85 per year to help cover your energy bills.6Government of South Australia – Energy bill concessions
- Energy bill relief rebate: To help ease rising costs, SA households can get up to $300 a year.7Government of South Australia – Energy bill relief You don’t need to do anything for this; you’ll just see a nice little quarterly credit of $75 on your bill.
- Cost of living concession: If you’re on a low or fixed income, you could get up to $255.60 for 2024–25 to put towards electricity bills, council rates and medical expenses.8Government of South Australia – Cost of living concession
What are the peak, off-peak and shoulder times in SA?
If your electricity plan has a time-of-use tariff, you’ll pay different rates for during different hours of the day. With rates being higher at peak times than off-peak or shoulder, it’s all about spreading your energy usage out to ease the grid during rush hour.
While the times can change, in most cases SA’s peak hours are from 6 to 10 am and 3 pm to 1 am. Off-peak falls outside this, from 1 am to 6 am. But what about the rest of the time? In SA, the period from 10 am to 3 pm is called the solar sponge (or shoulder) time, since houses with solar panels will collect more solar power and lower their bill during these hours.
Make switching electricity plans shockingly easy with iSelect
If the thought of comparing electricity providers on your own is leaving you feeling bluer than Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake, we’re here to turn things around. Our online electricity comparison tool can have you comparing a range of electricity providers and plans in a matter of minutes. Alternatively, feel free to call our friendly team on 1800 664 532. They’ll be happy to take you through your comparison.
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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.