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Compare electricity providers in New South Wales
Compare electricity providers in New South Wales
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 are electricity prices set in NSW?
In NSW, prices for market electricity plans (the vast majority of plans) are set by retailers, while standard plans are capped by the Default Market Offer (DMO). The DMO is a comparison price set by the Australian Energy Regulator.
Electricity providers can’t charge more than the DMO price for standing offer plans. But when it comes to market offers (plans with perks and more attractive prices), they have complete freedom to set prices, as long as they show how their prices compare to the DMO benchmark price. Because retailers compete for customers, market offers are often lower than the DMO. They may also include discounts and different pricing structures (like off-peak plans). Comparing a range of energy plans is the best way to find one that can balance your energy demand with your budget.
What makes up my electricity bill in NSW?
Your electricity bill consists of 2 main charges: a daily supply charge and a usage charge. The daily electricity supply charge is a flat fee tied to your home’s power connection and appears on your bill whether you use any power or not. Your usage charge, on the other hand, covers what you actually use and is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Depending on your electricity plan, you might also see different rates or tariffs for different times of the day, like peak, shoulder, and off-peak. When choosing between plans, how much you weigh each charge should likely depend on how much you use. For example, if you have a renewable energy set-up with a solar feed-in tariff that can slash the amount of power you use from the grid, then a cheaper daily supply charge may be more important to you. And the opposite is also true – households with higher usage rates may be more concerned with the price per kWh.
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Helpful tip
Helpful tip
The energy market in NSW is deregulated, which means electricity retailers have a little more wiggle room when it comes to setting their prices and tariffs. But what does that mean for you? It means you’re the one energy retailers want to impress. That’s why it pays to compare your options and look for competitive pricing on the tariff structures available to you.
For example, if your smart meter is configured for time-of-use tariffs (where power costs more during ‘peak’ hours, like the evening), it’s worth checking for a plan with lower peak-time prices. Especially if that’s when you’re using the bulk of your electricity. If you can find a plan that fits with your routine, you might just end up saving a decent chunk of change.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
Which electricity distributors cover NSW?
The electricity distributors that operate in NSW are Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy. The distributor network operator for your home will depend on your postcode but will likely be one of these three.
- The Ausgrid network covers Sydney’s central coast, including inner, northern, and eastern metropolitan suburbs.
- Endeavour Energy looks after Sydney’s southern and western metropolitan areas, even extending across the Southern Highlands from the Blue Mountains to Illawarra.
- Essential Energy handles the rest of regional and country NSW.
It’s worth remembering that your electricity distributor doesn’t sell individual power plans but instead supplies electricity wholesale to NSW’s energy retailers.
How many energy retailers operate in NSW?
There are dozens of energy retailers that operate across NSW, such as AGL, EnergyAustralia, Origin and Red Energy. Each of these providers offers different plans and pricing structures, which homeowners can choose from to best suit their needs. iSelect can help you compare plans from some of these providers.
Providers we can help you compare from include:
Just remember that iSelect can only help you compare with some of these providers, not all of them.
How much does electricity cost in NSW?
While your power costs will depend on many factors – like location and energy usage – the average NSW household could pay around 46–57 cents per kWh on standing offer flat tariff plans.1Australian Energy Regulator – Default Market Offer (DMO) 2026-27 final determination, p16 These figures are based on typical household usage in homes without separately metered appliances (like hot water systems) under the Australian Energy Regulator (AER)’s 2026–27 Default Market Offer (DMO).
Think of the DMO as a safety net for consumers who aren’t actively comparing plans. It acts as a comparison price set by the AER that standard plan costs can’t exceed; this is based on what a typical household would pay in different parts of the state. For Ausgrid customers, that works to $1,899, based on 3,900 kWh of annual energy consumption on a flat tariff. For Endeavour Energy customers, that comes in at $2,238, based on 4,900 kWh of consumption on a flat tariff. And for Essential Energy customers, that works out to $2,604, based on 4,600 kWh of consumption on a flat tariff.2Australian Energy Regulator – Default Market Offer (DMO) 2026-27 final determination, p16
While the DMO is a helpful benchmark tool, keep in mind that it’s just a starting point for your comparison journey. Because retailers compete for customers who shop around, it’s always worth checking whether you could be on a plan that better suits your needs. If that sounds like a task that’ll fall to the bottom of your to-do list, iSelect can do all the hard work and help you compare your electricity plan from a range of providers in NSW.
Comparing electricity in NSW explained
When comparing electricity plans, you’ll need to look at plan prices, flexibility and any perks that could make one plan fit into your lifestyle more than another. To help you find a great match, watch our short explainer video.
Laura Crowden
ISELECT SPOKESPERSON
How do I choose a suitable electricity provider in NSW?
When comparing electricity plans, you’ll need to look at plan prices, flexibility and any perks that could make one plan fit into your lifestyle more than another. To help you find a great match, watch our short explainer video.
Contract type
Electricity plans come in 2 types: standing and market offers. Standing offers are tied to the Default Market Offer, which is a comparison price set by the AER to help create fair pricing. Market offers or retail offers let you negotiate rates and sometimes score some added perks or discounts. Just watch out for conditional discounts that need certain eligibility met, like pay-on-time discounts.
Fees
If you move house, there could be fees for disconnecting and reconnecting your power with certain retailers. Fixed-term contracts might even hit you with an exit fee if you leave before the contract term finishes. Reading through your contract could help you avoid any surprise fees, making switching retailers down the track much easier.
Discounts
Energy retailers are eager to win you over, which is why so many electricity and gas plans come with incentives like benefits, sign-up discounts or perks for paying on time. But it’s a good idea to take the time to read through the terms and conditions to know exactly what eligibility requirements those energy discounts come with.
Payment terms
It’s important to know when your bills are expected and how to pay them. So, before you sign up for your new electricity deal, check what payment methods are accepted and if there are any additional charges for the method you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Default Market Offer (DMO)?
The DMO is a comparison price set by the Australian Energy Regulator. It acts as a maximum price for standing offer contracts and a benchmarking tool for market offers, which both help to create more stability and transparency for NSW’s energy customers. The creation of the DMO in 2019 meant that electricity retailers not only had an enforceable ceiling on their standard offer plan prices, but they also had to show a comparison percentage above or below this price on their market offers. This helps you see whether the market offer is less or more than the DMO, as well as quickly compare a range of market offers from different retailers.
How much have electricity rates increased in New South Wales (NSW)?
Electricity prices haven’t increased from the Default Market Offer’s (DMO) final deliberation for 2026-27; instead, for NSW they’ve actually decreased by up to 5% compared to 2025–26 prices.1Australian Energy Regulator – Default Market Offer (DMO) 2026-27 final determination, p16 This decrease is mainly due to the effect of inflation and changes in wholesale and other costs that work behind the scenes of Australia’s energy market.
Just because DMO is decreasing doesn’t necessarily mean that your electricity bill will, too. Retailers don’t have to match these prices on market plans, but they do have to show a percentage comparison to the DMO price. That’s why the DMO is so handy; it’s a benchmark you can use to compare plans to find a better value offer to those newly updated DMO prices. If you want to see whether there’s a better energy plan out there for you and some potential savings, iSelect can help.
Can I get any government electricity rebates and discounts in NSW?
Yes, the NSW Government has a range of rebates and concessions that could help if paying your energy bills has become a bit of a stretch, including the Senior Energy Rebate, the Low-Income Household Rebate and the Family Energy Rebate.
We’ve put together a quick list of some of the ones that could be relevant to you, but you can always check for more on the NSW Government’s site.
- Low-Income Household Rebate: This annual rebate is a quarterly credit on your energy bill, with retail customers receiving up to $285 per financial year. Customers on an embedded network will receive $313.50. You’ll need the appropriate concession card to be eligible.
- Family Energy Rebate: If you receive the Family Tax Benefit, you likely can apply for the NSW Family Energy Rebate. With it, retail customers can receive up to $180 each financial year, while embedded network customers can receive up to $198.
- Life Support Energy Rebate: If your household uses approved medical equipment at home, this rebate could help you save up to $1,343 for retail customers and up to $1,477 for embedded network customers each financial year. This depends on what types of equipment and how many life-saving machines are in use.
- Medical Energy Rebate: If a medical practitioner confirms you can’t self-regulate your body temperature, you may be eligible for this rebate. Retail customers who meet the criteria could receive up to $285 per financial year (paid quarterly), while embedded network customers could receive $313.
- Seniors Energy Rebate: If you’re an independent retiree, this rebate could get you up to $200 each financial year to help cover your power bills.
- Energy Accounts Payment Assistance: If you’re experiencing a short-term financial crisis or emergency that leaves you struggling to pay your bill, this rebate could offer support.
- NSW Gas Rebate: The state government has made this annual rebate available to eligible concession card holders. Residential customers could receive up to $110 each financial year, while embedded network customers could receive $121 each financial year.
How do I manage my electricity plan when moving house?
About a week before your move, contact your energy provider to let them know about your move. Moving house is a good opportunity to compare a range of options with iSelect. If your current provider still stacks up, then all you need to do is give your current provider notice and let them know about your moving day details. They’ll ask for your move-out date and a forwarding address, as well as arranging a final meter reading. Just make sure to check whether they have any disconnection fees you’ll need to pay.
If, after a comparison, you realise your current provider isn’t offering the best deal for you, then you’ll need to contact your current provider and shut down your account. Then call your new provider, set up an account and get your new place connected. Just make sure you line up all your closing and connecting dates up, otherwise you could be left in the dark, or need to pay extra for a same-day connection.
For renters, you’ll need to double-check your lease to see who’s responsible for setting up and paying the electrical bills. In most cases, the renter will pay for bills along with any reconnection/disconnection fees.
How do I switch electricity providers in NSW?
You can switch providers by signing up directly with a different electricity retailer or using a service like iSelect to compare from a range of providers to find a great deal for you. Many people stick with their current retailer because they think switching to a new provider is too hard, but the reality is that you could have all the hard work done for you with a simple call or a few clicks online – and possibly even save money in the process.
Which energy retailers operate in NSW?
A range of energy retailers operate in NSW, including ActewAGL, SUMO, OVO Energy, Powershop and Telstra. The specific retailers available to you will depend on your location, network area and home energy needs.
iSelect currently compares a range of plans from the below energy retailers:
- AGL
- ENGIE
- EnergyAustralia
- Lumo Energy
- Origin Energy
- Red Energy
Other energy retailers who provide electricity in NSW include:
- 1st Energy
- Alinta Energy
- Amber Electric
- CovaU Energy
- Diamond Energy
- Dodo Power & Gas
- Energy Locals
- Energy Locals Urban
- ERC Energy
- Flipped Energy
- Flow Power
- Future X Power
- GEE Energy
- GloBird Energy
- Kogan Energy
- Momentum Energy
- OVO Energy
- Powershop
- Sumo
- Tango Energy
Just remember that iSelect can only help you compare with some of these providers, not all of them.
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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.