Energy Comparison Australia 2026

Welcome to the Energy Comparison Australia Guide

This site is a free, independent guide to comparing electricity and gas plans across Australia in 2026. You will find state-by-state guides (NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia), explanations of how the energy market works, the best retailers compared, solar feed-in tariffs, and practical energy-saving tips — all written for households who want to pay less without wading through fine print.

The 2026 picture: default electricity prices fell on 1 July 2026 in most regions (the AER's Default Market Offer dropped 3.4–5.0% in NSW and 7.2% in South East Queensland, and Victoria's default offer fell to about $1,591 a year), while South Australia rose 1.4%. A brand-new option, the Solar Sharer Offer, gives eligible households three hours of free electricity a day. The catch: none of this lands in your pocket automatically — you need to compare and switch.

How to use the guides: start with how the energy market works if you are new, then compare electricity and gas plans using the step-by-step method in each guide. Check your state's page for distributor, reference price and rebate details, and use Energy Made Easy (or Victorian Energy Compare in VIC) — the official, free comparison tools — before you switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the cheapest energy plan?

Enter your postcode and annual usage (from your last bill) into Energy Made Easy, or Victorian Energy Compare if you live in Victoria. Sort by estimated annual cost, check the conditions of the top three plans, and switch online — the new retailer handles the transfer, usually within a few days and with no interruption to supply.

What is the Solar Sharer Offer?

From 1 July 2026, retailers with more than 1,000 customers in DMO areas must offer a plan with three hours of free electricity daily — 11am–2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, 12pm–3pm in South Australia — capped at 24 kWh a day in the window. You need a smart meter and must opt in; you do not need solar panels.

Are standing offers always more expensive?

Usually. Standing offers sit at or near the regulated reference price (the DMO or VDO), while market offers are typically 15–30% below it. If your market offer's benefit period ends, you may be rolled onto a standing offer — so set a reminder to re-compare when it expires.

Should I bundle electricity and gas?

Dual-fuel plans from one retailer often cut 5–10% off both bills, but only if the bundled price beats the best separate deals. Compare the bundled offer against the two cheapest single-fuel plans before assuming the discount is a saving.

How much solar feed-in tariff should I expect in 2026?

Most offers range from about 5 to 12 cents per kWh, with the best advertised rates (10–15c) often carrying conditions like a cap on the first few kWh exported per day. Victoria deregulated feed-in tariffs from 1 July 2025, so retailers there set their own rates with a $0 floor. Compare total annual bills, not just the feed-in rate.